News | Eight Questions for the 'Final 8' - Laurence Kemball-Cook

Tuesday 8th November 2011

In each of the eight days running up to the 2011 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, we will be profiling each of the eight finalists to give you some background on their entrepreneurial journey so far. Our final interview is with Laurence Kemball-Cook of Pavegen Systems.

To learn more about Pavegen Systems visit Laurence's Alumni page.

Can you give us some background on how your business got started?

I have been fascinated with the built environment and, specifically the role of energy efficiency and renewable resources. I studied industrial design and technology at one of the UK’s leading sustainability/energy institutions – Loughborough University – where I initially began research into this area.

Whilst working on a placement year for one of Europe’s large energy companies, developing sustainable street lighting using solar and wind technologies, it emerged that there was a clear opportunity to use footfall harvesting as a replacement to standard solar panels. My role was working within a team to develop and commercialise a number of clean tech street lighting solutions and this experience has been key to the commercialisation of Pavegen.

I developed the first prototypes at university; upon graduation I displayed the prototype at a design show. This is where I made my first lucky break: I won the innovation prize at the Loughborough Enterprise Awards which helped me to meet companies who wanted to buy and distribute the alternative energy product. We have since closed two fundraising rounds that have allowed us to develop and have a London head office with a core team of 12 engineers, designers and experienced business experts.

What has been the biggest barrier you have overcome to get this far?

Until recently Pavegen had received no government financial support and relied entirely on friends and family to support the company. Another large barrier so far has been to get the green technology ready for production. You can easily have a working prototype however it is very difficult to get this to a sellable product that is fully compliant with EU standards and directives. Clearly, like many other young businesses, the biggest barrier has been developing all aspects of the business simultaneously. For example technology and a manufacturing base is vital, however, without the right PR you cannot connect with your target market.  Other key areas that need to have constant attention is IP, cashflow and managing relationships with key clients and partners, there are only 24 hours in a day so you have to manage your time effectively!

How has Shell LiveWIRE helped you on your journey?

Winning the Grand Ideas Award has provided us with a profile level of publicity, not just in the UK, but across the world. This includes web articles on newbusiness.co.uk and on the CNN which have increased knowledge of this sustainable solution and promoted my business dramatically.

Following the CNN article we have had a huge spike in the number of emails for orders/information, hundreds of tweets and 6,000 web clicks alone.

It’s also key to be associated with such a key brand in the energy sector that has the power to introduce new alternative energy sources into the market such as the kinetic footfall Pavegen technology.

What has been the best bit of advice you’ve received on your entrepreneurial journey?

The best piece of advice that I have been given is from Alex Chesterman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Zoopla, [which] was that ‘once you develop quickly make sure you go back and fill in the gaps to maintain the business at that level.’

Which entrepreneurs do you look to for inspiration?

Sean Phelan, founder of Multimap.  He spent several months building the initial mapping platform on his own and then released it at exactly the right time when the market needed such a platform.  I admire the way he guided the company through the growth pathway to a trade sale which requires a vast array of skills. 

I also admire key entrepreneurs in the UK such as James Dyson who has changed the view of technology and how it can be adapted to improve people’s lives just by looking at problems differently.

What are you most looking forward to at Shell LiveWIRE LIVE! 2011?

I am most looking forward to meeting with the other finalists and judges. There are many great ideas within this competition and [I] am very much looking forward to hearing their stories, what problems they have had and what we can learn from each other.

What will it mean to you and the business if you win?

It will mean a lot for me to win the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. It will also allow Pavegen Systems to gain recognition and publicity for the business so that it can grow and be a success. The grant has allowed us to update our technology, test it and implement it to get through to commercialisation.

What do you think can be done to help entrepreneurs in the future?

I believe there needs to be more government initiatives that allow ideas to flourish and go through to the next stage. I also believe that entrepreneurs need to hand down their real life experiences to others as this is not something that is easily taught in an academic scenario.

For full details on each of the eight finalists for the 2011 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, please visit the 'Final 8' page.

You can watch the 60-second elevator pitch video submitted by Laurence as part of the Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Award process in the top right-hand corner of your screen.

To keep up-to-date with the 2011 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, please follow the hastag #SLW11 on Twitter.