Picasolar CEO Attends First-Ever White House Demo Day

University of Arkansas-affiliated Picasolar Inc. has racked up prestigious honors and national acclaim for its breakthrough work in solar energy efficiency throughout the years, and CEO Douglas Hutchings has individually received a great deal of attention, as well.

That continued on Aug. 4, when Hutchings was one of 50 entrepreneurs from 30 companies invited to the White House for its first-ever Demo Day. The name is a nod to events where startups and inventors pitch their ideas and products. However, in this case, the presenters told their entrepreneurial success stories.

“It was fun to meet a diverse group of entrepreneurs from around the country,” Hutchings said. “People seemed genuinely excited to hear everything going on in Arkansas, because I was bragging on our developing ecosystem a lot.”

For Hutchings, highlights of the event included meeting President Barack Obama and also Megan Smith, chief technology officer for the United States.

Also, “getting to wander around the White House and Eisenhower Executive Building was great. I was able to stand in the front door of the White House and look out on where I had stood as a tourist on the last [Washington,] D.C., visit,” he said.

Hutchings was also tapped by Inc. magazine, on Aug. 17, for his advice on reaching your mind’s full potential.