042: SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: Reducing Emissions WITHOUT Increasing Costs w/ Ampd Energy's Brandon Ng

Over the past few years, delivering sustainable solutions and reducing carbon emissions have moved up the corporate agenda. But while many people like talking about it, few are ready to act. 

One reason that people claim that holds them back is that sustainability solutions come with a green premium  - which is the additional cost of choosing a clean technology over one that emits a greater amount of greenhouse gases. But that’s not always the case anymore. 

In this podcast, we are joined by the CEO & Co-founder of Ampd Energy, Brandon Ng. His company proves that you don't have to increase your costs to decrease your carbon emissions. 

01:40 Intro to Brandon & Ampd Energy 

- How an approach from Gammon Construction in Hong Kong changed Ampd’s focus to reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry

05:00 Ampd Energy targets the construction industry, which is an industry laggard when it comes to driving productivity and innovation. However, you are seeing very strong traction in your home market in Hong Kong. What is driving your success?

- Sole focus is on the construction industry

- First customer was a marquee company - Gammon Construction

- Electric Vehicles have been in Hong Kong for over 10 years, so battery technology is viewed as “ready for primetime”, not an emerging tech. 

- The business case stacks up. Ampd Energy doesn’t come with a “green premium”, it actually reduces costs from the current solutions deployed. 

10:00 Hong Kong’s Construction Industry Council partnered with Hong Kong’s Development Bureau to launch at HKD 1 Billion (USD 130m) Construction Innovation Technology Fund. How has this been adopted and leveraged by the construction industry and what benefits has it delivered?

12:45 What are the biggest challenges you face when trying to win new business?

- Lack of product awareness leads to misconceptions and misunderstandings about what we do

- Fear of change

14:45 What is your business model? Do customers have to buy (CapEx) yoru solution or can they lease (OpEx) it? 

15:45 What are your key objectives to grow your business over the coming 12 - 24 months

- Increase market share in HK

- Expand to Singapore and other markets across Asia

- Continue to educate and advocate for greener, cleaner and quieter construction sites using Ampd’s products

18:00 What impact has the rise in importance of sustainability and reducing carbon emissions had on your business?

- Investment firms holding industry responsible for the carbon emissions

19:30 What are the Critical Success Factors for driving your long term (5-10 year) growth and success? And the biggest risks?

- Urbanisation 

- Bridging the gap in debt financing to give Ampd the working capital to build more product in advance of orders received

- Attracting talent

25:45 What do you know today that you wish you knew when you started Ampd in 2015?

26:40 When you expand into new markets, will you go direct or leverage channel partners?

28:00 How can the audience follow Ampd Energy or get in touch with you?

Website: www.ampd.energy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ampd_energy/

Brandon Ng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/branng/