2. About the CM / Organization
From 2015, Picoenergy’s philosophy was to think global but act local and me and
my team were all based out of north-west specifically and we thought let’s start with
our own locality which we understand we have seen and forever have grown over
here and we know which locations and which areas.
There is a problem of energy access, slums and vendors they are small
pockets that don’t have access to electricity. We started our work from there
and it was prefect playground we didn’t have to venture anywhere far so we could
do things with very tight budget and about getting cost of feedback from user as
well.
First six month we sold 60 odd amount units and we did that and made plan for
next six months to stop production and go back to the user and get their feedback.
Which helped us to get constant improvement and changes so what you see
now is our 4th intervention since we started, we have always strived to
understand what is that gives great user experience, what is that people see
value in. In the start, we didn’t really focus on sales that much, we were constantly
into designing and improving and going back on the white board and more on
tweaks here and there.
Piconergy is a social enterprise,
facilitating access to clean,
affordable, and reliable energy
solutions to the financially poor
and under-served households. In
the last two years, Piconergy
has impacted around 1000 lives
via it’s flagship product, HELIOS
– a solar home lighting and
mobile charging system.
3. About the CM / Organization
Bhushan Trivedi is the founder of Piconergy. He believes in blending
the spirit of entrepreneurship and social innovation to create high
impact clean energy access. solutions which have the ability to
alleviate millions of financially poor and underserved households out of
energy poverty. In his previous roles, Bhushan has worked on clean
energy access projects in Myanmar developing the country’s first Gold
Standard registered carbon financed clean cook-stove project and
developing solar PV microgrids for ruralhouseholds
4. Journey of Piconergy so Far
Feb 2015
Launched
HELIOS
October 2015
Sold HELIOS 50 underserved
households/micro-enterprises
June 2016
Launched the improvised
new design of HELIOS
Pilot Phase Re-designing HELIOS based on
feedback received
Supported by the following
organizations
Incorporated to Piconergy Pvt. Ltd. Since July 2017
5. About Bhushan and Journey of Piconergy so
Far
Picoenergy started in 2014 -15…it was great start because before that it was just on paper and napkins and hotel and in
cafes. So we started from the absolute rough idea and how that came in? I did my masters environmental management
and I joint a company based out of London. We were developing carbon finance projects based in Africa and Myanmar
that was first project with social entrepreneurship and social impact. I was fascinated on the idea that how we can
create technology and disseminate it with right people and mechanism, create impact and get some profits out
of that which was something new for me. That attracted me and I thought we can do something of that sort in India as
well. Where we have quarter of population living without electricity. So that was my starting point.
Then I joined diploma in social entrepreneurship in NNIMS school which sort of balance theory and practice at the same
time. It was part time course and use to spend five weeks only to design a product, interact with the community and get
some insights and start moving forward. We started our operations in 2015 where it was only one or two sales every
week door to door. It was me and handful of volunteers I had that point of time who went to street vendors and people
living in slums where we understood the problem and then pitched our product to them to see value in it. (contd…)
6. About Bhushan and Journey of Piconergy so
Far
We started getting good feedback and some of that we have never really imagined. Getting feedback from women
saying that I don’t have to come back home at six in the evening but I can come back home at eight because I have light.
They were forced to come at six because insects use to fall in the food and now they can work more. This is something as
trivial as coming back home and cooking at night. We couldn’t understand the value of it but it was huge thing for them.
Then when I saw that it is really making an impact and that’s when I thought that we should take this model
forward and expand it. And when I had fair bit of success with limited resource that had in urban BoP space.
Now, we understand the challenges and now get into where the action lies which is the rural space. And again,
what we have learn’t in recent few months is rural BoP is distinctly different from urban BoP. We understand the
challenges and would like to learn more and learn quick more importantly. Take this impact that we learn’t in urban BoP
take this to rural as well. We had success with this product and we are in process to design a few more.
And we want to be in position where we offer value for products, not to high end and not very low, somewhere in between.
And work on few interesting models that we will discuss later. That’s about me and journey so far.
7. Problem Statement
Modern energy services are crucial to human well-being and to a country’s
economic development; and yet in India more than 300 million people are
without access to electricity
These Non/Under-served Households still rely on Candles/Kerosene Lamps for
lighting
On which, they spend 150 – 300
Rs/month, which accounts for 15-
20% of their monthly income
In most cases, households can only
afford 1.5 – 2 hours of Kerosene lamp
lighting/evening
This naked flame used for lighting comes withan
omni-present risk of fire-related burns/deaths
8. Challenges
• Sales and marketing of Picoenergy products - If you integrate all of
this together, it results into a good product and user experience in the
end. We never looked after sales which was wrong strategy now. We
now believe in this product. We got one product here in last October
and still it is fine. Harpreet bought once from us and we installed it right
outside and it still it is working fine even though we made changes after
that as well - Bhushan Trivedi, Picoenergy Founder
• Rural geographies decide which locations works the best to sell
the products.
9. HELIOS – The Solution
Helios
The Solar Powered
Home Lighting &
Mobile Charging
Solution
Priced At Only
2,500/-
Ex-Works, Mumbai
10. HELIOS – The Design
Solar Panel
& Cable
Helios comes with a 6V 5Wp
Solar PV Module & 4m cable
to charge the battery in Power
Box
Power Box
Power Box houses a CE certified 6V
4.5 Ah battery along with the battery
management system. It has a USB
port to charge mobile phones and
power 3 LED bulbs
LED Bulbs + Switch + Cable
Each of the three LED Bulbs come with a 3m
cable to reach different areas in the house and
light them up at the same time, the switch
provided with each bulb helps in ease of
operation
11. HELIOS – Value to the User
Performance
5 Hours10 Hours15 Hours Mobile Charging
Direct Positive Impact On
Safe, Healthy & Comfortable
Living for Users
Helps in Children’s Education &
Learning Activities
Saves Money on Kerosene/
Oil Lamps, Candles
Zero Carbon Emissions,
helping the Environment
12. HELIOS – Value to the User
How does the product work:
Panel charges the battery inside it. Sunlight falls on the panel and turns into electricity. Electricity is then
stored in the battery as well. Sunrise to Sunset battery charging takes place, discharge the battery one of
the bulbs would last for 16 to 20 hours minimum.
So it maximum needs six hours of exposure 9:30 to 3:30-4. That’s why we have done those tweaks and
that circuit we have developed. Imagine using local cheap circuit from the market which eats up lot of
power and itself and have improved the efficiency by transforming in the battery. We also don’t want to
overcharge the battery. So, we have battery protection feature as well.
During the monsoons, what we experienced last month…the brightness comes down and the charging is
reduced but it doesn’t stop functioning. The intensity of the brightness goes down. It doesn’t stop only the
back-up is affected.
We have few vendors who make these panels. Panels are sourced from Vari. We have done massive
improvements in the quality. We don’t take anything which is not upto the mark and that’s why we get the
output.
13. HELIOS – Value to the User
How does the product work:
Maintenance of panels these are rough and tough. We never faced any problem with the panel. Once the
fortnight we need to clean the panels because dust gets collected, these areas are near to the field and
village areas. South oriented about 30 degrees.
Sun will shift positions, right. Sun rises in the east so that’s sets in the west, hence south gets the
maximum. So that’s the tracking. India is Northern Hemisphere and sun will always travel east and west it
never travel over our head except in the month of May. I believe. Now in winter season, days are becoming
shorter. If you keep the south direction you will keep it facing the entire south of sun and you keep it North
and you will not get any sun. There have been places in Mumbai in one of the customers house there is
huge tower right…and then you have to see what time do you get the sunlight the most. West is open so
we do bias over the west.
When you dust it off what happens to the efficiency? Oh, it increases a lot. Drop of 15% by fortnight for
sure and we explain to the end user as well. And by dusting it is really effected. The durability of the panel
is not questionable, nothing really happens to the panel. Vari is very good in this, almost all the companies
have the same specs.
14. HELIOS – Value to the User
Product like this has lot of areas of potential failure which we have taken care of to a large extent. Right from buying these
connectors, this switch they all can…small-small thing can lead to a break down to shut down of these systems.
Testing and servicing of our product: It was selling a few to the people who are close by and we could service and we
knew we had to service in the start as there could be problems and that actually really helped us and worked in our favor
because unknowingly because customers said that hum ko ek baat aap ki acchi lagi ki hum jab bhi apko phone karte ho aap
aah jate ho theek karne ke liye and you stand by your words…we gave them 6 months warranty and said if there is
manufacturing error we will replace it for you free of cost and we did that. Small analysis 30% sales were from reference. We
used to get random calls from aap ne unke stall pe light lagaya hain aur woh bol rahe hain. But you would give reference only
if you were happy with the product. They were happier with the service because we knew the product was not up to the mark
but the service that give that trust factor.
Migrant population buying our product: We always wanted to do that but that helped us in a way that most of street
vendors we sold to them are all migrant people to Mumbai, right? The place that they live have electricity – chawls they have
electricity. But they use to order units from us because they could ship it to their folks in the village and in the pilot phase when
we started selling again, we know we are making it better.
Improvising the product: We were never complacent at all that time – we wanted to make the product very robust. We again
sold a few and worked on their feedback and tried to improvise the product even more – it took us good one and half years to
identify and trouble shoot and see those critical components if failed it caused massive problems and before March this year
we did some further testing and now the product is of very good quality and durable to large extent.
15. HELIOS – Value to the User
Focus on rural geographies: And now it’s time to look at the rural market as well. Before going to rural
geographies, we wanted to be sure and we needed to know the product is of really great quality and that’s
exactly why we started the pilot in the backyard and we did not want to go to any far-off village or any place
or drive any other change there. We saw there is need right where we live and thought it is a prefect
playground for pilot and now we have great amount of confidence in the product. So, after two and half
years we have very good establishment of sourcing. Start with right kind of price and people. We have good
amount of learning and have improved the product and now it’s about taking it to the rural audience and
facing new challenges that we have never encountered in the urban BoP.
Relationship with vendors: We also had partnership with our vendors, all those things are in place. It was
very difficult to get vendors on board. Who would supply you if you ordered like five or six bulbs or ten bulbs
no kind of company would entertain you. It was very difficult to find right kind of vendors who have good
quality to offer and not roadside stall where you take five or six units connector or bulb at throw away prices
so that was challenge.
16. HELIOS – Value to the User
How is it different from rest of solar energy products: It may sound shocking or untrue but I literally started
with 6,500 rupees in my pocket. I had environmental management master’s degree and B.E in mechanical
engineering. My life revolves around electronic, electronics now which I didn’t’ like in my engineering days.
Mechanical engineering was used to design the outer casing that’s it and use 3-modelling software which I did at
that point. What I wanted to do is if 6-volt battery which is commonly used as solar lantern and use lantern to
illuminate a part of the space and most of the lantern has solar panel admitted on it which you need to keep it
outside everyday it could be risking chances of theft.
So, what I wanted to see if we can have solar home system design with same battery size and with much more
efficient circuitry and solve those leaks of power and you are there and pass it around to the end user. LED light
have transparent gap over here and this especially made for us. We don’t use the milky white ones because it
absorbs the lumens and light coming out of those chips.
And throw all those lights produced in the space and keeping the voltage minimum, which helps us to improve the
back-up time. Also, the batteries that we use are C certified batteries and we don’t use the local stuff. It is good
quality battery and the difference is very thin you cannot identify which is the real stuff and which is the fake stuff.
The battery which we use is certified and very good quality. They are more efficient in charging and discharging.
You get longer backup in discharging and while charging they are more efficient. So that means the same volume
of 5 volts battery gets charger quicker.
17. HELIOS – Value to the User
Patent, quality: We haven’t been working on patenting that much we have no progress on that. Honestly, design
is ours. We want to produce in large volumes. So, this transparent cap when you put the material in the machinery,
we don’t use the white powder. Most of it is the assembly and integration end of the day. So, we get our panel and
batteries from vendors. We have PCB that we have developed. That is the game changer again which has name
on it. PCB - It is a green board which is the heart of the system. The first time we developed and we had 12-rupee
PCB very non-useful PCB. We didn’t have any features and PCB is 10 times more expensive that we use over
here and it has several features inside it.
Battery Power: We have battery overcharging protection. We have USB regular output over here and more
features that help the battery. Battery is a problem child of any solar system. Battery is a first component which is
likely to fail and which will fail and it causes maximum problems and make sure battery is well maintained during
insulation.
Cost of products: Our COGS were the same when we started in 2015 literally when we had no switches. Each of
the switch cost me 20-22 rupees there has been 66 rupees increase in the product as a switch. PCB has gone 10
times as well and battery price also has significantly increased as well, bulbs are good quality. The cost of labor
has gone up. It is one of the learnings that we had. I am kind of happy our COGS our same as what we started
today. So, what that means is we have cut down the gaps and leaks during our sourcing and other places. We use
to buy wrong stuff from people before offering high prices and not the best quality and now we have good
understanding of where to buy what and right prices and now despite improving the quality we should tried to
maintain the cost the same. We understand this product well.
18. HELIOS – Value to the User
New products: Yes, we are…within few weeks you will also find a solar fan design, mobile charging as well, tube
light as well. We never really had a tube light. But we made 6-volt tube light all of this is made by us as per our
client demand. If someone needs 5 meters to 10-meter cable we can do that as well.
It is efficient than two of these bulbs combined. It gives you feel of placing a tube light and not a bulb. We have
ongoing discussion with non-profit who might order some cool volumes from us.
They told me is that women in these villages must go to answer nature’s call early in the morning and want
something portable with them so we have come with a portable torch which is awesome which you can throw
around and put it in water.
We have done that and it hasn’t stopped working and we have literally smashed it on the ground sometimes and
we use lithium batteries in that…so this is not a portable system you can use (missed: technical word) design in
way it is portable and it lightweight and it is ultra-lightweight it is going fall and get friction with other things. It gives
great light output, power LED which is much brighter that these bulbs which has two ports that could be charged
with these USB ports.
So, we made system where it can have charged with these ports so what we have done is people have options to
choose from our base unit is the same. that’s why we have our PCB right, the internal connection right. We have
managed to fix all the bulbs out there that we know of and have portable charge you can bulb, you can have tube
light, we can make tube light if you want to operate on 6-volt DC you don’t have to get a battery you can plug it in
(ports) and start using it. Only thing it can do anything in lighting, it can’t work with fan.
19. HELIOS – Value to the User
Customization of the wire in the product: So, way it works is the five-volt panel. Solar panel. It comes with four-
meter cable as of now. So, this can be customized as per the local demands. So, in Dahisar we realized some of
the houses have very tall proofs. Earlier we use to give three-meter cable and we realized it is to short and so we
did four meters. In Mokhada the four-meter cable is completely irrelevant they have short houses with straw you
know…typically gav wale ghar so we don’t need long cables.
Installation: As standardization with don’t mess up with the length and keep it as standard as we can. But this
four-meter cable. So, keep the solar panel on the roof which is solar input. This is power box you need to find
location to fix it where there is no water or fire place or cooking area. So, we just put it on the wall. Keep it in your
space and make sure your cable reaches the power point.
Yeah, we can just tie with cable wire anywhere. Usually we tie with rope. Every house that we had and 50
installations that have done, no standard procedure every house has a different layout. We see bamboo or
somewhere where we can tie up. We can tie the bulb anywhere and use the bulb anywhere we want switch it on
and not switch it off.
Again, this when we don’t need it we use to remove and there was constant wear and tear and use to damage the
connectors and then putting Rs 25 extra switch because it is made in India that is why it is expensive but Chinese
wouldn’t supply us in small quantities. It is good switch and has really good results.
20. HELIOS – Value to the User
Brightness of the product:
So each bulb gives 200 lumens of light which is very cool than most Pico products out there. Each bulb can last
you around 15 hours minimum.
It can light up half the room and in this room size, you need two bulbs. If you take a typical village and you go to
Mokhada village house, they have courtyard outside and small place for cooking. Place for storage and place for
sleeping. Therefore, three bulbs are used – one in the courtyard or in the cooking area and one where storage
area is, it lights out the whole house. It also lights the area outside the house. There is no room the concept it is
very simple. Storage, cooking and sleeping area and outside courtyard area.
Wire is long enough and battery is kept in the center of the house. They are three things going in three different
directions and lights up the whole house. Mokhada each house has no light. All the courtyards outside got light.
And in Gurpavda where 28 families are living and it is right on top of the hill. It never received electricity there are
no poles. You cannot even steal anything because there is no light. It still shocking to see people are still using
kerosene and there have been no other source of light in the house.
21. Beneficiaries
It was funded project my MICA, making sure the units are going to the right people where we can create the
maximum impact and the average annual income for these households is 12,000/- rupees a year, they will not be
able to afford two and five thousand products. Maybe 500 rupees subsidy. We decided to give them free home
systems. If you get into that kind of audience it is very difficult to get money out of them, simple because they don’t
have it. It is true we have seen the conditions out there and so the questions rise who pays for it? And they are
entities who are interested in such projects and if we demonstrate them our product and way of working. Maximum
social impact would be directed.
So, we (unclear) granted agencies or funders. However, we don’t want to rest much on this channel. In Satara and
Nandurbaug they are more than happy to buy the products, they are not the ones who are close to lower end of
BoP. I remember In Satara there was this doctor who has extremely small clinic two people can sit in the time. It
doesn’t have light because of the power cut issue and he asked me if I can get solar fan as well. Patients are
uncomfortable when I treat them. People have demand out there. Some people have ability to pay and some
people don’t.
The performance is the same and the user benefit is the same. What changes is the ability and willingness to pay
by the audience in rural segment it is not the same. For example, in the place we go in the evening to Dahisar –
they are daily wage workers and earn 250-300 rupees very day and if they get pay on time and then they pay us
on time as well, we use to give out of financing before and now we have stopped that and people we have
specifically focused in Mohkhada sort of hand-picked them and before installations I spent some time with them.
Business people do here is make chakli’s, bob pins and peel lot of garlic and send to the hotels.
22. Beneficiaries
Summary of people we spoke to:
• The light now helps in child’s education because he comes from tuitions at eight’ o clock.
• Now they can charge their mobile
• People living in these slumps use 8 to 15 candle lights. There is a huge problem of stealing light.
• During heavy rains in Mumbai, one of the bulbs worked well.
• The community requires solar products in TV and fan.
• People have to pay 400 rupees light per month even if the electricity goes frequently.
• With Pico’s products, they are able to save money plus there is increase in the productivity in the
business, household chores and children’s education.
• Child use to cry because it was dark and now the child gets good sleep because light is there.
• I use to make my food early because insects use to fall in the food and now there is no tension I can
cook food even in the evening.
• One of the mother’s mentioned now my children can play, eat and study.
23. Road Ahead – With GAP’s Support
Going ahead, Piconergy wants to
establish and grow it’s rural presence.
It wants to come up with good quality
value for money ‘pico’ scale clean
energy products and employ effective
rural marketing techniques with a core
focus of facilitating energy access for
the under-served and creating a
significant social impact.
24. Road Ahead – With GAP’s Support
For this, Piconergy is placing it’s bets
on leveraging the vast presence and
reputation of NGOs in rural regions.
NGOs are pioneering a great social
change in rural India, but most of them
lack access and support to solve local
electricity problems via solar energy
25. Road Ahead – With GAP’s Support
PICONERGY wants to position itself as a
partner that a NGO can TRUST to work
with on our Champions of CARE
(Clean, Affordable, & Reliable
Energy) Program.
26. Champions of CARE
Sale
s
Champions of CARE
Trains & Develops
Local Entrepreneurs
Ongoing Training & Development
to be covered on
Technology
Sales & After-Sales Service
Accounts & Management
Clean Energy Products toSbeervice
offered
Level 1 - HELIOS
Level 2 - Solar Fan + Lighting Solution
Level 3 - Other Custom Designed Products
+
Local NGO
Key Stakeholders
Local NGO – Implementation Partner, On-ground facilitation,
Piconergy – Technology Provider, NGO Capacity Building +
Impact Assessments and Reporting Assistance
CSR/Donor Agency - Project Donor
Service
Imran Ali – One of Piconergy’s Agentsof
CARE in a slum in Dahisar, Mumbai
27. Champions of CARE
Model in Mokhada and training the people: So we have taken Mokhada Taluka which is in Palghar village.
So, what we have done is we have electrified the village. We have done some training in Mokhada with an
NGO and he mentioned can we make it a test market. Can we scale up the model in service and sales out
there in the right eco-system and make it into right success model and we can transform that. One thing we
are very clear that we want to go about is where there is no electricity that will maximize the impact of the
whole program. Champions of Care create training and create awareness in sales and services. We sell, they
sell. Each one can have manufacturing hub itself. They are lot of factories around Maharashtra and that’s the
whole model.
Even in that perspective even the latest design we had of the product we want to adopt these strategies.
Earlier PCB the circuit was sold through the connectors which was nightmare to resold it but now we design
where we have designed what is inside. If you need servicing you just need three things in your pocket –
screw driver, multimeter and soldering iron that’s it. Circuit is also card based thing…If something goes wrong
you can just remove these connections put the new card and it is good to go. I did all these small little tweaks
if we are getting the service call and we are doing this Champions of care model the local entrepreneur that
lady or man should service the network with minimal effort should service for the user. So, we made the
assembly and service as simple as possible. It is not complicated or rocket science involved.
28. Champions of CARE
Challenges you have faced with NGOs
One challenge is people respond to incentive. Have incentives for everyone is the value chain.
(Champion of Care model) Take 10 representatives from Talukas given by /NGOs and then train them and
can deliver the product and they deliver the product.
People who will train people. While trainers will travel and train the people. I don’t want to re-invent the wheel
by creating one organization in one taluka. I understand Mumbai better I can solve few things over here. I
don’t understand Palghar, I don’t understand Up/ Bihar those guys do.
I need to find partner in that city to work with and incentivize them and set a framework.
29. Vision and Focus
Piconergy’s vision is to see a world free from energypoverty.
We want to work towards facilitating access to clean, affordable, and reliable
energy solutions for the financially poor and under-served households.
Our primary focus is coming up with great quality and value for money clean
energy products.
In addition to this, we also want to employ effective marketing and sales
methods, especially in the rural landscape, which ensures local skill
development/job creation not only for sales, but also for service which helps
the users/customers derive maximum value out of their purchase.
Providing access to quality products, building local capacity and ensuring
mechanisms for servicing, will significantly contribute to the betterment of the
energy access situation for our target group.
30. Going forward we would experimenting models where to increase impact
with our local assembly as well. For example, north eastern is very far for us
to address we have options where we pass on the skills to the local NGOs or
MFIs. We would give them capacity to build the support on their own and
provide them training and inventory
In the FY 2017-18, we want to sell a minimum of 1000 unitsof HELIOS,
through a range of channels: NGOs, MFIs, CSR Projects and Direct Sales in
in Mumbai Urban BoP
We want to open new channels of distribution, ie., with NGOs(and
MFIs) to sell our product, HELIOS. + Grow Champions of CAREProgram. We
We don’t want to do everything by ourselves and leverage on the existing
networks MFI’s and NGOs have. I would prefer to do the latter. We don’t
want to re-invent the wheel in the end you are just creating competing
organization with existing one who already understand the game. The real
challenge is how we can create a great value for these people one is the
support and service we give them. We have incentives provided everyone in
the chain and leverage on the existing networks out there.
Goals
31. Work on designing new clean energy products of higher & lower
capacities (solar fans, portable torches, solar mobilecharger)
Build organisational systems and process complementing our phase
towards scaling up plan
Our work on opening the NGO channel has begun in April 2017,and other
channels are planned to be starting soon.
Goals…
32. BHUSHAN TRIVEDI, Founder & CEO,
Bhushan believes in blending the spirit of entrepreneurship and
social innovation to create high impact clean energy access
solutions which have the ability to alleviate millions of financially
poor and underserved households out of energy poverty. In his
previous roles, Bhushan has worked on clean energy access
projects in Myanmar developing the country’s first Gold Standard
registered carbon financed clean cookstove project and
developing solar PV microgrids for rural households
Leadership and
Organisation Structure
33. HARPREET SINGH TIBB, Director & Advisor:
Harpreet has spent the last 19 years in various roles in Hindustan Unilever
Limited and Kellogg India Pvt Ltd. His purpose in life is “To do well by doing
good to the society” and believes in sustainable living. He developed the
largest hand wash campaign ‘Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetana’ aimed at reducing
deaths due to diarrhea among children – a campaign that touched the lives
100 million people. He also developed a breakfast campaign called
#feedingdreams – where 2 million breakfast were served to students
access to breakfast to help them with the right start to achieving their
dreams. As Piconergy’s strategic advisor, he has defined the vision for the
company and is responsible for the commercialisation of it’s programs.
Leadership and
Organisation Structure
34. Harpreet Singh Tibbs, In his own words during the field visit:
“So I have joined hands with Bhushan six months back and we are playing a
role in how we can get Picoenergy to move forward. Putting down strategic
road map saying where can we go…areas we can play. Finally focusing only
BoP because that’s where the focus and heart of Pico is all about. A little
myself so I have spent 19 years in the industry in FMCG industry, 16 years in
HuL and last three years in Marketing Director, India & South Asia Kellogg
Pvt Ltd. Last year I decided to get into the whole world of Solar. So last year
started couple of solar outfits. Important thing is solar is one piece where you
can give back to society, that’s what I like about Solar energy. It creates nice
business opportunity but allows you to give back to society and that’s the
reason I have been close to solar year back and six months back we knew
is doing the right thing by trying the last mile access and that’s how I have
come on board with Pico and I am looking forward how we can help Bhushan
and the company move forward in terms of scaling up our operations and
magnifying the impact we are creating. Thank you so much. “
Leadership and
Organisation Structure
35. Board & Governance
Piconergy got incorporated to Piconergy Pvt. Ltd. in July 2017
The Governance team consists of Harpreet Singh Tibb and Bhushan
Trivedi
Other human resource includes interns, project specific associates and a
sales/service executive.
Due to it’s stage and the size of it’s team, Piconergy as of now doesnot have
any systems in place for governance
36. Board & Governance
We are able to produce X at a price at the same quality from the vendor at X
price, why would we want to do it by ourselves. Instead, we can take care of
sales and marketing and take it ahead.
We don’t do manufacturing ourselves but we take care of quality. So, we are
focusing on the quality insurance part, sourcing the components – right
amount of prices. And we do some amount of assembly ourselves but not the
entire product as we use to before.
When I started this work I never really wanted to form a company in its first
place. I never thought I will be dragged into this part of thing. I never
understood it. I will be very honest about it. I never understood it. I never
started with this intention that I will be running a company, whether you have
right means to do that.
In last two and half years, I am just trying to get the product right and
understand more problem with details and spend more time on field. In last six
months, I have spoiled myself by thinking about strategy and growth and all of
that (because he loves to spend time on field) I need to offer it at certain point.
37. Board & Governance
We are completely happy to have small space is we don’t have to
manufacture it ourselves and we have good partnerships. We are free to use
their space as and when required. We have managed to do in very minimal
resource right from the start. . One of the main vendors, I took him to the field
once and told him apke waha lakho bulb bante hoge but the ones you make
for us we use it here and this what it does and he was very happy.
Most of the R and D have already been done. We have made our system and
designs standardized. I don’t have to hire anyone because I have been in this
sector for very long time now. R and D is taken care of and now comes the
assembly and manufacturing bit.
38. Audit & Compliance
Piconergy got incorporated to Piconergy Pvt. Ltd. in July 2017
The Governance team consists of Harpreet Singh Tibb and Bhushan
Trivedi
Other human resource includes interns, project specific associates and a
sales/service executive.
Due to it’s stage and the size of it’s team, Piconergy as of now does not have
any systems in place for governance
As Picoenergy will be focusing on Champion of Care model.
39. Audit & Compliance +
Financial Management
Piconergy Pvt. Ltd. has not been audited yet.
We are forming an internal system for accounts and finance + audits
40. Fundraising
We are self-funded and bootstrapping.
I never went after any financing. I never pitched Pico in front of anyone or raise
any funds as strange it may sound but it was not priority and maybe I was so
engrossed in getting the product right.
So, I couldn’t focus on any other area. I use to put my own funds wherever
required to do this which was very difficult there was learning which I always share
with people which is you have great idea in social impact and you able to
communicate that idea or vision to people then you don’t need a lot of funds to
begin with. You need great partnership and contacts from right amount of people.
So, for example making a product is never an easy task because it is investment
intensive – you need to buy your tools and machineries and stuff. In my case I was
successful to communicate this idea to few bunch of people and I never knew
them before and I just walked into their company and started by conversation on
what I want to do – can I use your space or help me with process. There were
some people who were okay with small orders, volumes and were able to
understand what I wanted to do. I never had problem with minimum order quantity.
Our main costs are: Inventory, Salaries, Marketing
41. Program Operations
Champions of CARE is the program Piconergy is actively focusingon.
It has delivered it with an NGO in Mokhada Taluka,Maharashtra,
training 7 champions.
Piconergy is currently in discussion with several more NGOs for thesame
We intend to strengthen this program and get key inputs from GAP to make
it more effective
42. Planning
We have tweaked our model a bit and which is reflectingsome
changes in the original planning we did for FY2017-18
(Please refer Champions of Care slide to know about the model)
43. Impact Assessment
Piconergy has developed an Impact Assessment Framework, identifying the
key environmental, social and economic metrics, relating to each of our
project models. We use these metrics in baseline and endline scenarios to
measure impact.
There was lady who was expecting and she faced labor pains in middle of light
and she had to walk in middle of night to go to the medical center. She actually
took this light with her and she then delivered a healthy baby. They are tons of
story who have created energy and access in last mile, it has made huge
difference in people lives.
In Moukhada all the 50 households that installed they have wonderful stories
and they have no shortage of it. Only sales things we need to get it
everywhere. Even when we go to Dahisar I will speak to you more when we
reach there shortly but the impact has been created. It can be any metric
which is applicable to them. We also going to Iris metric for the impact. We
going to incubated by Millers entrepreneurs, Santa Clara for six-month online
program where helped us to define our impact and helped us to get iris metric
and we produce impact in all those things.
44. Impact Assessment
Project Domain: Energy
Target Beneficiaries create high impact clean energy access.
solutions which have the ability to alleviate millions of financially
poor and underserved households out of energy poverty.
Beneficiaries impacted as on date:- 50 House holds in Moukhada
Direct and indirect impact on beneficiaries through the project- The
light now helps in child’s education because he comes from tuitions at
eight’ o clock. Now they can charge their mobile People living in these
slumps use 8 to 15 candle lights. There is a huge problem of stealing
light. During heavy rains in Mumbai, one of the bulbs worked well. The
community requires solar products in TV and fan. People have to pay 400
rupees light per month even if the electricity goes frequently. With Pico’s
products, they are able to save money plus there is increase in the
productivity in the business, household chores and children’s education.
45. Impact on society through this project-
Improvement in lives of people in the village of Moukhada. With Pico’s
products, they are able to save money plus there is increase in the
productivity in the business, household chores and children’s education . I
use to make my food early because insects use to fall in the food and now
there is no tension I can cook food even in the evening. Now the children
can study better at night.
Measurement of Impact: No of House holds who brought the product
Data collection for impact measurement: Manual till now
Impact measurement tools used: Have got trained in Iris metric tool for
impact assessment. Will be using it going forward.
Impact Assessment
46. Modern energy services are crucial to
human well-being and to a country’s
economic development, and yet in India,
more than 300 million people are without
access to electricity
Living in these conditions of energy
poverty serves as a major
impediment towards the socio-
economic development of these
financially poor and underserved
households
47. Thank You !
Feel free to reach us at
Bhushan Trivedi
bhushan@piconergy.com +91 9029 504 696
Harpreet Singh
Tibb
harpreet@piconergy.com +91 9920 170 923
