It started quite accidentally. For a while I had wanted to work in the field, something in renewables and sustainability. Then I joined a hackathon with a couple of friends and this marked the official start of Solarise and my entrepreneurial journey.

We have received some funding, we secured 50k euros from the Smart Start Innovation Grant and had the help of an expert mentor to guide us along. We are able to continue work at the moment, but we also have plans for more finances we are trying to secure.

Europe is actively promoting solar energy, with ambitious plans to double the current global solar capacity by 2030—a goal that underscores the need for Solarise. Many people might assume solar energy is too expensive, which can deter them from considering our product. As a result, one of our current priorities is developing a more accessible and customer-friendly approach for the end user.

Solarise is founded by a team of four. Working in a team has its pros and cons, and one of our biggest challenges has been coordinating our efforts. With members based in different locations, organizing meetings and collaborating on developing new features for our product has proven difficult at times.

Solarise is founded by a team of four. Working in a team has its pros and cons, and one of our biggest challenges has been coordinating our efforts. With members based in different locations, organizing meetings and collaborating on developing new features for our product has proven difficult at times.

My main advice would be to not get overwhelmed by all the fancy terminology and abundant knowledge out there. Instead, start simple: find one person and show them a visual or drawing of your idea to explain what you want to achieve. Listen to their feedback and then iterate on your idea. With Solarise, we began by creating easy visuals on Canva, which we then presented to solar panel companies and solar installer firms in the B2B space.

For me, entrepreneurship is like a sport—I played sports until college and loved the challenge, and I see entrepreneurship as another game filled with hurdles. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, confront obstacles, and grow, which continuously motivates me even during tough times.