We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Sudhakar Puvvada, Jeff Cameron, and Rohan Houlden, the co-founders of XD Sensor, a pioneering company focused on developing sensors to detect hazardous gasses, particularly methane. In this interview, they share insights into their mission, the inspiration behind their startup, the challenges they have faced, and the invaluable lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in the intersection of technology and environmental sustainability, their story offers valuable perspectives on innovation and perseverance.
Q1: Could you tell us a little bit about your company?
XD Sensor is dedicated to developing sensors designed to detect hazardous gasses like methane. Our initial focus is deploying these sensors in the oil and gas industry at well sites to rapidly detect leaks and comply with recently enacted EPA regulations.
Q2: What inspired you to start your own company?
The co-founders of XD Sensor were driven by the climate change challenges, particularly the significant methane leaks in the oil and gas industry. With our unique expertise, we believed we could develop a practical, easy-to-deploy sensor solution to address these issues.
Q3: What previous experiences influence your role today?
Our co-founders bring diverse backgrounds from the oil and gas industry, air quality, IoT and sensors, modeling, and RF. Collectively, we have led business development, product development, sales, and more across various large to medium-sized companies.
Q4: What are the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a startup founder thus far, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge has been developing our business and customer strategy, particularly since we are addressing an emerging problem due to the newly drafted EPA regulation.
Q5: Do you have any mentors or role models who have inspired you while you have been building your business?
Although we are in the early stages, our interaction with RIoT has been invaluable in shaping our approach and thinking.
Q6: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and future startup founders based on your own experiences and lessons learned?
Have a vision that inspires, keep an open mind, and build a strong team.