Welcome to The Zenergy Podcast! Today, Karan sits down with Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator established by the Rockefeller Catalytic Capital at the Rockefeller Foundation. They discuss Andrew’s impressive career as well as how the M300 accelerator originated. Then, they look at what some of the biggest challenges to achieving electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030 are and how they plan to address these challenges. Plus, they talk through blending renewable energy technologies with productive use appliances. Andrew shares how listening to those who are on the ground is key to being successful and gives his advice for those just starting out in their careers and hoping to progress in the international space. They also discuss how Andrew's team mediates between governments and the private sector when it comes to foreign investments as well as ways Andrew believes more private capital could be unleashed into the African markets.

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Listen to The Zenergy Podcast:   
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HEZXoEfuDa548Ty81gBWN    
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zenergy-podcast-climate-leadership-finance/id1556215421

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Connect with Andrew:  
https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/initiatives/mission-300/

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro 
0:20 - Welcome 
1:05 - Lightning round! Favorite time period, favorite song, etc. 
6:40 - Original idea for M300 Accelerator
10:30 - Biggest challenges in getting electricity to remote areas 
11:40 - How to help people overcome economic challenges 
16:20 - How M300 supports the work of World Bank and the African Development Bank 
20:20 - It is most important to work with the communities, and have people on the ground
22:50 - Renewable energy project in South Africa 
24:10 - Wind farm project in Kenya 
32:40 - Ways that more private sector money can be given to these markets
35:50 - Being the intermediary between the private and public sectors 
40:30 - Advice and key takeaways 
44:20 - Importance of listening and building partnerships with others 

Credits:
Editing: Desta Wondirad, Wondir Studios