Rewiring Energy: Disruption, Transparency, and Scaling with Purpose – Joe McDonald, TEM

In this energised episode, David Hunt is joined by Joe McDonald, Co-founder and CEO of TEM – a fast-scaling UK energytech startup reshaping how energy transactions are done. From his early days at LimeJump and the acquisition by Shell, to co-founding TEM and challenging the very core of how electricity is bought, sold, and valued – Joe shares a story of timing, execution, and bold ambition.

Joe and David dive into:

• The broken nature of the wholesale electricity market – and how TEM is fixing it with AI-driven infrastructure
• Why energy transparency is the antidote to greenwashing
• How scaling culture and teams in a remote-first world requires deep intentionality
• Lessons from Shell, LimeJump, and what it really means to build a challenger business
• Fundraising, lucky timing, and the power of storytelling in startup success

From disrupting energy incumbents to reimagining organisational design, this is a deep and inspiring episode for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and energy innovators alike.

🔑 Key Quotes:

“We’re not trying to be greedy – we’re trying to build something enduring. That means picking the right people, partners, and investors.” – Joe McDonald

“We’re not just innovating around the edges; we’re replacing the wholesale electricity market itself.” – Joe McDonald

“Remote-first doesn’t mean working from your bedroom – it means being intentional about culture, connection, and collisions.” – Joe McDonald

“This is about power – both in electrons and in people. Rewiring how energy is transacted is a chance to redistribute both.” – Joe McDonald

About Joe McDonald:

Joe McDonald is a seasoned energy entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in the sector. He co-founded tem. in 2021, aiming to revolutionize the way renewable energy is bought and sold. Prior to tem., Joe held leadership roles at Limejump, including Vice President of Sales and Product, where he was instrumental in developing virtual power plants that enabled small renewable energy assets to access market opportunities akin to larger utilities. His efforts contributed to Limejump's successful acquisition by Shell in 2019, earning him a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list. 

At tem., Joe leverages his deep expertise in product development, sales, and business development to drive the company's mission of transforming the renewable energy landscape. The platform uses a unique AI-powered matching algorithm to facilitate transparent, affordable, and direct energy transactions between businesses and renewable energy generators across the UK. 

Joe is passionate about democratizing access to clean energy and believes in creating systems that serve not just large corporations but also small and medium-sized enterprises. His vision is to build an energy market that is transparent, efficient, and equitable for all participants.

About tem: 

TEM (The Energy Market) is a new energy infrastructure company challenging the traditional wholesale market by creating a transparent, machine-learning-powered transaction layer. It enables both independent generators and business consumers to bypass costly middlemen – creating a smarter, fairer, and more efficient energy system for all.

Social links:  

• Joe McDonald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mcdonald-energy/ 
• tem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/temmarketplace/ 
• tem website: https://www.tem.energy/ 

About Hyperion Search:

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