Bella Peterson & Russell Schell
RJ Energy Solutions (RJES) was founded with a clear mission: reduce energy waste, lower cost, improve comfort, and bring practical, innovative efficiency solutions to businesses and homeowners. After several years of experience in the corporate world, founder Russell Schell, felt called back to entrepreneurship and to his passion for advancing energy-efficient technologies.
Turning Innovation into Business
In the early stages, RJ Energy Solutions focused on executing energy-efficient solutions across a variety of sectors. Russell’s technical expertise and drive to innovate laid the groundwork for a pivotal moment in 2024, when he was connected with Bella Peterson, a UND entrepreneurship student.
As a driven and growth-focused professional, Bella helped shift the business from pure innovation to structured business execution. What had been primarily about inventing and refining solutions became a focused effort to bring those solutions to market in a scalable way. Together, Russell and Bella have built a partnership that they describe as a great crossover to execute great solutions.
Russell Schell & Bella Peterson
Solving Energy Waste with Purpose
RJES was created to address one core problem: energy waste and inefficiency. From commercial facilities to residential properties, the company works to identify where systems are underperforming and how to improve them in practical, cost-effective ways.
RJES continues to evolve, leading to the launch of a new venture, Dart Solutions. Dart Solutions is focused on providing predictive maintenance to cut down on energy waste and maintenance dollars.
Business offices represent eco-conscious and sustainable practices.
Maximizing Growth & Expansion
Growth for RJES has come through intentional development. Some of the key milestones thus far include expanding the team, investing in product and solution development, and conducting deep market research to find a niche and innovative approach to where there was a need in the market.
RJES has focused on building a strong foundation, leading to the development of an ecosystem of partnerships, refining approach, and ensuring each step taken is strategic. The launch of Dart Solutions is a great example of the thoughtful growth that takes place.
A hand holding lightbulb symbolizes sustainability and energy-efficiency.
CFI’s Impact: Strengthening the Ecosystem
Joining the UND Center For Innovation was a strategic decision for RJ Energy Solutions. The primary goal was to become more integrated with the entrepreneurial ecosystem while contributing to strong business execution.
The Center for Innovation has played an essential role in business development for RJES’s particularly by connecting the team to NSF I-Corps Hub Great Plains for in-depth market research. I-Corps also helped RJES validate assumptions, refine target markets, and strengthen the company’s value. In addition, CFI supported business planning, pitch practice and development.
Business meeting discussing sustainability and lowering environmental footprint.
Looking Ahead
As RJ Energy Solutions looks to the future, its goals are ambitious yet focused. The long-term vision is to expand across the country, delivering energy efficiency solutions to a broader market.
Through continued innovation, strategic partnerships, and disciplined execution, RJES aims to scale its impact while staying true to its purpose of helping homeowners and businesses operate more efficiently, sustainably, and cost-effectively.
Learn More
To learn more about RJ Energy Solutions, visit rjenergysolutions.com and connect with the RJES team.