Most CEOs believe they can’t afford senior talent early on. François Byrne learned the hard way that you can’t afford not to.
François is the founder and CEO of Hybrid Power Solutions, a Canadian company that designs and manufactures industrial-grade, fuel-free power systems for construction, mining, and military use. He started the business in his parents’ basement, driven by one goal: to solve high-value problems with reliable technology. Nearly a decade later, Hybrid Power Solutions powers some of the toughest job sites on Earth and François is scaling fast by building smarter, not cheaper.
From Fashion to Fuel-Free
Before founding Hybrid Power Solutions, François ran a fashion startup. It didn’t work out but it prepared him for entrepreneurship.
“I think the idea was solid… but I quickly realized fashion wasn’t exactly for me,” he told me. “It was a good practice round for what I’m doing today: pitching, building, selling.”
The failure taught him resilience and the power of iteration. As he put it, “Every pitch competition was just another sales meeting in disguise.”
The Engineer’s Trap
Like many technical founders, François initially focused on perfecting his product.
“You can spend a lifetime perfecting a product,” he said. “At some point, you have to make the call, probably earlier than you’re comfortable with, to just get it out there.”
He learned that real-world use reveals problems the lab can never. Early customers became collaborators, not critics, helping refine the product through feedback.
Your First Hires Define Your Company
François used to hire “young guns” with energy and ideas. Now, he hires experience.
“I’d rather get one really good experienced person over three juniors,” he told me. “Unfortunately, your first hire should actually be some of your most expensive. They’re going to form the foundation that makes sure it doesn’t take you ten iterations to get it right, it takes two or three.”
He once lost over half a million dollars fixing a software issue that a senior hire would have caught instantly. “Whatever you think you’re saving in salary,” he said, “you’ll pay in product returns, warranty claims, and lost business.”
The CEO’s Role in Sales
François embodies what I call the hands-on CEO. He stays close to customers because that’s where scaling ideas come from.
“There aren’t enough CEOs out there, especially once companies grow past 20 people, who stay connected to their customers,” he said. “That’s when you start losing touch with what people actually need.”
His newest product, Solar Tarp, was born directly from field conversations. Construction and military clients wanted faster, more portable solar setups. Hybrid Power Solutions delivered, creating a solar array deployable in minutes instead of weeks.
Partnerships Are the Shortcut to Scale
After nearly a decade in business, François discovered what he now calls the “rocket fuel” for growth: partnerships.
“For a small startup, you’re lost in the noise,” he said. “Partnerships with established brands give you instant visibility and credibility.”
He admits he should have done it sooner. Partnering with larger players not only accelerates distribution. It lends the kind of trust startups can’t buy.
AI Is the New Efficiency Engine
Hybrid Power Solutions is now integrating AI into its IoT platform for predictive maintenance and energy optimization.
François explained how AI will soon make microgrid systems more autonomous:
“If our battery hits 15% before sunrise, AI will decide whether to start the generator or wait another hour for the sun. That small tweak might save a few liters of fuel but across hundreds of units, that’s huge ROI.”
It’s a perfect example of how AI drives not just innovation, but profitability.
The Founder’s Evolution
After ten years, François has learned what every CEO eventually does: growth comes from mindset shifts, not just market moves.
He’s gone from engineer to entrepreneur, from perfectionist to pragmatist and from scrappy operator to systems thinker. Each stage required him to outgrow old habits and hire people who’d already been where he wanted to go.
Final Takeaway
François Byrne’s journey proves that cheap hires cost far more than great ones. Early experience sets the foundation for scale, partnerships multiply momentum and staying close to customers keeps innovation real.
I’m Glenn Gow. I coach CEOs who want to scale without waste by hiring right, partnering smart and leading with precision. On my podcast, I reveal the strategies top leaders use to grow bigger, faster and stronger.Listen to the full episode of The Scaling CEO with François Byrne for lessons on leadership, hiring and scaling through smart execution.
