HeadRoom with Karl Liapunov

HeadRoom with Dr. Rod Berger

HeadRoom with Karl Liapunov

This is one of Berger's favorite episodes of the year - go behind the scenes with a leading entrepreneur who left the U.S. for Norway to become the Head of Energy at one of the world's most prolific incubators. Karl is transparent, inspiring, and just downright likable.

Karl Liapunov grew up in Ridgefield, CT, with an American father and a Norwegian mother. During his time in high school, he was an avid volleyball player - winning two state championships and finishing his last season as the Player of the Year.

Upon graduating high school, he moved to Los Angeles, where he received his degree in International Relations and Global Business at USC and also spent time working for a number of startups. After 4 years in LA, Karl moved to Houston, Texas, to join the Energy Tech team at Tudor, Pickering, Holt - an energy-focused investment bank. While at TPH, Karl worked closely with companies that were developing new technologies to revolutionize the energy industry on M&A transactions and capital raising.

In 2021, Karl decided he wanted to work with startups that were focused on the energy transition and climate tech, and there was no better place to do that than in his mother's home country. So in August of 2021, Karl moved to Oslo. Today, he is the Head of Energy at Startuplab - Norway’s premier startup incubator and early-stage investor.

Outside of work, Karl continues to nurture his love of volleyball by playing on the Norwegian Beach Volleyball Tour and has found a new passion for exploring Norway’s natural beauty on a mountain bike.