Founder Spotlight: Martin d’Hoffschmidt, Co-Founder of Ensol

📰 Who are you, and what company have you founded?

I’m Martin d’Hoffschmidt, co-founder of Ensol.

🔥 Founder’s Spark

What’s your “why” ?

I’ve always been driven by the idea of contributing to a more sustainable future. At 16, I realized I wanted to spend my life tackling energy transition challenges.

Was there a single experience that shaped who you are today?

At 18, I traveled alone to China because I wanted to understand the pace of change happening there. That trip made me realize that engineering is what builds the future. It pushed me to study physics and engineering, and eventually toward entrepreneurship.

If you weren’t building this startup, what would you be doing instead?

Probably building another startup. There’s still so much to do in robotics to tackle environmental challenges in agriculture, waste, and beyond.

🌍 The Mission

What problem are you solving? And what happens if we don’t?

Mass home electrification at scale is complex because you have to handle installation problems (Solar, battery, heat pumps, etc.) and at the same time build the software that connects them efficiently to the grid.

If we don’t solve mass electrification, it is likely we miss 1/3 of our targets towards a net zero future.

What’s the endgame? What does real success look like?

Millions of homes and buildings becoming flexible energy hubs, intelligently connected to the grid.

🧪 The Startup Journey

What’s one hard decision you made that changed everything?

In January 2021, I decided I would build a company one way or another. I didn’t know what kind of company, but I knew it would be in the energy sector. That commitment changed the course.

Tell us about a moment that nearly broke you, and what you learned.

Before Ensol, I spent 2.5 years working on 40–50 different projects. At one point, I forgot why I was even trying. That realization helped me reset, refocus, and ultimately start Ensol.

🚀 Momentum

What’s something on your roadmap that everyone should be excited about?

From the outside, Ensol looks like an installation company. But by the end of this year, we’ll roll out our first Energy Management Services and Virtual Power Plant capabilities - becoming the first French company to deliver these services to homeowners.

🧠 Perspective

Best advice? And worst?

Best: We’re almost never ambitious enough.

Worst: Hard to choose…there’s been plenty of questionable advice.

Who’s someone outside the climate world who’s influenced how you think and lead?

Andrew Grove from Intel.

What’s one opinion you hold that most people in climate tech would disagree with?

The future of energy isn’t a world of scarcity. It’s a world where we often have too much energy. Managing abundance will matter as much as filling gaps.

🎤 For the Closing

What’s your 30-second call to action?

One way or another, we have to shift from fossil fuels to a sustainable energy based society. It’s the defining challenge of this century.

How can people help or get involved?

Pick a project or product you believe in, and start building.

Anything else you want to share about climate or your work?

Building in climate tech is incredibly hard. You need business and impact to align perfectly, and results take time. But the work is deeply rewarding.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 How has your experience been working with Endgame Capital?

Endgame sets a high bar when it comes to investing. They challenge us in the right ways and help us grow. They’re the partners who truly understand how business and climate can work hand-in-hand.