''Receiving advice from a mentor, I learned as a CEO to look inside, outside and forward''
Francesca is the Founder of Intelligest - An Optimisation Platform For Biomethane Plants That Increases Up To 30% Energy Poduced From Organic Waste Material. She has taken the challenge to answer our 20 Truth Questions, For us to gain some insight, And learn the Truth about the person behind the venture.
My TRUTH Story:
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON TO A CROWD OF 10,000+ PEOPLE?
Francesca is British born and raised, but has lived on 5 different continents in the last 10 years.
She is currently building a business to reduce waste emissions and decarbonise our energy supply. She wants to dedicate her career and leverage her learnings to date to solving the climate crisis.
She has always been passionate about the intersection of technology and sustainability, and leveraging innovation in the right places; And believes in taking risks and dedicating oneself to solving problems we care about.
She likes tough problems, taking action and changing perspectives. With a background in commercial and operational roles across tech companies, She was excited by the untapped potential in biogas and biomethane production, where outdated software and inefficiencies limit growth.
With her cofounder Julian they are on a mission to help plants maximise profitability, reduce downtime, and boost production using data science and machine learning.
2. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A TRUTH FOUNDER?
A Truth Founder is driven by deep conviction and drive, and cares as much about how they build as what they build.
They build with integrity and solves real problems that align with their values. They focus on the type of business that they build and the people in it, ensuring that they are always leading with their values, and they also like to see their values reflected around them.
3. WHAT EVENT OR EVENTS HAPPENED TO YOU THAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A FOUNDER?
I am execution first, and have always believed that innovation isn’t just about ideas, it’s about making things happen.
I saw first-hand in the biomethane sector that plants were underperforming, wasting resources, and lacking the right tools.
It was clear to me that whilst technology exists that could empower these plants to contribute up to 30% more to emissions reductions, it wasn't happening.
I have always been passionate about making things happen, even in dirty, legacy industries. I became inspired to make a change.
4. WHAT IS YOUR MORNING ROUTINE & RITUAL? Whilst I know routine does me good, I get bored by continuity and so often shake things up.
I have been practicing Ashtanga yoga for the last 3 years and often practice for 90 minutes early morning before starting my day.
Alternatively I take out my rough collie for a walk or run to get some daylight and activity.
5. WHAT MANTRA,QUOTE,LINE OR PHRASE DO YOU SAY OFTEN TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE YOURSELF? "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." - Pericles. This quote I often think about as I go through periods of change. Ultimately what matters is the impact we leave on people, over prestige or accolades.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill. I have found a lot of the steps forward I have taken have followed after difficulty and failure. I often remind myself that it is a persistent mentality that matters most.
6. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT YOUR VENTURE? People should care about my venture because it directly tackles one of the most pressing challenges of our time - accelerating the transition to clean energy and circularity.
The biomethane sector has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, accounting for up to 30% of our gas needs and providing an immediately available alternative to fossil fuels.
We are on a mission to step up the potential of the sector, and use tehchnology to increase it's capacity and efficiency.
7. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONE TO MAKE YOUR VENTURE A SUCCESS?
We are a unique team of commercial and operational expertise and industry knowledge.
We have got to our current position through consistent execution, perseverance and problem solving.
I believe that my drive and willingness to learn is fundamental to the success of the company, alongside the extensive industry experience and strong network of my great cofounder Julian.
8. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR VENTURE? ( START WITH: IMAGINE A WORLD... WHAT IF... WE WILL BE... )
We Will Be the leading optimisation player in biomethane decarbonising our energy system.
9. ANSWER THESE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE - I BELIEVE... I DON'T BELIEVE... I believe doing things for the right reasons pays off in the long term.
Adhering to your values and respecting others will bring you success.
10. WHAT'S ONE DECISION YOU MADE AS A FOUNDER THAT COMPLETELY CHANGED THE COURSE OF YOUR JOURNEY? I decided not to quit.
We have already been through many challenges in the last 9 months of working on the business - from people to technical to financial challenges.
Once I decided that being a founder was where I could make a difference, I vowed to always find a way to keep going when times got hard.
11. WHAT DO YOU REGARD AS YOUR GREATEST SUCCESS PERSONALLY & AS A FOUNDER? I regard my greatest success professionally is assembling the great team we have onboard with us - from technical to operational experts, we have smart and amazing people working with us.
12. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY? I respect mostly my drive and determination, as well as my desire to do right by others.
I am loyal, giving and determined to always give my best to those that surround me.
13. WHAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN IMPROVE ABOUT YOURSELF, AND WHY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOT DONE IT BY NOW?
I would like to maintain a more positive mindset, and not be drawn into negativity when I am facing problems.
I would like to grow in confidence and conviction as a leader.
I have found moving into a founder role to be challenging as a young female, facing more barriers than I expected.
I would like to learn my own way to stay authentic and navigate these.
14. WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED OR GIVEN, OR BOTH?
I received advice from a mentor, that as a CEO learn to look inside, outside and forward.
This has helped me to keep a 360 view of where we are and what we need.
15. ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 10 - 10 BEING THE BEST. HOW WELL DO YOU THINK YOU AND YOUR TRUTH STORY IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD BY YOUR COMMUNITY? ( WHY NOT 10? ) 7 - People that know me well know my values.
I need to get better at articulating and communicating to a broader audience.
16. WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?
I take a lot of lessons from female leaders who have followed their values and instincts to build something.
This includes founders such as Lubomila Jordanova, but also conservationists such as Jane Goodall (always a childhood inspiration), and even my mother who has built an impactful consultant practice for international development.
17. DESCRIBE YOUR VENTURE - ELEVATOR PITCH STYLE?
Intelligest is an optimisation platform for biomethane plants that increases up to 30% energy produced from organic waste material. This could mean an additional production value of £16bn globally, and a reduction of 260,000 tonnes CH4/year.
We leverage proprietary datasets to build machine learning models that can optimise production inputs and processes, supporting plant performance and profitability.
18. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT MISSION STATEMENT OR MESSAGE + MARKET FIT FOR YOUR VENTURE?
We are the software to supercharge the biomethane sector.
19. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AFTER A LONG WORK DAY?
If I'm not exercising in nature (running/hiking/climbing are some of my favourites), I like to cook with family and friends or work on a passion project (such as a wine club I am starting).
I'm not one for sitting on the sofa or watching TV - much more of a 'doer'.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU TREATED YOURSELF TO AND WHAT DID YOU CELEBRATE? I last celebrated my 30th birthday with a big party in Italy filled with friends, family and good food.
BONUS QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING YOU ON YOUR AMBITIOUS JOURNEY?
Thank you for believing in me, it gives me confidence and conviction in myself and what we can achieve.
Become Our Next Truth Founder Today: - FREE To Submit & Be Published
Audience and Reach:
Reach: 17,000+ Subscribers & growing.
Co-Found Events: 250 - 300 People.
Audience: Entrepreneurs, Creators, Early Adopters.
Job Titles: Founder, CEO, and Business Owner.
Average e-mail open rate: 55%
GREAT NEWS: You Don't Have To Do It Alone. - This Is Your invitation for us to answer your Truth Questions Together.
Request Your Invitation: HERE
Get The Latest Founder Interviews Direct To Your Inbox!
Join Over 17,000+ Subscribers To Our Truth Founders Newsletter, Where we send you Founder interviews Direct To Your Inbox; For you to get insight, And learn the Truth about the person behind the venture from 20 Truth Questions Founders answer, For the chance to have their profiles and stories published on our site & newsletter.
MY CONTENT:
