Born and raised in Blaine, Minnesota, Chad Sorenson, President and Co-Founder of SunPeak, grew up immersed in a culture of innovation as his father was an engineer and his family embraced a mindset of hard work and creative problem solving. His cousin, who charted an independent course in both business and life, particularly inspired him. “My cousin’s ability to kind of chart his own path and do his own thing and actually own something rather than just build value for somebody else. It was really early in my life that I was like, how could I combine these two things? And, you know, it was obvious. I wanted to develop new products and take those products to market with my own company.”
Chad’s academic journey led him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Motivated by the desire to turn his passion for innovation into something tangible, he later pursued his MBA degree in Entrepreneurship, graduating in 2002. The combination of his engineering background and entrepreneurial mindset provided the perfect foundation for what would become a diverse and successful career.
Chad’s entrepreneurial spirit manifested early in his career when he launched and successfully sold two different businesses: Fluent Systems (2002-2003) and Sologear (2004-2011). However, it was in the solar-energy industry that he found his true passion. Chad’s engineering expertise, combined with the invaluable partnership of Carl, a solar energy professional with extensive experience in large-scale projects across Europe and Japan, set the stage for SunPeak.
SunPeak is a long-term solar energy partner that integrates solar technology to be sustainable, reliable, and powerful. The company has been a major player in the US solar market, where solar has emerged as the fastest-growing form of new power generation. SunPeak’s largest projects include solar installations at major hospitals and across the UW-Madison campus, highlighting its impacts on the local community and energy sector.
When reflecting on what drives his ambition, Chad notes: “What attracts me to entrepreneurship? I like independence and the sense of ownership. I also like the fact that there’s unlimited upside in the equation. But I think probably what drives me almost above everything is the fact that I know it’s very challenging”
“I feel very fortunate that I have been able to carve my own path and stay in Madison. I love living in this city and I like the continued relationship with the Wisconsin School of Business and the UW. Another advantage I think of doing your own thing is that a lot of people get pulled in all different directions because they are chasing a job. And I have sort of taken the opposite approach. I have decided that I love living here. And so what opportunities can I create for myself, without having to change that variable?
Beyond his business ventures, Chad is deeply committed to giving back to the next generation of entrepreneurs. He serves as an advisory board member for the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship. As someone who has benefitted from the resources available at UW-Madison, Chad is passionate about supporting students as they pursue their own paths. “There’s a saying you don’t even know what you don’t know. And that’s so true,” Chad shares. “Everything that comes out of UW is great. It was a huge part of why I was able to do what I did, and I leveraged so many resources.”
Chad’s journey is the proof of pursuing passion, staying true to your values, and taking bold steps to build something lasting. Whether it’s through his work at Sunpeak or his role as an advisory board member, he continues to inspire using his entrepreneurial experience to not only fuel his own success but to empower others to do the same and take risks to make change.
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