In this Not Too Late episode, recorded amid major disruptions to global oil and LNG infrastructure in the Middle East and resulting price shocks, Zeshan speaks with Sam Ruben, co-founder of HyWatts, about how geopolitical instability and grid fragility could accelerate a shift toward distributed energy. Ruben explains HyWatts’ power plant in a box, which pairs onsite renewables (often solar) with short-duration batteries and long-duration hydrogen storage produced via electrolysis, enabling multi-day and seasonal storage beyond battery economics.

He addresses hydrogen safety misconceptions, outlines U.S. hydrogen-market challenges, and argues the biggest energy cost driver is transmission. The conversation covers U.S. grid fragmentation, wildfire and maintenance issues in California, rising data-center demand, and HyWatts’ deployments, including EV fast charging in Sacramento and a 172-home community in Kerman, California, plus potential applications for diesel-dependent off-grid communities in Australia and Southeast Asia.

00:00 Energy Crisis Opens
01:58 Meet Sam Rubin
02:18 Sam Origin Story
04:45 Power Plant In Box
06:40 Batteries Versus Hydrogen
08:13 Hydrogen Safety Myths
09:52 Hydrogen Market Outlook
12:37 Grid Risks And Geopolitics
15:11 AI Data Centers Demand
17:27 Why The US Grid Fails
23:16 High Watts Deployments
27:08 Off Grid Australia Opportunity
31:36 Global Leapfrog And Hope
34:42 Ten Year Vision Wrap
36:38 Favorite Vegetable Outro

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Why are billions of square feet of rooftops on commercial and residential buildings sitting empty while energy prices skyrocket? The answer isn't a lack of technology, but a cash flow problem.

In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Meerstadt, the founder of Fram Energy, a civil engineer turned entrepreneur who is unlocking a massive missed opportunity in the clean energy space. Charlotte walks us through the split incentive problem: why landlords have historically avoided solar, and how her fintech platform turns empty roofs into revenue-generating assets.

What We Discuss:

• The $5 Trillion Opportunity: How 80 billion square feet of tenant-occupied roof area in the U.S. can be transformed into a win-win for owners and renters.
• The Fintech Layer of Clean Energy: Why the secret to decarbonization isn't just better panels, but smarter billing software.
• Energy Affordability & Data Centers: The real-world impact of rising utility rates and how localized solar can protect vulnerable communities (like seniors on fixed incomes) from price hikes.
• The Founder’s Journey: From baking cakes at 15 in the Netherlands to navigating the pre-seed to seed transition while practicing focused presence as a mother and CEO.
• The Future of Circular Systems: Charlotte’s vision for a world where we take 100% responsibility for the energy we extract and consume.

Whether you’re interested in the future of the grid, the evolution of ESG into bottom-line value, or the grit required to build a climate-tech startup in 2026, this conversation is packed with first-principles thinking and actionable insights.

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