Exploring the Potential of Solar-Powered Solutions with Giovanni Fili of Exeger

Solar-Powered Everything with Giovanni Fili of Exeger

Rebecca Szkutak and Dominic-Madori Davis
Oct 10, 2023 | 42 minutes

Welcome back to Found, where we delve into the stories behind the startups. This week, Becca and Dom are joined by Giovanni Fili, the founder and CEO of Exeger, a startup that creates flexible solar cells capable of generating electric energy from any light condition. Fili shares his experiences over the last 15 years, dedicating himself to a company based on technology that hadn’t been proven to work previously. He also discusses running a deep tech company as a non-technical founder and building a capital-intensive startup with relatively little funding.

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About the Guest

Giovanni Fili is the founder and CEO of Exeger, a startup revolutionizing the solar industry with its innovative flexible solar cells. With 15 years of dedication to his company, Fili has seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with pioneering new technology.

Table of Contents

The Birth of Exeger

Becca: Giovanni, thanks for joining us today. Can you start by telling us about the origins of Exeger? What inspired you to create a startup focused on solar-powered energy?

Giovanni Fili: Thank you, Becca and Dom, for having me! I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of solar energy to transform our world. Growing up in Italy, I saw firsthand the impact of pollution and climate change on our environment. As a young engineer, I became obsessed with finding ways to harness the power of sunlight more efficiently.

In 2008, I co-founded Exeger with my business partner, and we began working on developing flexible solar cells that could be integrated into various products and surfaces. Our goal was to create a technology that could generate electricity from any light condition, not just direct sunlight.

The Challenges of Deep Tech

Dom: That’s fascinating, Giovanni. As a non-technical founder, how did you navigate the complexities of developing deep tech? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced?

Giovanni Fili: Ah, that’s a great question, Dom. As a non-technical founder, I had to rely on my team and partners to bring my vision to life. It was a steep learning curve, but I surrounded myself with experts in various fields who shared my passion for innovation.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was convincing investors to bet on our unproven technology. Many saw it as too early-stage or too complex. But I believed that Exeger had the potential to disrupt the entire solar industry, and I worked tirelessly to build a strong team and develop prototypes that would prove our concept.

Building a Capital-Intensive Startup

Becca: Giovanni, you’ve mentioned that Exeger has received relatively little funding compared to other deep tech startups. How did you manage to build a capital-intensive company with limited resources?

Giovanni Fili: That’s a great question, Becca. As a startup founder, you have to be strategic about how you allocate your resources. For us, it meant focusing on R&D and building a strong IP portfolio. We also had to be creative in finding ways to reduce costs and optimize our manufacturing processes.

One of the key decisions we made was to partner with other companies that could help us scale our technology more quickly. This allowed us to access new markets and customer segments without having to invest too much upfront.

The Future of Solar Energy

Dom: Giovanni, what do you see as the future of solar energy? How does Exeger fit into this vision?

Giovanni Fili: I’m incredibly optimistic about the potential of solar energy to transform our world. With the right technologies and business models in place, I believe we can make solar power a mainstream source of electricity.

Exeger is at the forefront of this revolution with our flexible solar cells. We’re not just talking about generating electricity from roofs or panels; we’re talking about integrating solar power into everyday objects like clothing, bags, and even building facades.

Imagine a world where every surface generates electricity, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and creating new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. That’s the future I see with Exeger, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

Conclusion

Becca: Giovanni, thank you for sharing your inspiring story with us today. It’s clear that your passion for solar energy and innovation has driven you to achieve great things.

Giovanni Fili: Thank you, Becca and Dom, for having me on the show. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my vision with a wider audience.

As we wrap up this episode of Found, we hope you’ve enjoyed hearing Giovanni’s story as much as we have. Join us next time when we’ll be exploring more startups and their journeys in the world of venture capital and technology.