ColoradoBiz CEO of the Year 2015 finalist: Sunil Cherian

He's the founder and CEO of Spirae

Cherian started Spirae in 2002 to make the technology for the smart, renewable-heavy, decentralized power grid of the future. Thirteen years later, that future has arrived.

With 50 employees in Fort Collins, the company is preparing to scale and systematize its product offerings as it moves from research and development to full commercialization. Cherian says it’s all about “getting the right type of talent … and getting the team to gel very effectively.”

“The surrounding market has really changed,” he adds. “There are a lot of opportunities in the U.S., but the biggest drag is regulatory and policy obstacles that prevent this from being adopted.”