# Joost van Cruchten - Energy Innovation Professional
Source: https://hello.cv/joostcruchten
Barcelona

## Links
- LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/joost-van-cruchten/
- Email
- Phone

## About
Dynamic Energy Innovation Professional with a proven track record of leading multi-million euro EU projects, managing high-performing teams, and driving strategic initiatives in the energy transition sector. Blending entrepreneurial acumen with deep expertise in energy policy, asset analysis, and data-driven solutions, I excel at transforming complex challenges into impactful, sustainable outcomes for public and private stakeholders. Seeking to leverage my strategic thinking and innovation management skills to advance cutting-edge energy solutions and foster societal impact.

## Work
### Founder | Focal Grid
Led the founding and strategic development of Focal Grid, a grid-planning software startup aimed at urban energy transition coordination.
- Pitched innovative grid-planning software to NL's three largest DSOs (10M+ connections), demonstrating deep market understanding and strategic communication.
- Identified critical market timing challenges for a pioneering solution, informing strategic pivots and future development.
- Spearheaded the conceptualization and initial launch strategy for a software solution addressing urban energy transition coordination.
### Team Lead - Local Energy Systems | Bax Innovation
Led a 7-person team within a European innovation consultancy, driving revenue growth and strategic project acquisition in local energy systems.
- Managed a 7-person team responsible for €650K annual revenue, consistently presenting performance to C-level management in quarterly reviews.
- Co-led the acquisition of strategic projects ranging from €20K-360K, securing public-private collaborations in management, advisory, and development.
- Drove team performance and strategic direction in the local energy systems domain, achieving revenue targets and fostering key partnerships.
### Project Lead - Energy | Bax Innovation
Directed multiple large-scale EU energy projects, providing strategic advice and developing policy recommendations for diverse stakeholders.
- Managed multiple €5M+ EU-projects, each involving 12-15 EU stakeholders, focusing on Energy Planning, Communities, and Smart Energy Hubs.
- Delivered comprehensive EU market studies on emerging energy topics (e.g., DSO-city collaboration), translating insights into actionable policy recommendations and strategic client advice.
- Orchestrated complex project timelines and deliverables across diverse international teams, ensuring successful project execution and stakeholder alignment.
### Business Developer & Advisor | Starke Energy
Drove business development and advisory for Starke Energy, a social spin-off delivering integrated BESS-as-a-Service solutions.
- Managed the full project cycle for a 160 kWh / 80 kW BESS-project, overseeing implementation and both Front-of-the-Meter (FTM) and Behind-the-Meter (BTM) activation.
- Developed a compelling €2.5M+ investment case for a 3MW Virtual Power Plant across 20 residential complexes in Amersfoort, NL.
- Conducted in-depth technical analysis and modeling of building energy systems, integrating PV and BESS to optimize performance and value.
### Energy Innovation Consultant | Bax Innovation
Contributed to the development of major EU innovation programs and supported project management for advanced energy concepts.
- Co-developed €5-10M+ innovation programmes for the European Commission, targeting innovative energy concepts (Digital Twin, Virtual Power Plants, Energy Communities, Collective Self-consumption).
- Supported comprehensive project management, including EU-level reporting, budget management, bid preparation, and tender processes.
- Facilitated the advancement of innovative energy concepts through detailed program design and administrative oversight.
### Business Analyst | MAN Energy Solutions
Enhanced global sales process efficiency and supported business development through data-driven strategies and analytical tools.
- Built automated, user-friendly dashboards using Power BI and SQL for operational and C-level stakeholders, improving data accessibility and decision-making.
- Delivered quantitative pre-sales analyses in Excel for teams across EMEA, APAC, and America, directly supporting global business development efforts.
- Implemented data-driven strategies by integrating SAP & CRM systems, significantly enhancing global sales process efficiency and effectiveness.

## Education
### Tilburg University | Strategic Management: Entrepreneurship
8.5/10
- Winner Best Master Thesis Award
- Thesis: "Ownership Advantages as a Source of Competitive Advantage in the Sharing Economy"
### Hanze University of Applied Sciences | International Business & Languages
- Thesis: Internationalisation strategy for a Dutch CoWorking
### FHWien der WKW | Management & Entrepreneurship
- International exchange programme of 6 months

## Languages
- Dutch
- English
- Spanish
- German

## Skills
### Leadership & Management
- Team Management
- Coaching
- Multi-stakeholder Management
- Project Management
- Innovation Management
### Strategic & Advisory
- Strategic Thinking
- Strategic Advisory
- Entrepreneurial Mindset
- Business Development
- Policy Recommendations
- Market Analysis
### Energy & Innovation
- EU Project & Innovation Management
- EU Energy Policy & Funding
- Energy Asset Analysis (PV, BESS)
- Local Energy Systems
- Smart Energy Hubs
- Virtual Power Plants
- Digital Twin
- Energy Communities
- Collective Self-consumption
### Data & Analytics
- Data Analysis (Excel)
- Data Visualisation (Power BI)
- SQL
- Quantitative Pre-sales Analysis
- SAP Integration
- CRM Integration
### Communication
- Public Speaking
- C-level Presentations
- Stakeholder Engagement
### Project & Program Management
- EU-level Reporting
- Budget Management
- Bid Management
- Tender Preparation
- Project Cycle Management

## Source
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