Early Life
Hayes Barnard was born and raised in Creve Coeur, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. He was raised by a single mother. His early life experiences instilled in him a strong work ethic and a desire to help others, which would later shape his career and philanthropic endeavors.
Rise to Success
Barnard's career began during the hi-tech boom in San Francisco, where he worked at trade shows and later as a sales executive at Oracle. In 2003, he founded Paramount Equity Mortgage, one of the first online residential home loan providers. In 2008, he founded Paramount Solar, a subsidiary of Paramount Equity Mortgage, and became its CEO. Paramount Solar was acquired by SolarCity in 2013, and Barnard became SolarCity's Chief Revenue Officer. He managed a team of 8,000 and grew megawatts installed by 300%. From 2013 to 2015. In 2016, Barnard became chairman and CEO of Loanpal (rebranded to GoodLeap in 2021). In 2020, he launched the asset management fund GoodFinch.
Key Business Strategies
Barnard's success is rooted in his ability to identify opportunities in the market and develop innovative solutions. He recognized the potential of online mortgage lending early on, launching Paramount Equity Mortgage. He later saw the growing demand for solar energy and founded Paramount Solar. Through GoodLeap, Barnard pioneered a point-of-sale app that facilitates instant financing for homeowners seeking climate-friendly upgrades. Barnard is known for his resilience, and ethical choices, and for building value in hard markets.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Barnard founded GivePower, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing clean water and energy systems in underserved communities worldwide. GivePower has projects in 17 countries, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His nonprofit built a solar-powered desalination system in Kiunga, Kenya, producing 19,800 gallons of fresh water daily. He also assisted the Sioux Nation in North Dakota in developing the state's first solar farm.