Prageeth Jayathissa

Access to energy and quality of life have always been intertwined. As we rush toward a net zero economy and electrify everything—from cars to homes—the demand for abundant, clean electricity has never been greater. But can our current infrastructure, especially the electricity grid, handle the load? Crazy recent retail electricity prices suggest not. In this session, two pairs of visionary founders will go head-to-head to debate the future of energy. Should we reinforce the centralised grid - doubling down on existing infrastructure, and investing in data solutions to understand the system top-down? or embrace decentralised solutions — not abandoning the grid, but rather how we can best support and evolve it at a local level. Fighting for centralised grid reinforcement: ⇼ Jessica Bryan, CEO & Founder of Prospero, is building cutting-edge data tools to help electricity distributors manage grid demand, ensuring the grid stays resilient in an ever-evolving world. ⇼ Alex Cappy, CEO of Basis, leads the charge with smart home panels designed to optimize energy generation and consumption at the home level, making the grid smarter, not obsolete. Championing decentralised grid resilience: ⇼ Tama Toki, CEO & Founder of Aotea Energy, is developing a vertically integrated system that gives households and communities independence from the grid, offering a self-sustaining energy future. ⇼ Ratu Mataira, CEO & Founder of OpenStar, is pushing the boundaries of energy with a novel approach to nuclear fusion, aiming to create a future where we no longer need to rely on traditional centralised grid infrastructure. Whether you're a believer in improving centralised operations or ready to embrace decentralised solutions, this debate will challenge your perspective on how we power the future. The stakes are high, and the outcome will shape how we live, work, and power the machines in our lives.