Episodes

  • Johan Tijssen - Hempblock

    Johan Tijssen - Hempblock
    Jan 12 2026
    About the GuestJohan Tijssen is the CEO of Hempblock International and a long-time builder and entrepreneur with more than 25 years’ experience working with hemp-lime (hempcrete) construction systems. Originally from the Netherlands, Johan moved to Australia and became deeply interested in why modern housing had become so complex, fragile, and uncomfortable. Through years of hands-on building, experimentation, and R&D, he developed an interlocking hemp block system designed to simplify construction while dramatically improving thermal comfort, fire resistance, and durability. Today, Johan works with owner-builders, architects, and developers globally to rethink how walls—and homes—are built.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Johan Tijssen about what’s fundamentally broken in the way we build houses—and why walls are at the centre of the problem. Johan contrasts today’s lightweight, multi-trade wall systems with thicker, simpler, and more durable approaches used historically, arguing that modern construction has traded long-term performance for short-term speed and perceived cost savings.Johan shares his personal journey from traditional building into hemp-based construction, after discovering hempcrete’s unique properties: insulation, fire resistance, breathability, and longevity. From there, he explains how Hempblock International evolved the material into a modular, interlocking block system that removes on-site mixing, reduces trade complexity, and enables faster, more accessible builds—even for owner-builders.The conversation explores the practical realities of construction economics, labour shortages, bushfire risk, and health issues like mould and humidity. Johan also outlines a bigger vision: scaling hemp construction into social housing, large developments, and even Olympic-scale projects, while regenerating soil and sequestering carbon through industrial hemp farming.Key TakeawaysModern wall systems rely on multiple materials and trades, increasing cost, coordination risk, and long-term failure points.Hemp block walls deliver R-values up to 4.8, over 3 hours fire resistance, and natural humidity regulation in a single system.The interlocking hemp block approach allows walls to be built at roughly 10 minutes per square metre, with minimal specialised skills.Hemp-lime walls petrify over time, improving durability rather than degrading like many petrochemical-based materials.Scaling hemp construction could support carbon-negative housing, healthier indoor environments, and regeneration of polluted soils.Notable Quotes“Walls are really like a complex system… and they require lots of different trades and moving parts.” — Johan Tijssen“I was totally fascinated by the fact that this one wall thickness would do everything—insulate, fireproof, and perform over time.” — Johan Tijssen“You’d be with a sledgehammer for half an hour before you get a hole in a hempcrete wall.” — Johan Tijssen“Hemp and lime petrify over time. There are no petrochemicals that break down.” — Johan Tijssen“The success is when people love where they live and feel safe, healthy, and comfortable in their own homes.” — Johan TijssenResourcesHempblock International — https://hempblockinternational.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth VenturesMore about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and ...
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    54 mins
  • Maude Manoukian - Forager Project

    Maude Manoukian - Forager Project
    Dec 22 2025
    About the Guest Maude Manoukian is the Chief Community Officer at Forager Project, a US-based company redefining dairy through plant-based innovation. With a background spanning Odwalla and Whole Foods Market, Maude brings deep experience in natural foods, supply chains, and conscious consumerism. Her long-standing collaboration with Forager Project founder Stephen Williamson has shaped a shared philosophy grounded in sustainability, community engagement, and continuous improvement. At Forager Project, she leads both community programs and the human-centric culture that drives the company’s mission. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Maude Manoukian to explore how Forager Project is reimagining dairy through cashew-based alternatives. Maude outlines the fundamental resource problem in traditional animal-based dairy — an industry now 8–10 times more resource-intensive than plant-based options — and why scaling that model for a planet of eight billion people is no longer sustainable. Their conversation traces the historical reasons dairy became dominant, what’s changed, and why a rethink is overdue. The discussion then turns to cashews — Forager Project’s “star ingredient” — and why they are uniquely suited as a dairy alternative due to their creamy texture, neutral flavour and minimal ecological footprint. Maude explains how cashews grown in places like Côte d’Ivoire are naturally rain-fed, resilient to poorer soils, and part of reforestation efforts rather than deforestation risk. She walks through the surprisingly complex journey from cashew apple to packaged yoghurt, highlighting the critical roles of farming practice, processing, fermentation, and product consistency. Beyond the product itself, the episode delves into Forager Project’s broader philosophy: a commitment to community-centred supply chains, regenerative thinking, and multi-year programs training 10,000 cashew growers. Maude also reflects on packaging challenges, their shift to recycled plastics, and the belief that improving systems requires both experimentation and humility. Ultimately, the ambition is to “flip the script” — shifting dairy consumption from 80% animal-based to 80% plant-based — a move driven by taste, accessibility, and cultural change as much as sustainability. Key Takeaways Traditional animal-based dairy now requires 8–10 times the resources of plant-based alternatives, particularly land and water. Cashews offer a uniquely low-impact, creamy, neutral-flavoured base for dairy alternatives and can thrive with no irrigation in suitable climates. Forager Project is investing in a multi-year training program for 10,000 cashew growers in Côte d’Ivoire to improve yields, livelihoods and regenerative practices. Taste and price remain the two biggest levers for shifting consumers towards plant-based dairy; flavour consistency is critical to behaviour change. The company is transitioning its packaging to rPET and continues to explore next-generation sustainable formats as technology matures. Notable Quotes “Conventional animal-based dairy requires a lot more resources… between eight and ten times more demanding than plant-based options.” — Maude Manoukian “Our star ingredient is the cashew… we think they’re the best comparison to what people currently know as a dairy product.” — Maude Manoukian “You can’t just say, ‘Great, these can grow here — let’s cut down stuff and plant cashew trees.’ Nature doesn’t like that.” — Maude Manoukian “It’s all connected… the way you do stuff is as important, if not more important, than what you’re doing.” — Maude Manoukian “We’re trying to flip the script — from 80% animal-based dairy to 80% plant-based.” — Maude Manoukian Resources Forager Project — https://foragerproject.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/...
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO of SmartLab

    Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO of SmartLab
    Dec 8 2025
    About the Guest Dr Jennifer Berry is the CEO of Smartlab, an organisation dedicated to building STEM identity in K–12 learners through hands-on, project-based learning. With a background spanning professional dance, retail, customer experience, and education leadership, she brings a uniquely holistic perspective to how children learn. Her career has focused on non-traditional educational environments—from Montessori-inspired early learning to special education and supplemental tutoring—culminating in her leadership at Smartlab. Dr Berry’s work centres on empowering students with the confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-powered world. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner explores the future of learning, STEM identity, and how technology is reshaping education with Dr Jennifer Berry. The conversation dives into what K–12 education looks like today in the United States—and why many schools remain unprepared for the speed and scale of change driven by AI. Dr Berry argues that while students must still learn the basics, the real opportunity lies in helping them develop the confidence, curiosity, and connective thinking needed to solve real-world problems. Dr Berry shares her personal journey, from a kinesthetic learner who couldn’t sit still, to a professional dancer, to an education leader drawn to hands-on, project-based learning environments. These experiences shaped her passion for Smartlab’s integrated ecosystem: flexible, in-school STEM labs where students get access to real tools—robotics, circuitry, multimedia, design technology—and are encouraged to fail, iterate, and problem-solve in meaningful ways. She explains how STEM identity is not about careers in science and technology alone, but about a student’s self-belief that they belong, can master challenges, and that their ideas matter. The episode also explores the widening gap between what schools teach and what employers need. With 80% of hiring managers saying high-school graduates are less prepared than in previous decades, Dr Berry stresses the importance of teaching communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and systems thinking—skills that cannot be automated. She highlights how Smartlab works with philanthropies like the Compost Foundation to bring these opportunities to under-resourced communities, ensuring upward mobility and creating a more equitable future. Throughout the discussion, real stories bring the impact to life—from a 13-year-old in Oakland discovering future career paths through drone technology, to Dr Berry’s own daughter gaining confidence through assistive tools like speech-to-text. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: the hardest part of the work is the inequity, and the best part is watching doors open for students who otherwise would never have access to these learning experiences. Key Takeaways STEM identity is defined as a learner’s belief that they belong, can master rigorous challenges, and that their ideas have impact—skills essential across all industries. School systems are struggling to keep pace with AI; 80% of hiring managers say graduates are less prepared than in past decades, and 69% of HR leaders report widening gaps in tech and analytics readiness. Project-based STEM learning builds critical skills such as collaboration, communication, systems thinking, and comfort with failure. Community partnerships—particularly philanthropy and corporate giving—play a vital role in bringing STEM opportunities to under-resourced schools. Technology should support learning, not replace it; tools like speech-to-text can help students overcome challenges and build confidence. Notable Quotes “We define STEM identity as a learner’s self-belief that they belong, they can master rigorous challenges, and their ideas have an impact.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “I’m leaning less into teaching her the technology and more into teaching her to be a strong communicator, a strong collaborator… the soft skills.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “It isn’t the stuff. It’s the facilitator mentoring and guiding the student through the learning process.” — Dr Jennifer Berry “If only the few get the exposure to things, we continually just push down, push down, push down, and we all don’t rise together.” — Dr Jennifer Berry Resources Smartlab — https://www.smartlablearning.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their ...
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    57 mins
  • Tom Williams - Number8

    Tom Williams - Number8
    Nov 24 2025
    About the Guest Tom Williams is the Founder and CEO of Number8 Bio, an Australian deep-tech company developing a novel way to cut methane emissions from cattle and sheep while improving livestock productivity. With a background as a senior lecturer and academic microbiologist at Macquarie University, Tom previously led a 17-person research team specialising in synthetic biology, genome engineering and industrial yeast systems. Growing up in New Zealand’s Waikato dairy region shaped his early understanding of methane’s environmental challenge, and his scientific expertise positioned him uniquely to tackle it. Today, he’s applying biotechnology, high-throughput screening and animal-scale trials to build a scalable, commercially viable climate solution for global agriculture. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner dives into the surprisingly complex world of livestock emissions with Tom Williams from Number8 Bio. While methane from cows is often oversimplified as just “cow farts”, Tom breaks down the microbiology behind the problem — and how tackling methane is also a major opportunity to unlock animal productivity and farm profitability. The conversation unpacks how ruminants work as “walking fermentation tanks”, why methane represents wasted energy, and how Number8 Bio is designing solutions that improve both climate outcomes and farm economics. Tom traces the journey from his academic research in synthetic biology to founding Number8 Bio, including an early pivot away from engineered yeast solutions and into a broader screening approach. By testing more than 5,000 rumen-fluid micro-fermentations and 40 live-animal trials, the team identified an organic molecule that reduces methane emissions by 50–90% while improving feed efficiency and milk components. This dual benefit — climate and productivity — is core to Number8 Bio’s strategy and a key reason they believe their approach can scale. The episode also explores the economics of farming, the realities of grazing systems, and why a slow-release “bolus” — a large pill that dissolves in the animal’s stomach over months — is essential for pasture-fed cattle. Tom explains how carbon insetting (not offsetting) can reward producers directly for emissions reductions, strengthening supply chains from farmer to retailer. Looking ahead, 2026 will see Number8 Bio’s first commercial trials, rigorous carbon-accounting data, and preparation for a broader launch across grazing systems in Australia and beyond. Key Takeaways Livestock methane accounts for around 6% of global climate change, and most of it comes from burps, not farts. Number8 Bio’s leading molecule reduces methane by 50–90% in live-animal studies. Productivity gains come from redirecting “wasted” methane-related energy back into growth and milk production. The company must hit a delivery cost of 10–20 cents per head per day to enable uptake at scale. A slow-release bolus enables methane reduction in pasture-based systems where daily feed additives aren’t feasible. Notable Quotes “Cattle are basically walking fermentation tanks.” — Tom Williams “We knocked out a wasteful reaction and promoted a productive reaction in the rumen.” — Tom Williams “These emissions from cows are 6% of all climate change, and it’s wasted energy the animal could have used to grow faster.” — Tom Williams “People have had the option to stop eating meat for hundreds of years — they haven’t taken it up en masse.” — Tom Williams “Where hope lies is in innovations that fit into existing systems and make them better.” — Tom Williams Resources Number8 Bio — https://www.number8.bio/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth ...
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    47 mins
  • Neal Rickner - Airloom

    Neal Rickner - Airloom
    Nov 10 2025
    About the GuestNeal Rickner is the CEO of Airloom, a US-based clean energy company reimagining how we harness wind power. Neal began his career as an F-18 pilot in the US Marines before transitioning through Columbia Business School into a decade at Google and Google X. There, he worked on breakthrough energy and technology initiatives, including airborne wind systems. His unique mix of military discipline, commercial insight, and innovation leadership positions him perfectly to lead Airloom’s mission to deliver low-cost, scalable wind energy.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner talks with Airloom CEO Neal Rickner about a radical rethink of wind power. While most people picture towering three-bladed turbines dominating windy landscapes, Neal explains why that long-standing model—though effective—is reaching its practical limits. Wind’s “first generation” has been a success, but further scaling it is hitting physical, logistical, and economic barriers.Airloom’s solution represents what Neal calls “Wind 2.0.” Instead of building ever-larger vertical turbines, Airloom uses a ground-level, track-based system resembling an oval stadium or roller coaster. Attached wings capture the wind, pulling a continuous belt that drives generators at the corners. Built from standard steel and aluminium components, the system is modular, easy to transport in shipping containers, and can be installed without cranes—dramatically reducing costs and opening up new sites for generation.Neal shares how Airloom’s design achieves roughly half the cost per swept area compared to traditional turbines, enabling deployment in regions that lack the infrastructure for massive towers. The conversation dives into the physics, economics, and engineering trade-offs that underpin this breakthrough approach, including insights from Neal’s past at Google X and how Airloom integrates lessons learned from decades of conventional wind development.As Airloom builds its first megawatt-scale pilot in Wyoming, Neal reflects on both the challenges and excitement of scaling a technology that could make wind power cheaper and more widely accessible than ever before.Key TakeawaysTraditional three-blade turbines dominate wind energy but face limits due to cost, size, and infrastructure constraints.Airloom’s design uses a horizontal, track-based architecture—cutting swept-area costs by around 50%.The system is made from 95% steel and aluminium, using only 58 unique parts versus about 1,500 in a standard turbine.Airloom’s modular sections fit in standard shipping containers, eliminating cranes and simplifying global deployment.The company is building a megawatt-scale pilot in Wyoming, aiming for a commercial demonstration by mid-2026.Notable Quotes“Energy is our prosperity and our security—it’s where I’ll spend the rest of my career.”— Neal Rickner“We’ve sort of painted ourselves into a corner with wind. The machines keep getting bigger and bigger, and that creates absurd challenges.”— Neal Rickner“Airloom is like a roller coaster for wind—it’s lower, modular, and simple to build with common materials.”— Neal Rickner“We’re building swept area—the thing that makes money—for half the cost.”— Neal Rickner“I’m an impact junkie. I want to do something that matters—and gigawatts of low-cost wind energy can change the world.”— Neal RicknerResourcesAirloom Energy Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth VenturesMore about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive ...
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    50 mins
  • Aymeric Maudous - Lord of the Trees

    Aymeric Maudous - Lord of the Trees
    Oct 27 2025
    About the Guest Aymeric Maudous is the Co-founder of Lord of the Trees , an Australian-based environmental technology company pioneering drone-assisted reforestation. With over two decades in the environmental sector and a Master’s in Environmental Management from UNSW, Aymeric combines cutting-edge robotics and AI with Indigenous ecological knowledge to regenerate degraded landscapes. His work has taken him from the Daintree Rainforest to Borneo and beyond, where he collaborates with local communities to restore ecosystems and biodiversity at scale. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner talks with Aymeric Maudous, founder of Lord of the Trees, about reimagining reforestation through technology and traditional wisdom. Inspired by a David Attenborough documentary and the natural cycle of birds dispersing seeds, Aymeric’s “lightbulb moment” led to a model where drones replace birds, dropping nutrient-rich seed pods to restore damaged ecosystems faster and more efficiently. Aymeric explains how Lord of the Trees blends high-tech solutions—AI, robotics, and drones—with low-tech, traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous communities. This unique hybrid approach not only accelerates land restoration but also ensures cultural and environmental authenticity. Their process spans from detailed soil and species analysis to creating digital twins of landscapes and performing precision planting with military-grade drones. The discussion explores the enormous global opportunity—1.7 trillion hectares in need of reforestation—and the challenges that come with scale, regulation, and trust in the carbon credit market. Aymeric also delves into their upcoming plans to use blockchain to verify and bring transparency to reforestation projects. Beyond the tech, he shares the human side of the work: his joy in being on the ground, learning from local communities, and leaving behind a living legacy for future generations. Key Takeaways 1.7 trillion hectares of land globally could be reforested—an area roughly equal to the USA and China combined. Lord of the Trees combines high-tech drones and AI with local ecological knowledge to regenerate land sustainably. Each project begins with ecosystem mapping and creating a digital twin, allowing precision planting tailored to the environment. Transparency is key: blockchain and distributed ledger technology will enable public verification of reforestation progress and carbon credits. True regeneration requires maintenance and balance, not just planting—nature thrives through care, sequencing, and community collaboration. Notable Quotes “I was watching a David Attenborough documentary when I thought — why don’t we replace birds with drones and make our own seed pods?” — Aymeric Maudous “Not all land needs to be reforested. Plains and savannas are just as important as rainforests in maintaining balance.” — Aymeric Maudous “We use drones, AI, and robotics — but we also rely on thousands of years of local ecological knowledge. It’s a symbiosis of high-tech and low-tech.” — Aymeric Maudous “With technology today, including blockchain, we can trace every tree planted — creating a new source of truth for environmental restoration.” — Aymeric Maudous “I love being barefoot with Aboriginal people, walking through the forest, learning about trees and birds. That’s where the magic happens.” — Aymeric Maudous Resources Lord of the Trees Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that. We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now,...
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    58 mins
  • Grant Gunnison - Zero Homes

    Grant Gunnison - Zero Homes
    Sep 15 2025
    About the GuestGrant Gunnison is the Co-founder of Zero Homes, a company tackling the climate crisis by rethinking how single-family homes transition off fossil fuels. Based in Colorado, Grant brings a unique mix of hands-on contracting experience and a background in advanced technology and software. His journey from working in construction to building digital tools for home electrification gives him both credibility and a practical lens on the industry’s challenges. At Zero Homes, he leads efforts to make retrofitting old houses easier, more affordable, and more scalable.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Grant Gunnison of Zero Homes about the enormous challenge—and opportunity—of decarbonising single-family homes. With about 80 million houses in the US alone, 60 million of which still run on fossil fuels, the scale of the problem is staggering. Yet as Grant explains, solving climate issues in housing isn’t only about emissions—it starts with addressing everyday homeowner concerns like cost, comfort, and reliability.Grant outlines how Zero Homes uses digital technology to transform a historically fragmented, slow, and opaque process into something fast, transparent, and homeowner-friendly. Instead of waiting for something to break and spending weeks gathering quotes from contractors, Zero’s platform enables homeowners to scan their houses, share utility data, and quickly receive detailed project options. This approach not only saves time but also sets contractors up for success by giving them accurate data before they step foot in a home.The conversation also delves into the broader market dynamics—why electrification solutions like heat pumps are only now becoming more efficient and cost-effective, how Zero Homes complements rather than competes with solar providers, and where financing and even insurance could reshape the economics of retrofits. Looking ahead, Grant shares Zero’s ambition to expand across the US, scale their digital-first marketplace model, and eventually explore international opportunities.Key TakeawaysAround 20% of US emissions come from single-family homes, with roughly 60 million homes still powered by fossil fuels.Most homeowners act when driven by pain points: high bills, discomfort, or broken systems, while fewer than 5% are motivated primarily by climate concerns.Zero Homes’ process reduces the homeowner’s time investment from 10–15 hours to about 1 hour, while providing pricing on multiple projects.Heat pumps and related electrification products now offer higher performance at lower operational cost, aligning climate benefits with homeowner needs.Zero Homes is scaling quickly, currently operating in four US states with plans to reach a dozen within a year.Notable Quotes“About one fifth of all emissions today come from single-family homes in the US… that’s about 80 million homes.” — Grant Gunnison“The number of people that fall into the climate warrior column is extremely thin… definitely less than 5%.” — Grant Gunnison“We’re reducing the amount of time a homeowner needs to spend just gathering the right information by at least an order of magnitude.” — Grant Gunnison“You cannot build your way out of the climate crisis… you have to go back in and fix the old houses.” — Grant Gunnison“We’ve delivered hundreds of projects, and now it’s about scaling the solution to be the front door for homeowners.” — Grant GunnisonResourcesZero HomesShape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you ...
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    53 mins
  • Chris Hull - Otus

    Chris Hull - Otus
    Sep 8 2025
    About the GuestChris Hull is the Co-founder of Otus, an education platform built to help schools and teachers understand students more holistically. A former seventh-grade social studies teacher, Chris brings classroom credibility and a deep empathy for the realities of teaching at scale. His career shift was driven by a simple but stubborn problem: with 150 students a year, how can a teacher truly know each child and act on that knowledge? Otus is his answer—uniting data, context and tools to make teaching more effective and sustainable.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner digs into how schools actually “run” and why the systems behind them matter as much as what happens at the front of the classroom. Chris Hull explains how Otus consolidates scattered student information—attendance, standardised assessments, classroom-level skills, interests and what’s worked before—into a single, living profile that follows each learner across years and teachers.Why it matters: teachers juggle six classes and around 150 students, making it hard to personalise learning or even keep up with who’s progressing on what. Otus acts like a Fitbit for learning—wearing it doesn’t improve outcomes by itself, but it gives visibility, saves time (often 1–2 hours per week), and shortens the loop between instruction, evidence and adjustment.Under the hood, Otus integrates with existing student information systems (no “rip and replace”), supports classroom assessments, and layers in AI to answer plain-English data questions, recommend right-time resources from content partners, and help educators build assessments faster. Commercially, Otus is bought at the district level; implementations are measured to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons, with onboarding possible inside 30 days.Market-wise, the US has ~15,000 districts and Otus reports adoption in 300+ and growing—pointing to a network effect that’s emerging but not yet fully realised. The near-term roadmap is about speed and scale: connect more systems, compress time-to-insight, and make the “every student has a plan” feature a practical norm for schools and families.Key TakeawaysUnify the data that matters: attendance, assessments (state and local), classroom skills, interests and proven strategies live together in one student profile that travels year to year.Save teachers real time: districts report educators reclaiming 1–2 hours per week, redirecting effort toward instruction and differentiation.Meet schools where they are: Otus integrates with existing SIS and testing platforms, enabling crawl-walk-run change rather than rip-and-replace.Put AI to work usefully: ask data questions in plain English, get recommended resources, and generate assessments—speeding up the plan-teach-measure loop.Scale through districts: the US has ~15,000 districts; Otus is in 300+ today with ~30-day onboarding, building momentum towards broader adoption.Notable Quotes“I had 150 students every year.” — Chris Hull“What Otus does is it puts all that information in one place and… allows you to have that articulation from one person to the next so that you’re not starting from scratch.” — Chris Hull“Learning is hard. It takes effort. So how do we get to that part more quickly?” — Chris Hull“We make it more discoverable and deliverable by using AI to just allow you to ask it in plain English.” — Chris Hull“We can get them onboarded within 30 days.” — Chris HullResourcesOtus — https://otus.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org Shape the System is an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au
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    35 mins