Generating Billion Dollars in Revenue in Climate-Tech ✅ | Ep #04 - The India Opportunity Podcast

Join us as we explore Accacia's vision to revolutionize real estate through carbon accounting.

Hello everyone, welcome to The India Opportunity Podcast where you get a front row seat to people building India’s future. We talk about unlocking the potential of the country with founders, investors, creators and successful leaders from different fields to bring to you real life stories and behind-the-scenes of what it takes to be at the forefront of building the India Story.

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Our guest today is Annu, co-founder of Accacia.ai, the first company globally that built a platform focused on carbon accounting and decarbonisation in the real estate industry. She has raised funding from some of the best names in the industry including Accel, B Capital, Blume, Rainmatter and has just wrapped up a fundraise for her pre-series A round with large global investors such as Illuminate Fund. Previously she built and scaled OxfordCaps, a tech-enabled student housing company and was the Director of Investments and Asset Management at Marriott prior to that. She started her journey as an architect and urban planner and has an MBA from INSEAD. Today, I’m excited to deep-dive with her into the climate-tech space and learn more about what the future holds for Accacia.

Takeaways

• Anu's upbringing in a conservative household and her early experiences shaped her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to navigate uncharted territories.

• Accacia.ai recognized the need for a verticalized solution in the real estate industry for carbon accounting and decarbonization.

• The company started as a SaaS platform and has evolved into a full-stack platform for enterprises, generating revenue through subscription fees and transaction fees for decarbonization solutions.

• Opportunities in climate tech include verticalized solutions for different industries, green construction materials, energy optimization, and climate financing. Acacia is partnering with industry leaders in India and globally to provide climate tech solutions for the real estate industry.

• The fundraising process requires persistence, a focus on the business, and the ability to listen to customers.

• How Annu has evolved as a founder, becoming more patient and process-oriented.

• Having a supportive spouse and setting personal goals are important for personal growth.

• Accacia aims to become a platform that runs climate programs for real estate companies, focusing on revenue and cash flow rather than valuations.

• Annu's grandmother had a significant impact on her life, teaching her resilience and strength.

Timestamps:

02:00 - What was your childhood like?

07:20 - What were the key insights that led you to start Accacia?

13:10 - What do investors typically look for in real estate businesses?

16:15 - How has your journey been building Accacia?

23:20 - What’s happening in the climate tech space, and what future opportunities are shaping up?

29:27 - How does Accacia generate revenue?

32:22 - How did you convince some of the biggest industry names to back you?

35:52 - Who are some of your biggest clients?

37:40 - Can you share your experience of fundraising?

44:34 - How have you evolved personally as a founder?

49:32 - How big do you think Accacia can become?

55:40 - What challenges have you faced in your journey?

57:04 - What insights can you share about the business?

1:00:40 - Let's do a rapid-fire round!

Follow Annu here: LinkedIn Twitter

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Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

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