New CRO among the key hires who will help the solar analytics software leader advance its mission to make the industry more productive and profitable.

Raptor Maps, the leading provider of solar lifecycle management software, announced it has expanded its team with several new strategic hires who will advance the software company’s mission to scale the solar industry. The company recently closed its Series B funding.

James Wagstaff joins Raptor Maps as the Chief Revenue Officer to lead the company’s ambitious sales efforts.  Wagstaff is an established sales executive in the energy industry with a track record of delivering high-growth results for energy SaaS and data companies.  Over the past 14 years, Wagstaff has led sales, customer success, and commercial strategy and has overseen domestic and international expansion.  Wagstaff is well-known in the energy industry for commercializing high-value software to help energy executives with their most pressing challenges.

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Raptor Maps and contributing to the stellar team that co-founders Nikhil and Eddie have built,” says Wagstaff.  “Customers look to Raptor Maps for practical, actionable data and insights to improve their solar operations and financial performance.  I’m looking forward to helping the company make the solar energy industry more efficient and productive.”

Wagstaff’s hiring is part of a larger team expansion at Raptor Maps that includes significant hiring across marketing, product, operations, software, and knowledge.

The hires include Don Nista as Head of Knowledge.  The former Director of Operations for SB Energy, Vice President for O&M at Goldman Sachs, and Vice President for O&M at Cypress Creek Renewables is charged with advancing Raptor Maps’ solar energy industry insights.  Nista will apply his hard-won expertise to the entire utility-scale and C&I solar industry and accelerate Raptor Maps’ ability to deliver value to customers across the solar lifecycle.

“It is a pleasure to join Raptor Maps and lead the company’s vision to provide solar energy industry analytics and knowledge that will transform the renewable sector,” says Nista. 

The new hires follow Raptor Maps’ $22 million round of Series B funding with significant contributions from MacKinnon, Bennett & Co. (MKB) and the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, and participation from Blue Bear Capital, DNV, Buoyant Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Data Point Capital and ENGIE New Ventures.  The funding round fuels Raptor Solar, the groundbreaking climate tech software platform that lets utility-scale and C&I solar companies standardize and analyze data, collaborate, optimize PV assets, reduce risk and ultimately lift financial return. 

“Raptor Maps’ industry-leading technology is predicated on the work of the highest caliber talent in renewable energy,” says Raptor Maps CEO and Co-Founder Nikhil Vadhavkar.  “We’re thrilled to welcome James and others to the team and know they will help advance our mission to make the solar energy industry more efficient and profitable.”