🎙️In this episode of Inside Story, I talk to Imeshi Weerasinghe, co-founder and CEO of WEO, a Luxembourg-based startup transforming satellite data into climate resilience tools.
🤔 Imeshi shares the journey of founding WEO with a clear mission: to create real-world environmental impact, not just chase profits. She opens up about the challenges of long sales cycles, resisting pressure to scale at all costs, and the financial balancing act of working with both grant funding and paying clients.
🤓 We also dive into the experience of being a woman founder, why WEO is committed to a family-friendly work culture, and what “balance” truly looks like when you're building a startup and raising a family.
‼️ This episode is a must-listen for anyone building purpose-led businesses, especially in climate, tech, or impact-driven sectors.
Chapters:
00:00 | Intro: WEO’s Mission and Vision
06:33 | Making Satellite Data Actionable for Clients
08:23 | Choosing the Right Clients in the Early Days
11:21 | Navigating Long Sales Cycles Without Burning Out
14:07 | Expanding WEO’s Work into the Humanitarian Sector
17:22 | Grants vs. Paid Projects: Finding the Right Funding Mix
21:37 | Why WEO Chose Not to Chase Exponential Growth
25:10 | Staying True to Your Mission While Scaling
30:05 | Being a Female Founder in the Climate Tech Space
33:29 | Building a Family-First, Flexible Startup Culture
35:46 | The Ongoing Challenge of Balancing Life and Leadership