SELCO’s Affordable Solar: Powering Small Businesses and Homes.

Electricity is often seen as a privilege in rural India, not a guarantee. For decades, millions of families and small shop owners lived in darkness after sunset or depended on kerosene lamps that were both costly and unsafe. This gap gave birth to one of India’s most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys, SELCO Solar, founded by Harish Hande. His idea was simple yet powerful: to bring affordable solar energy to the people who needed it the most.

The roots of SELCO date back to the mid-1990s, when solar power was still viewed as a luxury product for the wealthy. Hande challenged that notion and decided to make it accessible for households earning less than a few hundred rupees a day. He built the company with a belief that clean energy is not just for cities but also for villages where electricity could change livelihoods. From tailoring shops to small eateries, the reach of solar power began to touch lives in unexpected ways.

What made SELCO stand out was its business model that connected technology with finance and local entrepreneurs. Instead of simply selling solar panels, the company partnered with banks and microfinance institutions to design loans for rural families. This allowed poor households to pay in small installments rather than an upfront lump sum. For many, it was the first time they could afford a clean energy solution that actually saved money in the long run.

The impact spread quickly. Street vendors could now keep their shops open for longer hours, students had light to study after dark, and farmers could store produce without losing income. For women, especially, the availability of reliable power opened new opportunities to run home-based businesses. These small changes built a momentum, and SELCO grew into a story of leadership in social entrepreneurship.

Recognition soon followed. From global forums to local awards, Harish Hande was celebrated as someone who turned a business idea into a tool for development. Yet the company stayed rooted in its mission, constantly working with grassroots communities instead of chasing only urban markets. That approach made SELCO an example for startups in India who dream of building impact-driven enterprises.

What makes this journey inspiring is the reminder that growth does not always start with technology alone, but with empathy and the courage to solve real problems. SELCO’s work showed how entrepreneurship in India can create both financial success and social change. Today, as the world looks for sustainable energy models, SELCO continues to shine from the villages of Karnataka to far corners of the country, lighting homes, powering shops, and proving that leadership can grow from the most modest of beginnings.