Josh Aviv of SparkCharge and Matt Petersen of LACI on Scaling Mobile EV Charging Through Cleantech Innovation and the Power of Climate-Focused Incubation

Do One Better with Alberto Lidji in Philanthropy, Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship

This conversation offers an illuminating view into the intersection of entrepreneurship, climate innovation, and ecosystem-building, as seen through the partnership between SparkCharge and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). Josh Aviv, Founder and CEO of SparkCharge, and Matt Petersen, President and CEO of LACI, detail the transformative impact of incubator support on the successful deployment of cleantech solutions—particularly in addressing the critical infrastructure gap in electric vehicle (EV) charging.

SparkCharge has emerged as a category-defining company in mobile EV charging. Its innovation lies in offering modular, off-grid battery systems capable of delivering fast, flexible charging to electric vehicle fleets without requiring permanent infrastructure. This is particularly significant in a landscape where the traditional rollout of fixed EV charging stations can take years. By contrast, SparkCharge can bring fleet operations online within days. The technology is not only scalable and cost-effective but addresses a central barrier to EV adoption in underserved or infrastructure-poor locations.

Central to SparkCharge’s success is its long-standing relationship with LACI. Matt Petersen outlines LACI’s mission to build an inclusive green economy by supporting early-stage climate-focused ventures through incubation, access to capital, and workforce training. SparkCharge’s trajectory through LACI exemplifies this support in action. From winning the California Climate Cup in 2019 to refining investor pitches, connecting with early customers, and leveraging non-dilutive funding and working capital, SparkCharge benefited from a full-spectrum, hands-on approach to scaling.

LACI’s model demonstrates how climate incubation can go beyond office space and mentoring. Their wraparound support includes executive coaching, pilot funding, capital stack innovation through debt and equity funds, and workforce integration. Notably, SparkCharge leveraged LACI’s microloan program—created to fill a critical gap in startup financing—alongside its ecosystem of commercial partners and regulators, including influential environmental agencies and private investors who visited the LACI campus to see SparkCharge’s technology in action.

Aviv articulates the entrepreneurial journey with candor, underscoring the emotional endurance, strategic clarity, and spiritual conviction required to lead a startup addressing systemic challenges. He emphasizes that being an entrepreneur demands both resilience and vision, particularly when pioneering novel business models that must educate the market as much as serve it.

Petersen complements this by advocating for a broader understanding of entrepreneurship—not just for founders, but also for civic and social actors he calls “citizen entrepreneurs.” He urges others to find opportunities in their own communities to champion sustainability, reinforcing the importance of localized, mission-driven leadership at every level.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 300 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.