Inqubator provides insight into every growth opportunity

Energiso didn't start as a rigid plan, but as a conviction. Ilse was working for an employer in the sustainability sector and noticed something that wouldn't let her go. “Many parties look primarily at what is good for their own wallet. It wasn't about the value of the work, but about what someone could afford.” She felt it could be done differently. And so, they started over. From within Inqubator.
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From energy saving to organizational challenge

Energiso is something different today than when it started. In the beginning, the focus was strongly on energy saving and ISO 50001. “We thought: this is the market demand. But the first year and a half was mostly about searching.” They discovered that the real challenge isn't just about improving energy performance. “It’s often about something else within the organization. About responsibilities, processes, ownership. That’s where the real gains are.”

With a small team of three—two subject matter experts and one utility player—they continued to build. Flexible, self-taught, and curious; that characterizes the team. In addition to consulting, they offer knowledge sharing and project management for grant applications, a role in which colleague José plays a key part.

Now they are working on the next step: a SaaS platform. “We want to link team members' competencies to tasks within energy management and legislation. What do you have in-house? Where do you need to strengthen? That insight makes organizations more agile.”
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Entrepreneurship is about daring to pivot

Ilse looks back on the initial phase with a pragmatic view. “Sometimes we had the wrong mindset. Thinking too much about what makes money, instead of where you are truly helping.” That search is part of the process. “We haven't found our golden goose yet, but we don't have to. We keep searching, adjusting, and making choices. That is entrepreneurship.”
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Building with room to discover

Starting at Inqubator lowered the risk. “We had low overhead. That gave us the peace of mind to experiment.” Douwe Hooijenga, who is closely involved with Inqubator, played an important role in Ilse’s entrepreneurial journey. “He dared to ask critical questions and challenge me. That really helped me think more sharply.” And new connections were formed. Sven, who is going to develop the SaaS software for Energiso, is an example of that. “Those kinds of links happen naturally here.” What did Inqubator bring her most? Insight into possibilities. “Grants, temporary secondment, financing options. When you see what others are doing around you, you start to think bigger yourself.”
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"When you see what others are doing around you, you start to think bigger yourself.”

Ambition on a regional and national scale

Energiso is currently working on a pilot in Friesland, in collaboration with one of the most innovative Dutch concepts of the past year. The goal: to reduce grid congestion through the smart application of BESS on a regional scale, with the ambition to roll this out nationwide. "In the coming period, we will continue to explore what works best for us. Refining, adjusting, and keeping on building."

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