What’s your story: Freddie Winterbotham?
The stories behind climate tech founders
This year, we’re launching a new series of posts profiling founders of Climate Connection’s tech community, asking them to share their journeys, inspirations, and insights into how they got to where they are today.
Today, we’re sharing the story of Freddie Winterbotham, the Head of Strategic Partnerships at RightCharge.
Here’s his story.
How did your career begin?
My first job pre university was as a hotel porter at a London members club/hotel. I had a fantastic time shmoozing international guests and earning enough tips to travel around Asia for 6 months.
After university I then went straight out to China as I wanted to experience living abroad and the second biggest economy in the world made sense. I ended up staying for 9 years, moving from tutoring Chinese students to pay for my own Chinese learning, to starting a consultancy to help send Chinese students to the UK for school. This was successful but not scalable and so I transitioned the company into an online learning company with tutors in the UK and students in China. This then took me to working with British and Chinese education companies and schools, licensing our learning solutions.
How did you learn to earn trust from major stakeholders in new partnerships?
Respect, being on it and just being myself. People like to work with people they like and so building a real relationship matters the most.
What have been the toughest challenges along the way?
COVID had a huge effect on the business I was working in, fortunately we managed to move all support and learning online but it was very challenging to navigate and keep customers happy at the same time.
Have you ever felt like giving up?
I like to frame as moving on as opposed to giving up and yes quite a few times and I have.
What has kept you going?
The fun and ownership of entrepreneurship. Yes it is challenging but you are always learning and have the power to change course.
What advice would you give to anyone else looking to build a climate tech startup today?
Just get started and perhaps don’t think of it as a climate tech startup but just as a regular startup. If the commercial model doesn’t work, the climate focus won’t save you. Plus, speaking to as many people in the community as possible, I have found in the climate world people are far more likely to give you advice and time.
Can you tell us a story about how this community or an unexpected connection helped propel you to where you are now?
I met my first co-founder in a Cafe in Beijing, he was sitting opposite me and we just got talking.
So there’s a glimpse into one of the founders of our Climate Connection community – a community built around the strategic magic of connection and intentional networking.
Interested in seeing yourself or another founder onstage?
We’re always looking for new startups and scale-ups to tell amazing stories. You can fill out our speaker nomination form here.
