Benevolent Disruptors

To open this conversation, Rory Mounsey-Heysham sits down with Greg Jackson - founder and CEO of Octopus Energy - one of Europe’s most successful tech companies and a driving force in the energy transition. Greg shares how Octopus grew from humble beginnings into a global energy and technology leader, serving millions of customers and managing billions in renewable assets. From challenging incumbents to redefining regulation, Greg embodies the spirit of “benevolent disruption”: building big businesses that make the world better.

In this wide-ranging discussion, Greg reflects on his journey from Halifax to leading a multi-billion-dollar company, the philosophy behind Kraken (Octopus’s proprietary tech platform), the importance of capital and agility, and why he believes clean energy must be cheap, fast, and fair.

Key Takeaways

  • Energy as a tech problem: Octopus was founded on the belief that modern software could transform an outdated, inefficient energy industry.
  • Capital and resilience: Greg emphasizes raising funds before you need them - “no one ever went bust because they had too much cash.”
  • Agility as a superpower: Proprietary technology allows Octopus to innovate faster and outpace incumbents in integrating renewables and new products.
  • Purpose with pragmatism: Energy should be fairer, cheaper, cleaner but it must also deliver returns to scale impact.
  • Regulation reform: Greg advocates for “refactoring” outdated regulation halving timelines and simplifying systems to unlock innovation.
  • Energy transition politics: Clean energy must be reframed as a cost-reducing, prosperity-driving movement, not a cultural wedge issue.
  • The benevolent disruptor mindset: “The Good Samaritan couldn’t have helped anyone if he didn’t have the cash.” Scale and success are prerequisites for meaningful good.

What is Benevolent Disruptors?

"Benevolent Disruptors” is a podcast series, co-hosted by the Managing Partners of BNVT Capital, Rory Mounsey-Heysham and Chris Corbishley. In this series we interview leading founders, investors, allocators, and regulators on the role of business and technology in society.

As individuals, business and governments grapple with the implications of a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Benevolent Disruptors provides a more optimistic view on how technology changes lives. We learn from the inspirational stories of those building big businesses tackling our most pressing challenges.