Our journey, like all struggling businesses, is interesting and can make for a good movie. But, broadly, we have been in existence since 2010 and built more than 7000 solar plants.
1. Tell us more about your company and your journey.
We are a company called Shashwat Cleantech and we build solar plants using photovoltaics. Most of the general information that can be given is on the website, so I will share things that may be of real interest. We try to bend the curve and come up with concepts that few ventures to do.
But, the heart of the company is - Energy Anytime, Energy Anywhere. This means that we want to build solar plants on every empty rooftop or space you see, anyhow.
Our journey, like all struggling businesses, is interesting and can make for a good movie. But, broadly, we have been in existence since 2010 and built more than 7000 solar plants. We started with LED Lighting business and now completely focus on building best-in-class solar plants.
2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?
We came up with the idea as I believe that every person on this planet has the right to access to energy at the most optimized cost. Solar PV offered this in 2011 when the prices of Solar PV suddenly crashed to 60% of what they were. We started with a project for ourselves and then started offering our services to others.
I don't know if this was an "idea". But in our business, we are similar to brick and mortar businesses. Hence, it's less about unique ideas or unicorns and more about clean execution on the ground.
I have always said that we are "glorified contractors".
3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?
Many challenges have come our way and we have tried to manage them - some well and some complete in-the-face goof ups.
From getting some credibility to managing working capital to completing execution on time to understanding government officials to understand who we are. It has been many challenges one after the other. 2020 itself, is probably the most challenging year I have seen in the last 4-5 years.
The biggest challenge remains to find dependable people. Either it is my failure as a leader or the market or the generation, I find that dependable people are the greatest asset and hence hardest to find.
4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
I really would not know as I am still not successful.
But since I read many books written by some of the greats and also admire many of them, I think the following may be helpful to anyone reading this.
1. Managing wartime and peacetime, at the right time in the right manner in the right mode.
2. Keeping calm under duress and the tightest of situations.
3. Boundless positive energy.
4. Being a giver to many and creating an entity that all stakeholders can depend on.
5. Creating a legacy that lasts with or without himself/herself.
5. What are your tips for the first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?
Be Brave, Know Who You Are, Be Kind, Multiply Quickly
6. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?
One has no option but to depend on Friends and Family initially. There are a few ways out of this.
Interview by - Soumya Jain
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