In this story, we shed light on Lucy Lyons, CEO and co-founder of Kestrix. Her journey from a background in politics, urban design, and social justice to spearheading a cutting-edge climate tech startup exemplifies the possibilities for young entrepreneurs in green technology. Through Kestrix, Lucy has combined her passion for environmental activism with entrepreneurial acumen to tackle one of the built environment’s most pressing challenges—energy inefficiency of buildings.
Kestrix: The Google Maps of Heat
Kestrix, which Lucy describes as “the Google Maps of heat loss,” is a pioneering climate tech and prop-tech startup. The company’s mission is to accelerate the energy retrofitting of existing buildings, a crucial step in reducing global carbon emissions. Kestrix achieves this by commissioning thermal drone flights over large areas of the built environment. The data collected from these flights is processed by advanced AI algorithms, which map how heat escapes from buildings, both qualitatively and quantitatively. These heat maps are then transformed into 3D models that provide a detailed roadmap for improving a building’s energy efficiency.
From an Idea to Execution
The idea for Kestrix originated from Lucy’s co-founder, Matt Goodridge, who, as a drone enthusiast and a homeowner concerned about climate change, saw the potential of using drones to identify heat loss in buildings. This approach not only addresses a critical need in the fight against climate change but also represents a scalable solution to a global problem. By offering a non-invasive, data-driven method to identify energy inefficiencies, Kestrix positions itself as a key player in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Founding the Team: Diversity and Inclusion in Action
When Lucy and Matt founded Kestrix, they quickly realized that their success would hinge on assembling an engineering team with a unique combination of skills and knowledge in machine learning, computer vision, and radiation physics. Lucy and Matt were determined to build a diverse team, understanding that varied perspectives would be critical in tackling complex problems.
The initial team of six included an equal gender split, something Lucy attributes partly to intention and partly to the diverse channels through which they recruited. This gender balance, along with the team’s diversity in terms of race and religious background, has been a source of pride for Lucy. She emphasizes that while diversity in startups can sometimes be difficult to achieve, it’s essential to the success and innovation of the company. Kestrix’s commitment to diversity is a reflection of Lucy’s broader belief that the tech ecosystem as a whole must address systemic inequalities.
Challenges as a Female Founder
Lucy’s experience as a female founder has been shaped by the progress made by the women who came before her. Acknowledging the challenges, such as the statistics showing that only 2% of VC funding goes to female-only teams, she recognizes the advantages of having a male co-founder in a field where diversity is still often tokenized. However, Lucy is keenly aware that her experience is also colored by her privilege in other areas, such as race and socioeconomic background. This nuanced perspective drives her to advocate not just for gender diversity, but for broader inclusion across all dimensions.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Lucy’s advice to budding entrepreneurs is to maintain a balance between work and personal life. She stresses the importance of not sacrificing relationships and well-being for the sake of the startup, as success in business should not come at the cost of one’s happiness or health.
To find out more about Lucy’s journey with and prior to Kestrix as well as her insights on diversity and inclusion, make sure to watch the interview below.
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