This Week, I had the privilege of catching up with Mr. Mehul, founder of Say Solar.
What began as a casual coffee conversation turned into something far deeper — a story not just about building a business, but about transforming a mindset, overcoming odds, and choosing purpose over shortcuts.
The Backbencher No One Expected
Let me take you back to college days.
Mehul was never the “model student.”
- A backbencher by choice.
- Low scores and barely scraping by in exams.
- He was detained in Semester 3.
To most people, that would have written him off. Nobody—not even professors or peers—imagined he’d one day lead a multi-crore business that’s shaping the future of renewable energy in Gujarat.
But behind those quiet classrooms sat a young man with fire in his gut.
A fire to do something meaningful. To build something that mattered.
Betting on Solar, Not on Shortcuts
After college, while others rushed to land stable jobs, Mehul made a choice that changed everything.
He saw the rising need — and broken trust — in India’s solar energy market. Especially in Gujarat, a state blessed with sunlight but underserved by reliable solutions.
And so, with no funding, no big brand name, and no safety net, Mehul started Say Solar — a venture rooted in trust, transparency, and technology.
His goal?
To make solar energy accessible and trustworthy for every household.
Not just installations. But education, service, and long-term support.
Numbers That Tell a Deeper Story
Fast forward to 2025, and Say Solar isn’t just growing — it’s thriving.
- 5000+ solar rooftop installations across Gujarat
- ₹22 Crore turnover in FY 2024–25
- Fully automated CRM & operations with Zoho
- A scalable dealer network expanding rapidly
- Bold mission: Solarizing 1,00,000 homes by 2030
These numbers are impressive, but what stands out more is the philosophy Mehul operates with.
He doesn’t talk like a salesperson.
He speaks like a system builder, an educator, a visionary who knows the impact of every solar panel he installs.
The Mindset Shift: From Marks to Mission
The most inspiring part?
Mehul never blames his past.
Never hides his low scores.
Never denies the tough start.
Instead, he embraces it because it shaped him.
His story is a living example of something we all need to hear more often:
“Your marks don’t define your mindset.
Your failures don’t define your future.”
We’re conditioned to believe success comes to toppers, those who tick every box.
But Mehul proves it’s effort, resilience, and systems thinking that win the long game.
Final Thoughts: A Gujarati Entrepreneur Who’s Leading with Grit
As someone who’s known Mehul from the “backbencher days,” I couldn’t be more proud.
He represents a new kind of founder — not chasing vanity metrics, not flashing investor decks, but building quietly and boldly, with purpose at the center.
And if there’s one thing to take away from his journey, it’s this:
Being average on paper means nothing
when you’re extraordinary in effort.
Here’s to more stories like this — of real founders, real impact, and the quiet revolutions happening in small towns and sunny rooftops across India.