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Getting to Know You: James Villarreal, Co-Founder of The Student Energy Group

August 11, 2024

The Student Energy Group (TSEG) is a forward-thinking student bill provider and utilities company founded by a group of passionate young entrepreneurs.

TSEG is dedicated to supporting a network of landlords, student customers, and suppliers through the use of data-driven technologies and industry expertise.

Beyond its core business operations, TSEG is committed to giving back to the community and the environment, with initiatives that include team volunteering and planting a tree for every property sign-up. By integrating seamless technology with meaningful community engagement, TSEG is quickly emerging as a leader in the PropTech industry.

At the helm of TSEG is Co-Founder James Villarreal, whose leadership and vision have been crucial to the company’s rapid growth and success. In this insightful Q&A, James shares the inspiration behind The Student Energy Group, what defines the business, and the challenges encountered along the way, reflecting on the start-up journey so far.

What was the inspiration behind TSEG?

We knew people that needed our help! The Student Energy Group was founded during the 2022 energy crisis, caused by the Ukraine war – arguably the worst time to launch a software business focused on energy procurement. But we knew the market well, and we knew that many people needed our help. We expected challenges, but we had the platform technology to support our landlord customers and suppliers, helping them maintain income streams that some companies rely on. What started as a group of friends wanting to work – and play more golf – together has now evolved into an excelling company. Yes, work has taken over, but we wouldn’t change it for the world.

Who do you admire?

This might sound a little cheesy, but genuinely, the people I admire the most are the team around me. Their dedication and relentless passion to do more inspire me every day, and I have immense admiration for the work they do.

Equally, as the saying goes, behind every half-decent man is a great woman – the admiration I have for my wife for being the rock of our family is off the charts. Business is one thing, but if I went back to an empty house every night, I don’t think the business would work as well, so there’s a lot to admire about that.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Attained a PhD in hindsight! Yes, there’s a huge amount I would have done differently, but I wouldn’t change any aspect of the journey. Each experience has taught us valuable lessons as a business and as individuals, and that’s invaluable.

However, if I had to pick one thing I would have done differently, it would be conducting more thorough due diligence on key suppliers. We had to change some suppliers early on because they didn’t align with our values or meet the standards our customers deserve, which caused some pain in the startup stages and slowed us down. Doing this properly the second time around has massively helped us get to where we are now.

What defines your way of doing business?

We have one core value: to ‘simply do the right thing.’ Whether it’s for the environment, suppliers, customers, each other, or our community, we live and breathe this value. It really means something to everyone in the business, and we have countless examples of the team embodying this value. It’s what cements us all together.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

My advice is to get on with it! You won’t look back and regret the decisions you make if you’re the type of person who’s already doing it. While it is tough, you build resilience, and you find ways through the dark days. Don’t be fearful of that! The end goal is superb and well worth taking that leap.