Kentaro Kawamori

CEO & Co-Founder

Bio

Kentaro Kawamori is CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni, a prominent Climate Software company. The company’s Climate Management & Accounting SaaS Platform is used by companies and financial institutions worldwide to account for, disclose, and manage their climate impact. A two-time venture-backed founder, Kentaro’s first enterprise software business, Umbrage, was acquired by Bain & Co. in 2023. Previously, kentaro was also an early-stage software investor at Rice Investment Group and held technical and executive roles at major technology firms, including serving as the Chief Data Officer at Chesapeake Energy. Kentaro has been recognized with several awards for his work, including Forbes 30 Under 30, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and SXSW Startup Competition.

Kentaro Kawamori is CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni, a prominent Climate Software company. The company’s…

Company:

Persefoni

Location:

Tempe, Arizona, United States

Description:

Persefoni is a climate disclosure and carbon management platform designed to help companies and financial institutions accurately measure, report, and reduce their carbon footprints. By leveraging advanced software and AI, Persefoni enables organizations to meet regulatory requirements and achieve their sustainability objectives efficiently. The platform is recognized for its ability to integrate climate data into financial reporting, making it a key tool in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Persefoni is a climate disclosure and carbon management platform designed to help companies and financial…

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Conversation
Highlights

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Kentaro Kawamori, Co-Founder and CEO of Persefoni, a climate disclosure and carbon management platform that has raised over $114 Million in funding.

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

A Pivotal Moment: Working as Chief Digital Officer at Chesapeake Energy, Kentaro encountered the complexities of carbon accounting and climate management, sparking the idea for Persefoni. This experience highlighted the need for better tools in managing and disclosing climate-related data.
Inspiration from Sustainability: Raised in a sustainability-oriented culture in Germany, Kentaro’s early life experiences instilled a deep respect for environmental stewardship. This upbringing influenced his passion for addressing climate change through technology.
Building Persefoni: The realization that carbon accounting and climate disclosure were ripe for innovation led to the founding of Persefoni. The platform aims to simplify the complex process of carbon footprint calculation and reporting, making it accessible and verifiable for businesses.
Vision for the Future: Kentaro envisions Persefoni becoming a leading name in climate disclosure, trusted for its transparency and data quality. The goal is to simplify regulatory compliance for businesses worldwide as climate disclosure mandates become increasingly common.

Actionable
Takeaways

Identify and Solve Core Industry Pain Points:

The inception of Persefoni was rooted in Kentaro's firsthand experience with the inefficiencies of carbon accounting in the energy sector. Founders should look for pain points within their industries that are ripe for innovation, focusing on areas where current solutions fall short in efficiency, accuracy, or accessibility.

Embrace Sustainability from Personal Values to Business Strategy:

Raised in a sustainability-oriented environment, Kentaro naturally gravitated towards addressing climate change. Entrepreneurs should consider how their personal values and experiences can inform a business strategy that not only seeks profit but also contributes positively to societal and environmental goals.

Educate Your Market as Part of Your Go-to-Market Strategy:

In category creation, educating the market is as crucial as developing the product itself. Founders in new or evolving sectors must invest in educating their target customers about the need for their solution, the problems it solves, and the long-term benefits of adopting new technologies or methodologies.

Prepare for Regulatory Changes and Market Evolution:

Persefoni's growth was partially predicated on anticipating regulatory changes around climate disclosure. Entrepreneurs should stay informed about potential regulatory developments and market shifts that could impact their business. Preparing for these changes can position a startup as a leader when the market inevitably evolves.

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