Toby Tiktinsky, a man whose typical journey blends innovation, the environment, and entrepreneurship, embodies a new generation of leaders determined to transform how we approach sustainability and the energy transition.

His path is marked by a constant search for innovative solutions to environmental challenges, which he has approached from an economic perspective. From his early ventures in the United States, to Asia, and most recently the creation of Rebel Fuels, Toby’s story is that of a man profoundly shaped by the environment, with an ability to look beyond conventions.

An early passion for the environment

Born and raised in California, a state plagued by recurring droughts, Toby Tiktinsky witnessed the pressing environmental challenges from a young age. “I grew up camping at Lake Tahoe, hiking. These experiences gave me a strong appreciation for the environment,” he recalls. Much more than a simple love for nature, this sensitivity evolved into a true desire to protect natural resources. “When I was young, we showered using buckets to save water. This idea of conserving resources and living in harmony with nature deeply impacted me,” he adds.

Toby didn’t just observe; he sought solutions. It was first by studying environmental sciences at university that he honed his desire to combine preservation with economics. During these years, he also discovered an interest in market-based solutions to address environmental problems. It was at the London School of Economics (LSE) that this approach took shape. There, he was inspired by innovative economic models, like London’s congestion pricing, which uses the market to solve social and environmental issues.

Entrepreneurship serving the environment

His career took a major turn in 2005 when Toby, after years of working at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), founded his first company. Named ” Economic Solutions for the Environment,” this initiative aimed to leverage carbon markets to encourage investments in technologies that help address climate change. He moved to Pakistan, where he worked with industrial and manufacturing businesses to develop carbon offset solutions. “It was an intense learning period, a real testing ground for applying economic ideas in a very different context,” he recalls. His work took him to Dubai and then to New York, where he continued to explore opportunities in carbon markets.

Toby’s experience applying market-based approaches to addressing environmental concerns took an unexpected and an innovative turn when he joined Bright Farms, a startup focused on sustainable agriculture. “We applied the energy purchase agreement model to controlled environment agriculture. The idea was to provide local produce year-round, cutting out cross-country transportation, and saving water and energy,” he explains. Bright Farms stood out for the innovation of its business model, guaranteeing supermarkets year round local produce for years. His role as the director of business development helped secure major contracts, driving the company to  secure over $100 million in revenue agreements.

From consulting to creating Rebel Fuels

After leaving Bright Farms in 2015, Toby Tiktinsky returned to focus on decarbonizing industrial energy systems. He joined an early stage energy storage developer, Convergent Energy and Power, helping the company originate some of the largest customer sited energy storage systems in North America. As he focused on helping Convergent scale up  and building a team, he realized he needed to  to deepen his business management skills. Thus, he decided to pursue an MBA at HEC Paris in 2021. “I chose HEC for its energy program and international approach. What I particularly appreciated was the opportunity to work with multicultural teams and learn innovation from an entrepreneurial perspective,” he explains. During his MBA, he became passionate about a project that would change the course of his career: decarbonizing natural gas.

In 2023, after several years of reflection, he founded Rebel Fuels. The goal? To reduce the carbon footprint of industries by producing renewable methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, using renewable energy to manufacture this gas. This idea is based on the discovery of chemist Sabatier in the 19th century, which allows methane to be produced by combining CO2 and hydrogen. “Today, with cheap renewable energy, it’s possible to make this technology viable at a large scale. We have markets willing to pay much more for renewable natural gas,” says Toby.

Uncompromising commitment

Today, at the helm of Rebel Fuels, Toby Tiktinsky continues his commitment to a sustainable and viable energy transition. His career, marked by a fusion of environment, economics, and entrepreneurship, demonstrates that ecological solutions are not only a matter of regulation or good intentions, but can also be economically viable. Toby stands out for his ability to identify opportunities where others see only challenges, and for his determination to revolutionize the energy industry while staying true to his deep convictions about the need to protect the planet.

Toby Tiktinsky’s journey is a striking example of how personal commitment can transform into a global innovation engine. A model for future entrepreneurs seeking to combine economic success with a positive impact on the environment.

 

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