dhp technology: The Venture Leader Cleantech providing infrastructure for solar power generation

13.10.2022 09:10, Tracy Woodley

The Swiss National Startup Team welcomes new members: A jury selected 10 startups for the Venture Leaders program dedicated to the cleantech sector. During their roadshow, the Venture Leaders Cleantech will meet international investors and industry leaders and access industry-specific expertise and networks to grow their companies. Allow us to introduce you to each of the Venture Leaders Cleantech 2022 ahead of the October 2022 roadshow in Munich: Meet Carmen Scheuber, the Acquisition and Project Development Manager of dhp technology.

Name: Carmen Scheuber 
Location: St. Gallen
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: University of Basel, MA, 2016
Job title: Acquisition & Project Development Manager 
Number of employees: 28
Money raised: CHF 14 million

Explain in one or two short sentences what your startup does and why: dhp technology provides a worldwide unique PV solution, the solar folding roof HORIZON, to double-use infrastructure for solar power generation.
 
How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
Gian Andri Diem and Andres Hügli (founders) knew the inventors of the solar folding mechanism and took up their idea of folding PV modules to protect them against severe weather conditions. They founded dhp to make a product out of this idea.
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
Being alongside with great companies and people and showing the innovation capabilities of Switzerland. Spread the word about the products and services for international markets and gather forces to convince new customers and business partners.
 
Who does your product or solution help, and how?
The solar folding roof HORIZON unlocks the PV potential of infrastructures to double the use of the area for solar power generation. This is achieved by a lightweight technology that uses very little material by retracting the solar modules into a protected position. The solar folding roof is high above the ground and has a large span from pole to pole like no other system in the world.
 
What are you most excited about at work right now?
It’s amazing to see how renewable energy is changing our world and helping to boost sustainable and circular economies. It’s not only about reducing CO2 emissions, renewable energy is a key factor in enabling poorer countries to increase their production and productivity in a sustainable manner.
 
How did you build your team?
We try to find new members of the team in our networks and social media. By spreading the word about why we are doing this, many people address us with their CVs.
 
Which market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup?
We see the world as our market, but let’s take it step-by-step. We first grow into the DACH market and then into other EU countries. At the same time, we are building up partnerships for markets abroad. We believe that we can contribute to renewable energy generation in almost all countries worldwide.
 
What are your key achievements to date?
A great success is that we have realized 14 projects in Switzerland so far and will be able to put the first solar folding roof in Germany into operation at the beginning of next year.

What is one thing not many people know about you?
I am a passionate Tichu player.

What is your favorite podcast and why?
The Aufsteiger*innen podcast, because it inspires and motivates me.

Who inspires you and why? 
People who shape their own lives and use their abilities as well as talents for a meaningful purpose.

What is the best advice you have ever received and from whom?  
“Start before you are ready” –advice I have received from various people. 

Who do you look to for guidance and mentorship? 
Depends on the topic. I turn to people who know more about the topic or who I know will help me with their input.

Venture Leaders Cleantech is organized by Venturelab and supported by Alpian, AMAG, EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, EY, Helbling Technik, Romande Energie, Canton Vaud, and VISCHER, and Venture Leaders alum Patrick Maillard.