It's important to have people you look up to in the industry you choose. And by "look up to," I mean to be consistently, wildly impressed by what they're building, their intellect, their clarity of thought, their track record, and how they comport themselves. Reinhard Hübner is one of those people for me. As the CEO at SKion, he has built an undeniably impressive platform, yielding $700 million in global revenues and with no signs of slowing down. They know exactly how big their opportunity is. And he and his partner, Dirk Brusis, have built an interlinking set of companies, solutions, and technologies to really go after it. Please enjoy my conversation with the excellent Reinhard Hübner.

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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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Dr. Hübner delves into the strategic layers of the water industry, tracing his ascent from wastewater treatment to leading SKion's global expansion. They explore operational dynamics, the significance of human capital, and the complexities of mergers and acquisitions amid economic flux, emphasizing strategic growth and valuation discipline. Hübner discusses startup challenges, underscores direct customer relationships, and the necessity of a unified, innovative culture within SKion's network. Today’s discourse reveals SKion's strategic direction and ethos, imparting insights on adaptability, collaboration, and leadership vital for navigating the water industry's ever-evolving global challenges.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 Start

0:49 Introduction

1:39 Dr. Hübner’s career to date

3:45 Lessons learned from manufacturing and logistics experience

5:06 His experience in leakage

6:52 Drinking water vs wastewater reflections

8:56 Being headhunted to work in the German water industry

9:45 Learnings from the first deal that didn't work

14:18 Structural shifts that are enabling the faster adoption of new products

17:04 SKion and its relationships with business

23:40 M&A and the current market

27:26 Is water countercyclical?

28:40 Structural comparison of the European and US markets

32:03 The evolution of Dr. Hübner’s job

35:27 His thoughts on earlier stage investing

37:47 FIDO and leak detection fun

39:19 His partnership with Dirk Brusis

42:18 The pros and cons of Dr. Hübner’s public speaking

44:47 His most important piece of advice for aspiring water entrepreneurs

Links:

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

SKion Water:  https://www.skionwater.com/en/

Quotes:

"There's no such thing as life before water."

"You can't eat services...Somebody has to produce something from something."

"It's a conservative sector, and on the municipal side, they don't take risks."

"We don't want to be the biggest. We want to be the best."

"Forced collaboration is like forced labor...it doesn’t work."

"You need to be patient, which is not always my strength."

"We have been very disciplined in not overpaying."

"Water is full of passionate people. Nice, passionate people."

"I mean, the reality is drinking water is, technologically and asset wise, much simpler than wastewater."

"Don't try to do it alone. Find partners also in the industry."