“My ‘Ikigai’ moment occurred during my undergrad days at IIT when I realized that with my passion for science and inventions, I could make a meaningful impact on the world and its ecological balance. Since then, all my choices have been directed toward this path, eventually leading me to embark on the journey of climate-tech entrepreneurship.”
Entrepreneurs Today got in touch with Debayan Saha, a climate tech entrepreneur with an educational background in engineering from IIT Kharagpur and Stanford University.
Recognised for his contributions, he received the Young Alumni Achiever Award from IIT Kharagpur and has garnered over 10 innovation and sustainability accolades globally. His passion for deep-tech innovation is driven by a desire to combat climate change and its impacts.
In a freewheeling chat with the Entrepreneurs Today team, Debayan shares,
“We focus on creating solutions through which climate change caused by air pollution and emissions can be mitigated. We use the power of science to invent technologies that can solve the need of the hour.”
Interviewer: What would you say led you to this entrepreneurial path?
Debayan: “I have been a curious boy since childhood, and I used to question how the world operates. As I was growing up, I soon realised that our environment is at stake and it has an adverse effect on our health as well. Meanwhile, my curiosity led me to pursue engineering during my undergraduate studies, and I found that I have a passion for inventing technologies to solve problems and thereby create impact.”
Competitive Edge
Debayan’s business stands out for its commitment to scientific innovation as the key to solving global contemporary global challenges. He asserts,
“We don’t get excited by incremental or makeshift technologies that create a temporary bandage solution rather than solving the problem from the core.”
Embracing a first-principles approach, they pioneer unprecedented solutions, setting themselves apart from competitors and delivering genuine, long-lasting impact.
Navigating Challenges
Debayan encountered various challenges in building and scaling his business. Fundraising, assembling a capable team, and navigating the complexities of product development and commercialisation proved to be difficult. However, he emphasizes that the most demanding yet impactful aspect was leading and motivating his team in the right direction. Debayan says,
“Culture building is something to which we have tried to devote a lot of time and energy. As a team, we have collectively tried to build a company culture in such a way that we stick together even during tough times. Startups are inherently challenging endeavours, and we all understand how much effort and sacrifice go into making a startup successful. There is a very strong sense of empathy for each other, and we function like a family. We believe in this ‘mantra’ that if the internal family is not happy, then we can never make our customers happy. Hence, we highly prioritize a strong company culture and the well-being of all our teammates.”
Major Achievements
Success can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For Debayan,
“The success of a business depends on the potential impact on human lives; the attributes gained by the company that cannot be quantified easily but play a very instrumental role in the long run, like tech defensibility, etc, and the knowledge and insights collectively developed within the team. This resource is like a treasure trove that differentiates you from the competition.”
Debayan’s accomplishments include the development of IP-driven technology with significant patent protection, ensuring a strong competitive advantage in the market. Additionally, he takes pride in assembling a talented and knowledgeable team, harnessing their collective expertise to drive the company forward.
Plans Ahead
Debayan’s future plans revolve around making a significant impact in the fight against climate change. Recognising the urgency of the issue, his focus is on developing and commercializing disruptive technologies aimed at addressing the root causes of the problem.
With a commitment to scalability and effectiveness, Saha aims to deploy these innovations on a large scale, envisioning a future where his company’s solutions play a crucial role in mitigating the environmental challenges facing the planet.
Major Takeaways
Debayan has learned a few crucial things from his entrepreneurial path. He acknowledges that entrepreneurship is inherently challenging, characterized by highs and lows, successes and setbacks.
Through experience, he has come to appreciate the importance of delayed gratification, learning from failures, and maintaining a relentless pursuit of better efficiency and improvement.
Saha emphasizes the significance of gaining true insights, both at the operational level and in broader business strategy. He believes that exploiting these insights to reach the company’s overarching goals can catalyze a paradigm shift, guiding the organization towards its true north star and ultimately making a profound difference.
Lastly, as he signs off, he reflects,
“Perseverance is definitely one of the toughest as well as one of the most important skills that budding entrepreneurs should learn to inculcate. They should have a savings account in the ‘emotional bank’ just like a normal financial bank. Time and again, you will have to come back to this bank and withdraw some amount to fuel up your spirit and motivational level, especially when the times get tough.”
