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Basics

Describe yourself briefly.

An Economics graduate and University topper, I have experience in financial services and strategic development having worked on projects and businesses across 10 countries in Asia. I am also co-founder of an NGO and passionate about sustainability and equitable development.

Describe your Unreasonable Venture in 100 words or less.

ONergy aims to provide complete energy solutions to the rural poor – across lighting, cooking and electrification. ONergy is creating a last mile distribution and service network for clean technologies. We do so by setting up Renewable Energy Centres to manage the entire distribution value chain by providing quality products, training, servicing and financing.

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Team

Describe your relevant experience (especially entrepreneurial).

I have also co-founded an NGO, Switch ON (www.switchon.org.in) in early 2008 - focused on Climate Change and Sustainability. Before starting ONergy (www.onergy.in), i have conceptualized successful projects such as www.whynewcoal.com , www.environmentpress.in, www.kolkatacycling.com - I am still engaged with these projects through my work at ONergy. I have extensively worked and travelled in rural areas across India.

Why is your team uniquely qualified to run this venture?

We sweat it out in rural areas, leverage our wide network, understand the customer pain-points, work round the clock, possess strong business acumen and love what we do.

The team brings together people from diverse fields – Business Management, Economics, Arts, Technical. The core team (Vinay Jaju, Ekta Kothari, Piyush Jaju) has been working together for the last 3 years on projects highlighted above. We have quit lucrative international jobs in different areas and have strong and complimenting skill sets.

We are also privileged to be closely mentored by AEEI (Consortium of Selco Solar, Grameen Foundation, E+Co), Kapilananda Mondal (Ashoka Fellow), Dr Subrankar Mukherjee (Affiliate Proff at Colorado State University) and Proff. Ajay Chandak (UN Energy Consultant)

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Venture

What is the urgent social or environmental need you're addressing?

Energy access is one of the key building blocks to social and economic development for a developing country like India. The energy distribution and service infrastructure is a critical need in the rural areas to facilitate the requirements of agriculture and other activities such as enterprise development, healthcare, education and information technology etc. Which in turn would facilitate overall rural development, generate employment opportunities and alleviate rural poverty. Decentralized generation of energy through renewable sources will also assist in combating climate change by replacing fossil fuel – kerosene, diesel, wood - which is widely used in rural areas.

What is your solution to this need? Describe your business strategy.

We aim to provide complete energy solutions – lighting, cooking and electrification - to the bottom of the pyramid using appropriate renewable technologies.

We create an ecosystem which connects technology, finance and grassroot organizations - to manage the energy needs, aspirations and resources of rural BoP beneficiaries.

We set up Renewable Energy Centers (RECs or Shakti Kendras) and work through a network of trained rural entrepreneurs. ONergy also leverages the network, infrastructure and local knowledge /goodwill of the grassroot partners. This provides an efficient energy distribution and servicing channel by eliminating the middlemen. RECs operate in a sustainable (also financially viable), decentralised and scalable manner.

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Milestones

Convince us it will work. What milestones have you achieved?

Major milestones of ONergy in first 15 months of operation

1. Providing lighting and electrification to over 11,000 lives (2,300 households)
2. Established 3 Renewable Energy Centres - covering over 100 villages in West Bengal
3. Electrification of shops, houses, artisans workplace, community centres – directly leading increased income and increased savings (by replacing kerosene and diesel)
4. Development of 70 micro-entrepreneurs and trained 30 Self Help Groups
5. Built partnership with globally recognized organisations – thereby ensuring top quality, making products more affordable (through financing) and having a wider outreach
6. Built a team of 14 committed people (3 Co-founders, 2 Engineers, 6 Field Officers and 3 Part-time)

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