Why Enpal founder Mario Kohle hires entrepreneurs for leadership positions and how he incentivises them

The Enpal success story: entrepreneurial employees, team incentivisation and scaling

In a revealing interview at Unicorn Bakery , Mario Kohle , founder and CEO of Enpal , gave a deep insight into the impressive development of his company. From hiring entrepreneurial employees to scaling and team incentivisation, Enpal has become a leading player in the renewable energy sector. This article summarises the key learnings and offers valuable tips for founders looking to build a startup or company.

Hiring entrepreneurial employees: The key to success

Mario Kohle emphasises the importance of entrepreneurial thinking throughout the team. "Almost everyone in the senior leadership team originally wanted to start their own company and now work at Enpal in an entrepreneurial and free way," he explains. This attitude has helped Enpal to successfully manage several products and countries at the same time. Kohle sees his role not as a boss, but as a sparring partner and coach who helps other entrepreneurs to succeed. This philosophy enables the company to react quickly to new market conditions and drive innovation.Call to action: Hire entrepreneurial-minded employees. Look for people who originally wanted to start their own company and offer them the opportunity to work entrepreneurially within your organisation.

Team incentivisation: Long-term commitment through vesting

Another important aspect at Enpal is the long-term retention of employees through exceptionally long vesting. "We probably have the longest vesting in the world. With us, vesting is for all seven years," says Kohle. This promotes long-term employee loyalty and commitment. Kohle emphasises that he only wants to work with people who are committed for the long term. This long-term perspective helps to build a stable and loyal management team that is fully committed to the success of the company.Call to action: Implement a long-term vesting programme. Incentivise your employees to stay with the company for the long term and encourage their commitment.

Scaling a company: focus and diversification

Enpal has not limited itself to solar plants, but has expanded its portfolio to include batteries, electric charging stations and heat pumps. "We launched our Virtual Power Plant, the largest in Europe, and now offer completely flexible financing," explains Kohle. This diversification was necessary in order to respond to market changes and continue to grow. Kohle emphasises that these projects were planned well in advance and are now bearing fruit. "We launched the heat pump almost two years ago. And we launched our Virtual Power Plant four years ago," he adds.Call to action: Diversify your offerings to respond to market changes. Constantly review new business opportunities and be prepared to invest in new areas to remain competitive in the long term.

Vesting and participation: Encourage entrepreneurial participation

Kohle emphasises how important it is that everyone in the team works for themselves and at the same time contributes to the well-being of the company. "I'm totally committed to everyone working for themselves first and foremost and for their own share in the company," he says. This philosophy promotes entrepreneurial thinking and personal responsibility within the team. Kohle continues: "That's why we also have a high level of entrepreneurial involvement. We also have what is probably the longest vesting period in the world. We have vesting for all seven years. "Call to action: Promote entrepreneurial participation in the team. Make sure that every employee understands that their success is directly linked to the success of the company.

Leadership and culture: trust and vulnerability

Another key to Enpal's success is an open and transparent corporate culture. "Vulnerability creates trust, and trust enables extraordinary results," emphasises Kohle. A culture in which mistakes are discussed openly and seen as learning opportunities promotes innovation and growth. Kohle explains: "We have such a positive error culture because I don't want people to be afraid of making mistakes." This culture enables employees to be creative and innovative without fear of negative consequences.call to action: Create an open and transparent corporate culture. Encourage your team to openly address mistakes and view them as learning opportunities.

Long-term partnerships and investments

Kohle emphasises the importance of building long-term partnerships with investors and partners. "We have strong entrepreneurial investments and probably the longest vesting in the world to encourage long-term relationships," he says. A solid network of supporters can be crucial to long-term success. Kohle emphasises the importance of trust and shared values in these partnerships: "I don't see it as them working for me at all. I totally rely on everyone working for themselves first and foremost and for their own share in the company. "Call to action: Build long-term partnerships. Choose investors and partners who share your long-term vision and are willing to support you along the way.

Scaling and expansion: strategic decisions

Enpal has evolved from a pure B2C company to a platform that also offers B2B services. "We have now also launched a platform that consists of a Wohlseller and our services," explains Kohle. This strategic decision has helped Enpal to open up new markets and continue to grow. Kohle emphasises that this expansion is well thought out: "We are primarily starting with solar, but we also have initial tests for heat pumps. "Call to action: Expand your business model strategically. Think about how you can expand your existing business model to tap into new markets and continue to grow.

Conclusion

Enpal's success story is an inspiring example for founders and entrepreneurs. By hiring entrepreneurial employees, long-term team incentivisation, diversification, entrepreneurial participation, an open company culture and strategic expansion, Enpal has paved the way to sustainable growth and success. Use these insights to successfully build and scale your own company.