Meet the 18-Year-Old Making Renewable Energy Simple for Everyone
Energy
India
18 Years
I’m Aakansha Jagga, an 18-year-old from New Delhi, India. I started Joulewise when I was 17, but it wasn’t a fancy pitch-deck startup moment. It began as a 2 a.m. hackathon idea — just a messy blend of code, climate worry, and a “what if?” curiosity. I thought it was silly at first. But talking to people from different regions, energy sectors, rural areas, and policy circles gave me a new perspective.
Every conversation added something, and eventually, Joulewise took shape to become a community-first initiative aiming to make renewable energy adoption easier, clearer, and more affordable for all. It’s a space where people can explore real solutions, understand how policies work, and transition to cleaner energy without the stress.
"Most people think energy transition is too complex or costly. I wanted to show them it doesn’t have to be."
What inspired you to start your own business?
Joulewise never began with the idea of business — it started as a mission. I saw the energy gap in rural and urban areas during fieldwork, and it hit me: people don’t lack intent, they lack awareness and access. So Joulewise became that bridge — a cause, a tool, a guide. Over time, as the impact grew, we realized we needed to step into the business world to grow sustainably and reach more people. Today, we’re bootstrapped and pre-revenue, but impact-first remains our core.
How did you get your first customers?
Getting users wasn’t a straight road. We started by deeply understanding our audience, talking to everyday households, architects, urban planners, NGOs, and policy experts. Joulewise is not just for “tech-savvy” users. It’s for anyone, families who want solar but don’t know where to begin, planners who want to design sustainable communities, or local leaders spreading awareness.
We built trust through workshops, one-on-one guidance, and spreading awareness about how renewable energy doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming — and that policies can actually help you. That’s when we saw interest grow.
How are you doing today and what are your future plans?
Today, we’re building the foundation. Joulewise is running in two parallel phases:
Phase 1: Awareness — hosting community workshops, myth-busting online content, and easy guides about switching to renewable energy.
Phase 2: Product development — we’re designing a user-friendly app that tailors renewable energy solutions to people’s local needs, budgets, and available policies, so they can take action with clarity and confidence.
In the future, I see Joulewise evolving into a full-scale platform — one that integrates AI recommendations, connects users with vendors and subsidies, and empowers every home or business to go green without the guesswork.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about entrepreneurship?
The most unexpected thing I've learned is how much of it is about unlearning. You often walk in with a fixed vision — thinking you’ve cracked the solution. But real growth starts when you let go of ego, stay curious, and listen — really listen — to the people you’re building for.
I’ve learned that pivoting isn’t a setback; it’s a superpower. Whether it’s changing a feature, redefining your audience, or shifting your mindset, adaptability is everything. The biggest lesson? Startups aren’t built just on ideas — they’re built on people, feedback, and your ability to evolve without losing the reason you began in the first place.
