Interview with Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-Hour Energy and Billions in Change.

1. ““Awareness doesn’t reduce pollution or
grow food. That takes doing.
– Manoj Bhargava
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78INTERVIEW
Meetthe
billionaire
who is
revolutionizing
the developing
world
Not one to flash about his fortune, Indian-American billionaire Manoj
Bhargava, the man behind the 5-Hour Energy drink, spoke to us about his
latest project, Billions in Change – a movement addressing pressing global
issues we face today, including fresh water scarcity, lack of electricity, and
disease. Through specific technical solutions, Bhargava’s Billions in Change
is revolutionizing the developing world.
The Man behind Billions in Change
The man behind Billions in Change grossed his
billions from a business concept quite different
from his current endeavors. Manoj Bhargava is
the man behind 5-Hour Energy, the incredibly
successful ‘healthy’ energy drink label, which
famously boasts zero sugar, tons of vitamins,
and lots of energy. From the success of this
brand, Bhargava made billions – and he plans
to give majority of it away to benefit the lives of
others. Got your attention?
Bhargava, a boy who moved from Lucknow,
India to the United States at 14, went on to score
prestigious scholarships, and a placement at
Princeton University. From there, he went back
to India, where after a spiritual quest, he built a
few companies like Living Essentials and 5-Hour
Energy.
During his time undertaking numerous
successful endeavors, somewhere along his
path, Manoj Bhargava developed a keen interest
in philanthropy, funding hospitals in India, and
more recently, the organization that he calls
Billions in Change – a movement that essentially
creates things that meet the basic needs of
those who don’t have the basics, thus enabling
them to provide for themselves, their families,
and their communities. These basic needs,
according to the Billions in Change website,
include fresh water for drinking and agriculture;
clean electricity to power homes, schools and
businesses; and healthcare solutions that
prevent disease. Did Bhargava always plan to
use his wealth from 5-Hour Energy for a good
cause?
“The answer would be no. I had no idea,” he told
us. “I didn’t think, ‘when I get there, I’m going to
do this, or I’m going to buy a car, or I’m going to
buy a house.’ All I was doing was working hard
to make sure 5-Hour was successful. When we
became successful and rich, then the question
arose, ‘what can we do with the money that is
useful?’ And the only thing you can do that’s
useful, is to create something to help people in
need.”
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december Issue 12
2015

2. Free Electric | Rain Maker | Limitless Energy
Creating something people need is just what Bhargava has
done. In his film Billions in Change, Bhargava goes public with
his concepts, which for quite some time have been kept in the
dark. The film is a documentary about Bhargava’s Stage 2
Innovations laboratory in Farmington Hills, Detroit. With his team
of 100-or-so scientists, Bhargava has created several practical
inventions. One of the issues he has addressed is lack of fresh
water.
To address this issue, the Billions in Change team came up
with the Rain Maker machine, which essentially mimics the
sun’s process of evaporating seawater into rainclouds, able
to convert 1,000 gallons of seawater or polluted water an hour
into fresh water suitable for drinking or agriculture. The concept
could be revolutionary for the UAE, where fresh water scarcity
is a looming threat due to an arid climate and an increasing
population. Can we expect to see the concept in the region
anytime soon?
“So far, we’ve been focused on refining the technology,”
Bhargava explained. “We have Rain Maker to a point where
it is working better than any current system for cleaning or
desalinating water, but have not yet begun distribution. At
this point, we expect to deploy it first in California. However, if
there are companies or governments in the UAE that are really
interested, they are welcome to contact us, and we will work
with them.”
Desalination is already in use as an alternative to sourcing fresh
water from rivers and lakes, for example. But the Rain Maker
claims to be a much more efficient alternative. Aside from
this concept, what other ways would Bhargava and his team
address water scarcity? We asked him this, as well as whether
he has any further plans to develop the Rain Maker concept to
operate on a larger scale.
“First, while the Rain Maker doesn’t create water, it can clean
water of any kind,” he explained. “It’s not just for desalination,
but for brackish water or any water that’s contaminated. So it
actually addresses most water issues. To your question about
scale, the Rain Maker has already been designed to take on
needs of any size. If you’re looking to supply water for a city,
Rain Maker can operate in line with thousands of units. If it’s in
a resort somewhere, you just need two or three units. A single
village might only need a single unit. The Rain Maker offers a lot
of advantages compared to the current technology.”
Continuing on his quest for world betterment, the next issue
Bhargava addresses is energy – firstly the lack of it, and
secondly pollution as a result of burning fossil fuels. According
Free Electric
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80Interview
to the United Nations, about 80 percent of global energy output
is supplied through the combustion of fossil fuels, which releases
carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. At the
same time, energy demand is growing along with expanding
population. The simple solution that Bhargava passionately
presents in his film, is to source energy from below.
Below the surface of the Earth, endless energy lies waiting to
be harnessed. That heat can create enough clean energy to
power the world, and help keep things cool above. Bhargava
directed his scientists to develop cables made from graphene,
a form of pure carbon, 100 times stronger than steel, and a
better conductor than copper, that can be conducted to the
surface of the Earth to run turbines and generate electricity
– all without burning anything. He calls the concept Limitless
Energy, because the potential of energy below Earth’s surface
is essentially limitless, and with reduced emissions, the concept
is also clean and sustainable. But how likely is it that this type of
energy will take off commercially?
“With the graphene work, we’re at a stage where we know the
technology works, we know it is relatively inexpensive, and we
know it will be relatively easy to deploy,” Bhargava explained.
“But we’re still in the engineering stages and are solving some
engineering challenges. The next step is a proof-of-concept.
When that’s done, this will be the easiest and most cost-effective
way to generate energy.”
Basically, the Free Electric machine gives people the power
to generate electricity themselves – and most importantly, it’s
pollution free. The machine is small, light, and simple. It requires
a single person to pedal a hybrid bicycle. It’s the “coolest of
our inventions,” says Bhargava. The wheels drive a flywheel,
which turns a generator, charging a battery. What makes the
contraption so efficient, is that pedaling for just one hour yields
electricity for 24 hours, with no utility bill, no emissions, and also
promotes healthy exercise.
Bhargava believes the concept is going to “affect a few billion
people,” noting that the main challenge will be distribution. He
won’t give the machines away, because he says people won’t
take care of something that is free. Instead, he would prefer
to incentivize distributors with profits. He says a village can
also pool its resources, buying one bike but multiple batteries
that can be swapped out to power individual homes. So where
exactly does Bhargava plan to distribute the machines, and
how likely is it that they will reach those in need?
“The Free Electric is going to be manufactured in mass quantities,
first in India, and on a smaller scale in the US,” he explained.
“Eventually we expect to have manufacturing and distribution
partners all over the world that we can license and supervise.
We do not want anyone making a substandard product, and
we don’t want anyone overcharging. With this type of franchise
program, we think we can reach the entire world fairly quickly.”
Bhargava’s story is inspiring to say the least – a humble Indian
man who has transformed his good fortune into an active means
of world betterment. So aside from developing solutions for
clean water, clean energy, and health, what other areas is he
looking into?
“We have other projects that we’re working on related to
farming, food, deforestation, and other poverty issues,” he said.
“But I’m not talking about them yet, because they’re not ready to
be implemented in the world. When we have those ready, we’ll
announce them.”
Billions in Change has gathered a momentum of support, so
where does Bhargava see the company headed now? And
finally, what advice would he give to aspiring entrepreneurs who
want to make a positive difference in the world?
“Make something useful,” he suggests. “If you can make
something useful for those who are suffering without it, or for
those who are in need of it, then that’s what you need to do if
you want to make a positive difference. Other than that, if you
can, then just make a business. It’s hard enough to make a
business successful. Make your business successful, then take
that success and make a difference for those who have less.
Rain Maker
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december Issue 12
2015