Where We Started…
The story of Accelerate Wind begins not in boardrooms or labs, but amidst the windswept landscapes of the Netherlands. It was there, during a Fulbright scholarship focused on sustainable energy, that our CEO, Erika Boeing, witnessed a powerful revelation. Buildings, acting as wind tunnels, channeled wind speeds, and creating an untapped source of clean energy right at our fingertips.
This revelation sparked a dream: to make local energy generation a reality, empowering individuals and communities to understand and manage their own energy footprint. From this dream, Accelerate Wind took flight. Fueled by Erika's vision and her experience in new energy technologies, we assembled a team uniquely qualified to tackle this challenge.
Where We Are Today…
Today, Accelerate Wind stands as a Woman-Owned Business, not just contributing to a cleaner future but also promoting diversity and inclusion within the clean energy sector. We are more than just a technology company; we are part of the sustainability movement, inspiring others to think differently about energy consumption and its impact.
Where We Are Going…
Our story is still unfolding. We are actively developing and testing our wind turbine technology, pushing the boundaries of innovation and seeking partnerships to bring our vision to life. Join us on this journey. Explore our website to learn more about our technology, our team, and our vision for a future powered by sustainable energy solutions.
Our Team is Growing
Since its inception on December 14th, 2016, Accelerate Wind has grown from a passionate dream to a dynamic team of 7 full-time members, including a strong leadership core and diverse engineering expertise.
Want to learn about the roles we are currently hiring for?
Keep scrolling to learn more about our current team…
Our Leadership
Erika Boeing
Founder & CEO
Erika has 10 years of experience working on new early-stage energy technologies. This started with work as a systems engineer at DRS Technologies where she led the development of energy, water, and waste technologies including off-grid waste-to-energy systems, water transport technologies, and energy efficiency improvements for water packaging systems. She gained experience in wind energy while doing computational fluid dynamics consulting work in the Netherlands when Accelerate Wind was born. Erika is a Fulbright Scholar, a Drawdown Climate Fellow, and a named inventor on 3 patents.
Sophie Schaffer
Chief Operating Officer
Sophie is a serial entrepreneur with a B.S. in Data Science from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. Sophie is the co-founder of B.Home, an entrepreneurship co-living startup. Her educational background and proficiency in customer discovery have been instrumental in her role as the COO at Accelerate Wind. Sophie has played a pivotal role in the company's growth, leading successful initiatives such as spearheading a rebranding effort, designing and running biyearly company summits, establishing company goals, and designing internal documentation and communication processes. Sophie's diverse skill set and entrepreneurial spirit make her an invaluable contributor to Accelerate Wind's success.
Charlie Watch
Chief Financial Officer
Charlie Walch has been starting and running businesses since 1989 including Pluton Biosciences, a micro-mining startup that generates biopesticides and antibiotics from microbes. After starting six companies on his own, Charlie provides invaluable expertise in bringing Accelerate Wind to market.
Adam Bennett
Lead Engineer
Adam is our lead engineer at Accelerate Wind. He has a strong background in fluid dynamics and system-level energy design. Holding a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Rutgers University, he has consistently excelled academically. At Accelerate Wind, Adam leads simulation and modeling work, optimizing the spoiler system through the use of CFD, neural networks, and genetic algorithms. Furthermore, he co-founded E-Wave Technologies, a small-scale wave energy startup, where he acquired $600K in grant funds, led technology development, and managed intellectual property.
coming together for windapalooza
Our biannual all-team summit, Windapalooza, embodies our collaborative spirit. Gathering members from across the country, it becomes a week-long powerhouse of planning, bonding, and strategizing the next chapter of our mission. From setting key milestones to solidifying company values, Windapalooza ensures we move forward with clarity and shared purpose.
All Hands on Deck
Our whole team gathered to strategize on what milestones we wanted to accomplish over the next six months.
Visiting Our Test Site
We took a field trip where the whole team got a chance to see our prototype together for the first time.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the values that drive our team…
Accelerate Wind’s mission is to provide safe, cost-effective, and high-performing edge-of-roof wind turbines to commercial and industrial consumers globally, guided by our core values.
We're not just building innovative wind turbine technology; we're building a culture rooted in strong values that guide our everyday interactions and decisions. Our core principles shape who we are and how we operate, ensuring a positive and productive environment for everyone involved.
Collaboration
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We foster a friendly, fun, and inclusive atmosphere where quick responses to help requests, open communication, and active listening are integral. We rely on each other, celebrate diverse perspectives, and actively engage in projects beyond our immediate roles.
Sustainability
We strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and help others do the same. We consider all emissions across our entire supply chain when making decisions and continuously seek ways to innovate and prioritize affordability, responsible sourcing, and environmental justice.
Diversity
We actively engage in company-wide discussions on diversity, recognizing that different perspectives lead to stronger ideas. We actively engage in ongoing discussions and initiatives to cultivate a workforce that reflects the richness of the communities we serve.
Care for Our Team
We prioritize a healthy work-life balance and encourage open communication, allowing individuals to speak up about unrealistic deadlines and ensuring heavy workdays are balanced with recharge time. While acknowledging the occasional need for long hours in a startup environment, we advocate for good work boundaries and respecting off-hours.
Provide Value
We focus on financial growth and sustainability, while prioritizing ethical and legal practices. Our goal is to deliver exceptional value to our customers, filling a real need without compromising on our other core values.
