Bill Lenihan is the Founder and CEO of ZOLA Intelligence (ZOLAi), a company delivering AI-driven enterprise technology solutions that are transforming energy infrastructure in emerging markets. Under his leadership, ZOLA has expanded across multiple countries, supported hundreds of thousands of off-grid facilities, and secured over $25 million in Series A funding. Bill has held operating and private equity roles at Goldman Sachs, Bain & Co., Calera Capital, and Switch Lighting, shaping his expertise in business expansion. He holds a BA in business and economics from UCLA and an MBA from The Wharton School.

Across much of the world, access to reliable energy is still expensive, fragmented, and heavily manual. Communities and businesses often rely on outdated systems that are difficult to scale and maintain. What would it take to transform this broken infrastructure into an intelligent, connected energy network?

According to Bill Lenihan, an entrepreneur and operator focused on energy access in emerging markets, the key lies in turning inefficient, fragmented systems into streamlined, intelligent platforms without needing to fully replace what already exists. He highlights the evolution from distributing solar-powered hardware in remote regions to building a data-driven, software-enabled model that improves deployment, maintenance, and financing. A major turning point came when large-scale operational challenges revealed the limits of manual coordination, accelerating a shift toward automation and intelligence. This approach has enabled more scalable, affordable, and sustainable energy access while improving outcomes for end users and operators alike.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Bill Lenihan, Founder and CEO of ZOLAi, to discuss building an AI-native enterprise to solve global energy challenges. They explore the shift from hardware to software-driven energy services, how automation and AI scale infrastructure in emerging markets, and how data unlocks financing and access. Bill also shares insights on enterprise sales, telecom partnerships, and building a board with relevant operating expertise.