The idea of an Overton Window when the conditions around a political issue change that in turn changes the nature of what is politically possible, is a useful one in assessing businesses. Sometimes conditions change enough in a market or sector that there is suddenly a significant window of opportunity for a founder to run through. We think that is the case with Michael Rigney, CEO of Cala Systems. They're building a next generation heat pump water heater, and if they're right, they could save billions of gallons of water, reduce US national emissions by 3%, and save domestic energy consumers about $23 billion a year. We talk about the nature of the water heater market, competing against entrenched incumbents, and rebuilding a well known consumer product from the ground up. He has major game in this segment and Cala are in a fascinating position. Please enjoy my conversation with Michael Rigney.

Subscribe to The Fundamental Molecule here: https://www.burntislandventures.com/the-fundamental-molecule

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

-----------

Cala Systems CEO, Michael Rigney, shares insights on the future of water heating with his company’s next-generation heat pump technology. He explains how predictive control and intelligent design are set to revolutionize the industry by optimizing energy efficiency, cost savings, and user comfort. Rigney also discusses the importance of strategic partnerships, the role of branding, and the urgent need for decarbonizing residential water heating to reduce global emissions.

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Overton Window and Market Opportunities in Water Heating

01:47 Why Target the Water Heater Market

03:21 Recognizing a Unique Market Opportunity

05:40 Early Steps in Building Cala Systems

07:15 Building the World’s First Intelligent Heat Pump Water Heater

11:02 User Experience and Intelligent Water Heating

12:42 Customization and Integration with Home Systems

13:29 Branding Water Heaters: Lessons from Nest and Opower

15:37 Designing Cala Systems’ Website as a Brand Statement

17:29 The Impact of Decarbonizing Water Heating

20:17 Building a Strong Team

22:17 The Importance of Hiring Slowly and Thoughtfully

24:02 Practical Innovation: Balancing Thought and Scrappiness

25:48 Building the Company You Need for the Future

28:01 Balancing Customer and Installer Needs in Product Development

30:32 Geographic Focus for Early Deployment

35:24 Transitioning to Founder and CEO Role

36:44 Advice for Future Water Entrepreneurs

Links:

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

Michael Rigney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljrigney/

Cala Systems: https://www.calasystems.com/