He was born in Berlin, grew up in Nice and now lives in Switzerland. The CEO of PLAN-B NET ZERO speaks four languages, is currently learning two more and prefers working out to spending the whole weekend at home. Known as the kind guy, no one expected him to revolutionize the energy industry. After an intense discussion with friends about the energy crisis, his mission became to put control back in the hands of consumers through a new concept: Neo Energy. To find out more about his journey, we talked to Bradley Mundt, founder and CEO of PLAN-B NET ZERO and asked him to talk about the idea behind the company, how that shapes his day-to-day and what keeps him going.

The beginning: How an energy crisis became a business idea

QUESTION: Bradley, where does the story of PLAN-B NET ZERO begin?

Bradley: 2022 was coming to an end and we were sitting down with friends, not even working on anything big, just talking and having a drink, reminiscing about uni, since a lot of us were about to finish our master's degrees, with some already talking about plans to travel the world or move abroad. At some point we were talking about the absurd financial situation at the moment. Students could barely afford their apartments due to the energy prices exploding, which got me thinking: This is a problem, a huge problem, that can be fixed. It’s a system that failed but that means, there’s got to be a solution.

QUESTION: And then?

Bradley: It didn’t leave my mind. I was thinking about it so much that I couldn’t sleep. What really bothered me wasn’t the price itself, but why people had such little control over something as fundamental and necessary as energy. We all need it to survive. So instead of sleeping, I got to writing and the first idea was to rent out solar panels as self-sufficiency for everyone and not just those who could afford it. After many discussions, adjustments and mistakes we learned from, the idea became what we now call: Neo Energy.

QUESTION: Was that your first business idea?

Bradley: Oh no, definitely not. After many business ideas, this one was different. With this idea, I stopped waiting for perfection and just started doing, because there was no right or perfect time. We just had to finally start and since we did, PLAN-B NET ZERO became more than just a business idea. It became the start of a whole new way of thinking and working in the energy industry.

The company: What PLAN-B NET ZERO really does

QUESTION: Explain Neo Energy to us as if you were explaining it to a friend over dinner.

Bradley: I like to compare it to Neo Banking. Imagine your bank only tells you how much money you have once a year, you could only get in touch with customer support when something goes wrong and you basically have no control or overview over your finances. Sounds insane, doesn’t it? But this is exactly how most people handle energy nowadays. You get a bill for your usage, that you barely understand, and then are expected to just pay for it, that’s it. Neo Energy does things differently: We’re giving you the missing control. You can see your energy consumption in real time. The system works in your favor, optimizes automatically and asks you the right questions at the right time: Should I save money for you? Energy that works in your favor, like music streaming or like your banking app.

QUESTION: Why did you set it up in Switzerland?

Bradley: That was a personal decision that was also necessary from an entrepreneurial point of view. I really like Switzerland, and not just because I live here. Compared to Germany for example, Switzerland has much lower corporate taxes, a more flexible labor market and there’s more political stability as well as less regulatory bureaucracy.

QUESTION: What was the smartest decision when setting it up?

Bradley: To not try to do everything on my own. Building a team, with people who have strengths and experience in different fields, board members and executives with 20 to 40 years of industry experience made it easier to achieve our goals and ultimately implement the initial idea of PLAN-B NET ZERO. That was the smartest decision for sure. All of that combined built the company into what it is now and we’re growing to become exactly what I had in mind on that evening in 2022.

The person: Who Bradley is outside the office

QUESTION: What do you do when you're not working?

Bradley: First thing that comes to mind would be sports. That has always been a big part of my life, since I was a competitive athlete in taekwondo and swimming. Now I like to do CrossFit several times a week, especially after work to clear my mind. It really pushes me to my limits, gets my mind off of things and keeps me moving. In winter I really appreciate living in Switzerland as I’m regularly on the slopes. Besides that, I’m really into music and I’d love to go play paintball again!

QUESTION: You grew up speaking four languages: German, English, French, and Spanish. What does that do to your view of the world?

Bradley: It opens doors that would otherwise remain closed. Talking to someone in their own language improves the quality of the conversation immediately. You'll get to an honest level faster and understand each other more deeply. This helps with networking, building partnerships, and in general creating deeper bonds with people.

QUESTION: Music plays a big part in your life, why?

Bradley: Music is my most reliable switch. Whenever I want to switch my mind off after an exhausting day, I like to listen to music. Personally, I listen to techno, especially during stressful phases. It may sound contradictory, but it works. I have around 16,000 songs on my phone and like to invest in good speakers and headphones. Music creates this different mental space that is hard to describe. It inspires me, lets me dream, and unlocks a different kind of creativity.

QUESTION: How would your friends describe you?

Bradley: Probably very direct, relaxed and funny. Always there when something’s going on but also someone who appreciates a quiet evening. We don’t really go out, like clubbing, but would rather sit somewhere to talk, laugh and spend real quality time together. By the way, as mentioned, the best ideas are born on evenings like that.

Leadership & mindset: What drives him

QUESTION: How would you describe your leadership style?

Bradley: Honest, direct, trust-based and no unnecessary hierarchies. I’ve tried to learn from leadership styles I’ve seen throughout my life and I want honest discussions, high standards and a team that knows why they’re doing it. A team that also wants to be a part of the difference PLAN-B NET ZERO wants to make. I really try to maintain a professional but friendly relationship with my employees.

QUESTION: What did you learn in your first few years as a founder?

Bradley: You plan, and you plan, and you plan, but it’ll never go as planned. The majority of plans change along the way and although that stressed me out in the beginning, I’ve started to see that as a good thing. You really have to hold yourself back and let go of what you can’t control to focus on what’s important and in your control. Otherwise you’re wasting energy that could be used for actually beneficial things.

QUESTION: How do you handle pressure?

Bradley: To be honest, even under pressure, I don’t stress much. Maybe that sounds weird coming from me but I’ve learned to balance work and my private life. Also, when there’s a problem, you can’t keep complaining and stay stuck on it but you have to start thinking in terms of solutions. Of course, it’s not always as easy as it sounds but when I do have problems that keep me up at night, I talk about them and don’t suppress them until it’s too late. There’s a solution for everything. All in all, I’d say it‘s all about the mindset.

What's coming: Looking ahead

QUESTION: Where is PLAN-B NET ZERO today, and where should it go?

Bradley: When we started in 2023, we were at 30 million in turnover. Today we're at roughly 60 million ARR. By the end of 2026, we want to be north of 200 million organically grown, without a single euro of outside capital. We’ve been tripling every year, which is rare and honestly still surprises us as we outdid ourselves. We've just founded a US subsidiary, so geographically, the vision is starting to scale.

QUESTION: Did the growth surprise you yourself?

Bradley: Yes, to be honest it did. Of course, I’ve always seen a lot of potential in Neo Energy, but these results at that fast pace, I just didn’t expect that. But I’m incredibly proud of everyone on my team and it wouldn’t have been possible without them.

QUESTION: Last question: What does Neo Energy mean to you in one sentence?

Bradley: Energy that works for you, not the other way around.