Guillaume Clairet - Operations, Rule-Breaking and Erin Brockovich

The Fundamental Molecule

We all know about the CEO in a company. When the company is small, the CEO does everything, and when it's big, the CEO sets the vision, hires the right people and makes sure they have what they need to be successful. But what about a layer deeper than that? Guillaume Clairet is a fascinating example of a world class COO. Now he's too modest to be known as the power behind the throne, but he's the guy that makes sure what needs to be done gets done. And it's an interesting time for him after both the $395 million delisting of H2O Innovation by Ember Infrastructure and their acquisition of NextEra’s Distributed Water business. Along the way, H2O Innovation have done things their own way and have built an exceptional business and this is a fascinating insight into the practicality of that journey. Please enjoy my conversation with Guillaume Clairet.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205

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H2O Innovation COO Guillaume Clairet shares his insightful journey through the world and business of water. He discusses navigating the complexities of public markets, mastering M&A strategies, and building robust recurring revenue models. Guillaume also details H2O's transformative acquisition of the NextEra’s Distributed Water business, a strategic move towards owning water assets and offering diverse customer solutions, and finishes up by offering his invaluable advice to aspiring water entrepreneurs.

00:00 - Water Technology & Entrepreneurship

01:50 - Erin Brockovich Inspiration

03:45 - H2O Innovation Origin Story

06:12 - Early Roles & Company Growth

07:30 - Value of Full-Cycle Experience

09:23 - Navigating Public Markets

11:42 - Transition to Recurring Revenue

15:16 - M&A Process & Integration

19:03 - Successful M&A Integration Strategies

21:01 - COO Role: Serving & Problem-Solving

21:53 - When to Hire a COO

23:04 - CEO Sequencing Operations

26:18 - Going Private with Ember Infrastructure

29:25 - NextEra Acquisition & Future Strategy

30:30 - Holistic Water Solutions Provider

36:14 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs

Links:

Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/

Guillaume Clairet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaumeclairet/?originalSubdomain=ca

H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.com/

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"The CEO sets the vision. The COO makes it happen. It's a partnership of vision and execution."

"When you're a startup, you wear many hats. You learn every aspect of the business from sales to operations."

"Public markets teach resilience. They keep you on your toes, driving for performance and accountability."

"In acquisitions, integration is everything. It's not just about buying a company, but making it part of your own."

"A CEO should look at their strengths and hire to fill their weaknesses, making themselves obsolete in those areas."

"Being a COO means being accessible. It’s about serving your team and solving problems."

"In the water industry, patience is crucial. Progress is slow, but it's accelerating. Be ready for the long game."

"Focus on customer relationships. When you earn a customer, keep them by meeting all their water needs."