Startups, Soft Hands & Solar: Ziwen Deng on Training the Next Energy Workforce with SureStep

26/08/2025 43 min
Startups, Soft Hands & Solar: Ziwen Deng on Training the Next Energy Workforce with SureStep

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Episode Synopsis

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast!In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, I sit down with Ziwen Deng, a startup founder, innovator, and renewable energy trailblazer. We get real about the challenges of immigrant grit, the future of skilled trades, and why the renewable industry desperately needs fresh hands in the field.Ziwen shares how his journey from micro-loan projects in North Carolina farms to cutting-edge AI solutions in solar taught him the power of technology to change lives. We dive into:Why startups succeed (or crash and burn) in renewablesThe massive labor gap that is coming to the trades and solar fieldworkHow training must evolve in the attention economy (hint: it’s not about PDFs anymore)The role of AI in transforming manuals into instant, on-site knowledgeThis conversation is equal parts gritty reality check and hopeful vision for the next generation of energy workers. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build solutions at the intersection of startups, solar, and workforce training—this is the one you don’t want to miss.🌐 Learn more at suresteps.io 🔗 Connect with Ziwen on LinkedIn 🎧 Subscribe to the Watts Up Solar Podcast for more insights on the future of renewable energy.Our Sponsor for this Episode is S.E. Power Consulting S. E. Power Consulting offers Fractional Training Leadership—meaning you get expert-level training support when you need it, without the cost of a full-time hire.Whether you’re scaling up or just getting organized, we help you train smarter, not harder. Visit SEPowerConsulting.com to learn more. S.E. Power Consulting—Fractional training. Full-time results.

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