James McWalter

Here’s why you should know about James McWalter. This guy’s the real deal in the startup world, and his story’s just as wild as his ambitions. So, he’s the CEO and founder of Paces AI – a badass venture-backed startup that’s all about giving green infrastructure developers, operators, and investors the data and analytics they need to crush it. His mission? To make every piece of land in the world work for the climate, no bullshit. Crazy ambitious, right? But that’s James for ya.

He rolled into YC’s S22 batch after bouncing around with a bunch of other startups – Respondent, Hello Vera, Hale, and even some gigs in data sales to hedge funds and asset managers. Basically, he’s been around the block, trying to make shit happen. But YC really flipped the switch for him. He’s all about rapid iteration now, customer obsession, that fast-moving startup grind. Says YC taught him how to keep pushing, keep testing, and not get stuck in the bullshit.

Before all that, he was into some pretty diverse stuff – sold data to hedge funds, built portfolio tools for big EMEA wealth managers, even worked as a butcher, cook, and forestry guy. Yeah, he’s done everything. But what’s wild is his background growing up on an organic farm in County Mayo, Ireland, then bouncing to upstate New York. That’s where the environmental fire got lit in him early on – it’s part of what drives his focus on green tech now.

He’s also super into philosophy-got an MLitt from St Andrews and a BA in Philosophy and Psych from NUI Galway. No cap, dude’s always been a thinker. But he doesn’t just talk about ideas; he’s built stuff that actually moves the needle. Before Paces, he founded Hale, a personal training marketplace, and was the first employee and biz dev guy at Hello Vera, an AI chatbot startup that got snapped up by a big tech player. The hustle runs in his veins.

Oh, and he hosts the Carbotnic Podcast, where he chats long-form with cleantech experts. Basically, he’s all about spreading the knowledge and getting the word out about what’s possible when tech meets climate action.

Bottom line? James isn’t just some startup guy chasing a quick win. He’s driven by a genuine passion for the environment, backed by a wild mix of experiences, a philosophy mind, and a hustle to build meaningful tech. He’s proof that if you keep jumping into new problems, learn fast, and stay focused on the big picture, you can actually make a dent in the world. That’s why he’s so important – he’s pushing the green tech revolution forward, one data point at a time.