The story of Oorjan Cleantech is not just one of entrepreneurial grit, it’s a blueprint for how technology, finance, and vision can transform India’s energy future. At the heart of this mission is Gautam Das, a first-generation entrepreneur who rose from a small, flood-prone village with no electricity to lead one of India’s one of the most dynamic cleantech enterprises now active in 22 states and union territories.
An unlikely beginning with an extraordinary vision
Born to daily wage labourers in a village untouched by electricity, Gautam began his schooling in a modest Zilla Parishad school. Despite the odds, he never let his circumstances define his trajectory. He earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay, followed by a Management degree from the Indian School of Business (ISB). He eventually rose to the position of Director at a leading Indo-American bank, where he managed large treasury book and cross-currency transactions.
But a successful banking career wasn’t enough! Gautam yearned to make a tangible impact—and found his calling in the sustainability sector. Together with Manjesh, a Chartered Accountant and banker who shared a similar dream, the duo took the entrepreneurial leap to start from scratch.
The birth of Oorjan Cleantech: Building India's distributed solar future
Launched with a bold ambition, Oorjan Cleantech (www.oorjan.com) set out to address one of India's most pressing challenges: equitable access to clean, affordable, and reliable solar energy. Today, Oorjan is a leading tech-enabled, finance-integrated renewable energy platform, driving the solarisation of India at scale.
With over 5,000 solar projects implemented across 22 states and union territories, Oorjan is playing a pivotal role in India’s green transition. The company has:
Enabled 250+ MW of installed solar capacity,
Mobilized over ₹1,200 crore in green capital, and
Delivered an environmental impact equal to planting 12 million trees and eliminating 350,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
Whether it's remote villages, urban rooftops, industrial clusters, or educational institutions, Oorjan’s footprint now spans metros, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and underserved regions, bridging the energy access gap with precision and purpose.
A scalable, asset-light model with smart tech at its core
Oorjan’s unique success lies in its asset-light, scalable business model. Rather than building infrastructure from the ground up, it:
Partners with last-mile solar installers, vetted for quality and reliability
Collaborates with leading solar equipment brands, and
Leverages partnerships with banks and NBFCs to offer innovative, accessible financing.
Oorjan’s tailored financial offerings, Capex models, Solar Loans, PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) and PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) make it easier for residential users, MSMEs and corporates to adopt solar with minimal upfront cost.
Additionally, Oorjan’s proprietary IoT-based remote monitoring system empowers users with real-time data, performance insights, and proactive maintenance tools—maximizing efficiency and customer confidence.
Recognised for innovation, built for impact
In a sector crowded with short-lived players, Oorjan has not only sustained but thrived. It has earned:
Best Solar Startup in India by World CSR,
New Energy Leader in Asia by the Asian Development Bank,
REI Collaboration of the Year, and
Gautam’s nomination for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Most notably, the company has achieved six consecutive years of profitability, a rare accomplishment in cleantech startups, proving that sustainability and scalability can go hand in hand.
People, purpose and performance
At the cultural core of Oorjan is a belief in human potential. Gautam, an ultra-marathoner, triathlete, and open-water swimmer, brings an endurance mind-set to the business. He has completed 25+ marathons, including the 87 km Comrades Marathon in South Africa and a 113 km Ironman-format triathlon and that spirit infuses Oorjan’s workplace.
The company promotes employee wellness and work-life integration, with a daily emphasis on physical and mental well-being. Co-founder Manjesh shares this ethos, believing that entrepreneurship, like endurance sport, requires resilience, consistency, and a strong inner compass.
The road ahead: solarizing India’s future, one state at a time
As India charts its path toward a net-zero economy, Oorjan is at the forefront, enabling decentralized solar adoption with speed, scale, and sustainability. With deep local partnerships, real-time tech, and robust financing, it is not just executing projects, it is transforming how India thinks about energy.
From a boy growing up in a powerless village to becoming a change maker lighting up 22 states, Gautam Das’s story and that of Oorjan Cleantech is proof that bold dreams, when powered by purpose, can illuminate an entire nation.
