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Our Team

Protect customer rates with smarter decisions for critical infrastructure. We build technology for faster, more defensible procurement decisions.

A high-voltage transmission tower against a teal and amber dusk sky

Why HillStar

HillStar was founded by a team with direct experience running procurement inside utilities and energy infrastructure, not a generic tool retrofitted for energy.

Built for critical infrastructure Energy Utilities Procurement

Built by industry leaders

Experience behind the platform.

Founders

Co-Founder & CEO

Nooshin Behroyan

Nooshin Behroyan is a two-decade energy and infrastructure executive and engineer focused on a defining constraint of the AI era: whether we can build the grid fast enough to power exponential growth in compute — and how AI can accelerate the decisions required to get there.

Previously, she founded and scaled Paxon Energy & Infrastructure, overseeing more than 5,000 projects supporting approximately $10B in critical energy infrastructure. Her work has been recognized through the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, YPO Global Impact Award, and Ellis Island Presidential Medal of Honor. She holds a B.A. in Architecture, an M.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and EMBAs from UCLA and Stanford.

  • Paxon Energy & Infrastructure
  • UCLA
  • Stanford

Co-Founder & CTO

Kenny Stone

Kenny Stone is Co-founder and CTO of HillStar with 25+ years of experience building mission-critical software and scaling companies across energy, infrastructure, construction, and financial markets.

He previously co-founded PlanGrid, helping bring mobile technology and AI to the construction industry. PlanGrid raised over $85M from investors including Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator before being acquired by Autodesk for $875M in 2018.

Most recently, Kenny served as Head of Software at Bedrock Energy, working on software and technology across geothermal energy and field operations. He holds a degree in computer engineering from Purdue University.

  • PlanGrid
  • Autodesk
  • Bedrock Energy
  • Purdue

Advisors

Advisor, HillStar.ai
Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Canetic Advisors

Tony Altmann

Tony Altmann is an independent director and C-suite strategic advisor with extensive experience across energy, clean technology, and the circular economy. He previously served as President of Energy Marketing & Trade at NextEra Energy, overseeing a $3B+ operation and 25,000 MW asset portfolio. Earlier, he was CEO of Allegheny & Western Energy Corp., growing the company from $8M to over $300M, and has led $500M+ in financings and 20+ M&A transactions.

Today, Tony is Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Canetic Advisors, advising investors and corporate leaders on the energy transition. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from Boston College.

  • NextEra Energy
  • Allegheny & Western Energy
  • Canetic Advisors

Advisor, HillStar.ai
Founder & President, Viridi Edge

Reihaneh Irani-Famili

Reihaneh Irani-Famili is an energy executive and strategist with 20+ years of experience across utilities, oil and gas, engineering, and consulting.

She held multiple VP roles at National Grid, leading clean energy development, infrastructure investment, transformation, and resilience, including a $3B+ clean energy portfolio and $1B in annual capital investment. As Founder and President of Viridi Edge, she advises organizations on energy growth, infrastructure investment, and emerging technologies. She brings HillStar deep utility expertise in complex investment, technology, and governance decisions.

  • National Grid
  • Viridi Edge

Advisor, HillStar.ai
Former Accenture Procurement & Sourcing Executive

Chad Gottesman

Chad Gottesman is a senior executive, entrepreneur, investor, and board leader with 30+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, and technology.

He previously led Accenture’s global Sourcing & Procurement business and founded Neuwing Energy Ventures, later acquired by Procurian. At Procurian, he grew a key business line by 300% in two years. Today, Chad is President and Board Director of Apkudo, helping drive 5x+ revenue growth and secure multiple rounds of financing. He brings HillStar deep buyer and operator expertise in procurement and technology, with an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS from the University at Albany.

  • Accenture
  • Procurian
  • Apkudo

Advisor, HillStar.ai
Founder, JoCo Advisors Ltd | Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and the United Nations

Jonathan Cohen

Ambassador (Ret.) Jonathan R. Cohen is a strategic advisor and former U.S. diplomat with 35+ years of experience, including as Ambassador to Egypt and the United Nations, and senior roles across Europe and the Middle East.

Through JoCo Advisors Ltd, he advises companies across energy, infrastructure, fintech, IT, and geopolitical risk, with a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

He brings HillStar deep geopolitical expertise, international energy experience, and senior-level relationships across the markets where its customers and vendors operate.

  • JoCo Advisors
  • U.S. Ambassador to Egypt
  • United Nations

HillStar fact

Interesting fact about HillStar

The hillstar is a hummingbird unlike any other — a tiny mountaineer built for the high-Andean desert. It thrives among barren slopes, thin air, freezing nights, and vast open skies.

Like all hummingbirds, it can hover in mid-flight with astonishing grace and precision, yet its greatest abilities are those of survival. When the mountain night becomes dangerously cold, the hillstar enters torpor, slowing its metabolism to conserve precious energy. It is small enough to hover beside a flower, yet tough enough to make its home at the edge of the sky.

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