Dale Vince OBE, a British entrepreneur and environmentalist, has built a substantial fortune from humble beginnings, transforming the green energy landscape through a series of innovative ventures. At 65, Vince is best known as the founder of Ecotricity, a pioneering green energy company he started after constructing his first wind turbine in 1996. Over the years, he has expanded his influence beyond renewable energy into areas such as electric vehicles, sustainable sports, and carbon-negative products.

Born in Norfolk, Vince’s early life was marked by modest means and a formative experience watching his parents struggle with financial pressures. Before embarking on his business career, he lived as a New Age traveller, learning a range of practical skills including mechanics, welding, and electrics. These abilities played a crucial role in his initial ventures, like the “Windphones” project at Glastonbury Festival, where he offered phone charging via a wind turbine made from repurposed scrap materials.

Vince’s entrepreneurial journey officially began in the 1990s with small-scale wind power projects that laid the foundation for Ecotricity. His business acumen was demonstrated not only in founding one of the UK's earliest renewable energy companies but also in creating Britain's first all-electric supercar, Nemesis, in 2010. Anticipating the need for infrastructure, he established a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles a year later, even though the Electric Highway initially lost around £1 million annually for a decade before being sold for £70 million.

Apart from his green energy pursuits, Vince is chairman and a major shareholder of Forest Green Rovers, a National League football club recognized as the world’s first carbon-neutral team. He acquired the club in 2010 when it was facing bankruptcy and has since used it as a platform to promote sustainability. His ventures also include Ecotalk, a green mobile phone network launched in 2018, and Skydiamond, created in 2021 to produce diamonds from atmospheric carbon, now pivoting toward quantum diamond technologies at the government’s request.

Vince is outspoken about his financial philosophy, eschewing traditional investments like the stock market, which he describes as akin to a casino, and has no savings or pension provision. His approach centers on reinvesting in projects that align with his environmental mission, regardless of immediate economic returns. Despite occasional losses in ventures, he views them as necessary steps toward long-term innovation and sustainability.

Reflecting on his journey, Vince credits his success to a combination of practical skills, persistence, and a commitment to effecting positive change. With Ecotricity generating nearly £700 million in turnover without external investors, and the Green Britain Foundation expanding to over 1,000 employees, he continues to focus on building a greener economy. He remains candid about his lack of conventional financial security, saying he is “running headlong” into the future while contributing to projects such as woodland restoration and reintroducing beavers in the UK, funded by his commercial successes.