CEO Spotlight: Chris Romer of Project Canary

Chris Romer: Co-Founder & CEO, Project Canary

Chris Romer is the CEO of one of the fastest-growing companies in ClimateTech, Project Canary, who just closed $111 million in Series B funding from top climate tech and SaaS-focused investors. His history of public service, economics, and leadership in energy have all combined for his role at this Public Benefit Corporation focused on altering the course of climate change. His background in energy, education, policymaking, B-Corp capital formation, and entrepreneurship is instrumental in achieving Project Canary’s mission-driven growth goals and customer service objectives.

Chris spent 24 years developing energy infrastructure and public-private partnerships with investment banks, including JPMorgan & Citibank, and was a leader in energy policy as a Colorado State Senator from 2006 – 2010.

He is also a co-founder and senior advisor at Guild Education, one of Denver’s top unicorn-status SaaS startup. At Guild, Chris helped Fortune 500 companies partner with leading universities to offer education as a benefit to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Chris holds a BA in Economics from Stanford University. He can be found mountain biking in the Colorado mountains or doing yoga in a local studio when he’s not enjoying a Broncos game or spending time with his wife, children, and his grandchildren.

Please describe what your company does today.

Project Canary is a SaaS-based data analytics company focused on environmental performance or the E in ESG for emission-intensive companies. We are the leaders in assessing and scoring responsible operations and provide independent, measured emission profiles, including methane, via high fidelity continuous monitoring technology that helps companies take ESG action. Formed as a Public Benefit Corporation, Project Canary’s Denver-based team of scientists, engineers, and seasoned industry operators have earned recognition for their uncompromising standards and high-fidelity data.

What aspect of your team or company culture are you most proud of, and how are you maintaining it?

Being future-forward is one of the core values of Project Canary–everyone here believes in working to build a better world for future generations. We know there are incremental steps we need to take to materially impact climate change -- keeping our eyes on the future and our belief in progress combine to fortify our resolve.

What is the most important thing you're working on right now, and how are you making it happen?

Project Canary is working to alter the course of climate change. We have the climate technology that allows us to accurately represent emissions and quantify their impact. Coupling in-depth environmental assessments with real-time data that accurately measures emission profiles minute by minute (all the way down to parts per billion), will drive a new measurement-based approach to climate change.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received as a CEO?

I learned how to be a CEO from my daughter, Rachel Carlson, CEO of Guild Education. She taught me that speed is a weapon. You have to have the ability to sell a product roadmap, listen to the client, and have the guts to build it. Quickly. This understanding of speed is what helped me make the shift from investment banking to an entrepreneurial mindset.

What has been the most meaningful aspect of your engagement with the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network?

The BEN network provides a safe space for a CEO to get additional support and ideas – this is crucial for a fast-growing company like ours. Having access to like-minded and highly skilled C-suite executives gives you a ready network to try out new ideas, discuss issues, and generate inspiration.