How much do you actually know about Solar Panels?
Kiran is here to tell all…
Although I am aware of the premise of solar panels (I’ve watched a lot of Grand Designs episodes as well as seeing them popping up around the UK either as solar farms or on people’s own houses) it wasn’t until Kiran took me through some of the elements using his handy app that I finally see where the investment in technologies such as solar panels is key.
Energy Future World is on a mission to educate – inspire and motivate others to not only invest, but take necessary action.
Kiran and Andrew celebrating endorsement in London
Born into a middle-class family taught Kiran the values of hard work, determination, and making a positive impact on the world. These values have been his guiding principles throughout his journey, from early years to founding Energy Future World (EFW).
‘Growing up in Palakkad, Kerala, I was surrounded by nature — vast stretches of paddy fields where I spent my childhood running and playing with friends. Those carefree days in the fields were full of fun, but they also shaped my connection to the environment and gave me a deep appreciation for the natural world.
Alongside my love for the outdoors, I had a strong curiosity about how things worked. I would spend hours taking apart toys, gadgets, and machines, trying to understand their inner workings. This fascination with problem-solving and technology stayed with me as I grew, eventually leading me toward science, engineering, and ultimately, renewable energy. My early experiences helped me realise that technology could not only improve lives but also protect the environment I cherished.’
Working for a start-up in India, Kiran was given real insight into solar panels, final understanding the impact they have on our global energy. He knew he needed to be part of it, but not just a small part – leading the way with technologies to accelerate solar energy into our world.
Although a lone wolf in the grand scheme of things (Kiran has moved here to the UK alone), he mentions that what is absolutely key in business is to have a c-founder or multiple partners to help run the business: ‘I met my co-founder at a networking event, I would highly recommend taking yourself to those kind of events if you can. There are so many like-minded, trustworthy people who can join you on your business journey to create something really successful’.
Kiran has also collaborated with a chartered accountant from India. Between them the three of them are often brainstorming and putting their minds together to help grow, scale and improve their business Energy Future World.
Patience is a skill that Kiran has had to adopt very early on in his own business journey. Although keen to get their business established, it is over a year since they started building EFW. But good things take time and Kiran understands that there is no point in running before learning to walk. Compliancy in this industry is something others tend to overlook, however Kiran isn’t ready to take any chances here. EFW must be as legitimate as possible, especially if the team wish to onboard some major, trustworthy clients and get those key investments.
Since coming to the UK, Kiran knew it was somewhere he wanted to settle long-term. At the end of his graduation in November 2022 from Cranfield University , he dove into the visa application with Innovator for his business. Although his endorsement was denied, this didn’t deter Kiran. His scores were good, so he set to work on his appeal. With support he was able to thoroughly review his business model, tweaking where it was necessary. Success! He was in.
Back to the solar panels – after we covered Kiran’s move to the UK, his work building up the business with his co-founders and went through his future goals for Energy Future World (we will cover those in a bit more detail later…) I couldn’t help asking Kiran to show me more. He was more than happy to screen share and take me through all the elements of his demo app and site.
It really was eye-opening. Being a visual learner, Kiran took me through how the app would work for an investor. The available projects are there to click through, each showing their own specific data, including how a personal investment would help, what impact it would have on that part of the world/country, heat maps showing the climate as it stands versus how the solar panels could change this for the better. There was also investment options, payments etc. A very easy to navigate app that anyone regardless of their knowledge on the subject could easily use!
Although the business is yet to really launch fully and start providing access to investors in the solar panel projects, Kiran is not exactly sitting around. In fact, he longs for the days of doing almost nothing. Instead, he is gearing up for multiple large-scale events across the UK and abroad attending on behalf of his co-founders, plucking up the courage to go on stage and speak to huge crowds of people, educating them on the global issues we face and how Energy Future World is here to help.
‘We don’t want to just be a cog in the system. We want more than that’
‘My first time pitching on a big stage was really nerve-wracking. I’m not used to talking to so many people at once. To help I meditated for 10 minutes before my slot, devising my speech beforehand. That calmed me down enough to focus on the key information I needed to deliver, I know there is pressure for us to get this right.’
Every time Kiran gets up on stage to continue spreading the word about EFW he changes his story slightly as he hates the idea of being too robotic or repetitive. His goal is to grow the business here in the UK but also expand his team internationally, especially in areas where the projects are taking place, such as Portugal.
If you too want to invest in the future of our world you can join the waitlist on their website: https://www.energyfuture.world/ or even better contribute by joining beta testing.
Kiran has also written his own Founder’s Journey, snippets have been shared throughout this story but find his full write up here: https://founders.energyfuture.world/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/efw_admin/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-future-world-efw/
