Digvijay Singh: Teen chocolatier making indigenous fruits popular with his homegrown brand
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(January 12, 2024) Chocolates with exotic fruits, nuts or liquor have caught the fancy of chocolate lovers for decades now. But have you ever had chocolate with falsa (sherbet berry) or sitaphal (custard apple) or kulfi? Homegrown brand, Saraam, the brainchild of a 19-year-old Udaipur resident Digvijay Singh, is bringing indigenous berries and fruits into the conventional world of chocolate making. Started in 2021, Saraam – which produces chocolates from bean to bar – has till now sold two tonnes of chocolate to thousands of people across India.
It was during the pandemic when the world was locked indoors and trying new things, Digvijay too was keen to channelise his energy into something productive. After trying his hand at a lot of things, the then 16-year-old decided to give chocolate-making at home a try. That one step led him to start Saraam, which got its first order in 2021.
Digvijay Singh is the founder of Saraam
‘Out of the box’ mindset
Born and raised in a middle-class family in Udaipur, Digvijay wasn’t academically inclined, instead chose to explore drama, games, and the innovative side of things. “I would always be looking for innovative ideas and things to do that were ‘out of the box’. In school my teachers always supported this innovative side of my brain,” he said in an interview. His innovative side got a push during the pandemic when he explored varied things, and being a chocolate lover himself, he decided to try his hand at chocolate making. “I shared this idea with my cousin Mahaveer Singh and he was enthusiastic to join me. However, back then I did not have a plan of action. I didn’t even know how to make chocolates,” he added.
With YouTube’s help, he learnt the art of chocolate making and started distributing the end result among his friends and family for tasting. While it began as a hobby after getting positive feedback, he decided to turn it into a business. “I started making chocolates in my bedroom, which turned into my studio; day in and day out, I lived and slept in the aroma of chocolates. Even before I got into the business of white labelling, I was teaching myself about cacao beans, roasting, grinding, etc. I was experimenting, doing small batches.” While brainstorming about possible customers, he realised that they received a box of chocolates last year when his dad brought a brand-new car from a showroom. Upon inquiry, he found that the showroom sold 60 cars in a day, and it gave him the idea to contact hotel owners and car showroom owners to sell his chocolates. In 2021, he got his first order of 1000 chocolates and launched his brand Saraam.
Creating desi chocolates
Around the same time, he came across an article that talked about a wide variety of indigenous fruits becoming extinct. “There were mentions of fruits that I had never even heard about and I was very shocked. For us fruits mostly mean the mainstream apples, mangoes, bananas, and grapes,” he said, adding that this gave him the idea of putting these fruits in chocolates.
After doing some research on indigenous fruits like kokam, ice apple et al, he tried them to see which worked best with chocolate. “In the culinary world, we don’t go beyond exotic berries, cherries, and oranges. I have never seen a brand that puts anything else beyond the known few fruits. I wondered if there is a market for such chocolates and decided to take a leap of faith,” he said. Keen to put these fruits on the global map, he put them in his chocolate. Starting with ber (jujube), and he later experimented with saffron and cardamom, bael, amala, jamun, kokam, and rose apple. “The ber chocolate and the white chocolate with saffron seem to be a great hit among people and are one of our best sellers, revealed Digvijay.
A homegrown brand Saraam sources its cacao from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and fruits from different parts of the country. In just two years, he has turned it into ₹1 crore business, giving indigenous fruits a fresh lease of life.
(March 26, 2023) Arangetram, the debut stage performance of Bharatanatyam dancers is a common affair but it made headlines in Singapore when Soo Mei Fei gave her first stage performance. With her one-and-half hour eclectic presentation, she not only made her gurus proud but also enthralled audiences who were watching a Singaporean Chinese female dancer perform Bharatanatyam for the first time on stage. In two years of her much-talked Arangetram, the twenty-six-year-old danseuse has carved a niche in the performing arts circuit of Singapore, becoming a familiar face in major events and festivals. "I'm blessed to learn Bharatanatyam," she said in an interview. "It's such a beautiful art. It's not been an easy journey but it has been extremely fulfilling. I want to train more,” she added. [caption id="attachment_28765" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Soo Mei Fei | Photo Credit: Apsara Arts[/caption] It all started when… Soo Mei Fei was seventeen, she and her classmates at National Junior College of Singapore came across a poster that read, 'Indian dance, try-out'. Fascinated by the world of Bollywood, fourteen of them, mostly non-Indians, got interested thinking that the advertisement is about Bollywood dancing. However, much to their dismay, it turned out to be an Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam - something that they had neither heard of nor were able to pronounce correctly. All the youngsters dropped the idea of learning except Soo Mei Fei, who was intrigued by the dance form. She enrolled in the extra-curricular class,
[caption id="attachment_28765" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Soo Mei Fei | Photo Credit: Apsara Arts[/caption]
It all started when…
Soo Mei Fei was seventeen, she and her classmates at National Junior College of Singapore came across a poster that read, 'Indian dance, try-out'. Fascinated by the world of Bollywood, fourteen of them, mostly non-Indians, got interested thinking that the advertisement is about Bollywood dancing. However, much to their dismay, it turned out to be an Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam - something that they had neither heard of nor were able to pronounce correctly.
All the youngsters dropped the idea of learning except Soo Mei Fei, who was intrigued by the dance form. She enrolled in the extra-curricular class, and within a few days, she was completely captivated.
The urge to know all about the oldest dance form of Indiagot stronger by the day. The youngster found herself spending hours in major libraries in and aroundPunggol, where she lives, devouring all the information that she could gather on Bharatanatyam. Watching performances extensively on YouTube to ace the craft became a favourite past time.
Learning from Vijaya Nadesan, her teacher at the extra-curricular class who also taught in Apsara Arts, a leading dance academy in Singapore, Soo Mei Fei enrolled at the academy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxAQej97w_o&t=51s
However, she had to deal with her own set of challenges in the process. Often taking more time than her Indian counterparts to grasp what was being taught, Soo Mei Fei also struggled to understand the lyrics of the Carnatic songs on which Bharatanatyam is performed. It was Google Translate that came to her rescue. With teachers also making extra efforts to help her, the youngster slowly started getting a grasp.
The dance academy required her to learn for two hours, but Mei Fei would spend the entire day watching other pupils and teachers dance, getting completelyimmersed in the world Bharatanatyam, enhancing her skills along the way.
Over the course of time, whether it was hastas (hand gestures), sthankas (leg and foot movement) or abhinaya (expression of emotions), the Singaporean Chinese dancer aced all, attaining perfection with her sheer dedication.
Connecting with the Indian culture
In the last decade, Soo Mei Fei has not just learned Bharatanatyam but also understood about the culture of India.
Today it’s hard to miss the Singaporean Chinese dancer even in a crowd because of her attire – the colourful Indian saris that she often adorns. While learning how to tie and carry herself in a sari was difficult initially, she is now an expert in it.
[caption id="attachment_28764" align="aligncenter" width="832"] Soo Mei Fei | Photo Credit: Kaya, a publication of Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore[/caption]
Due to her facial features, which are different from her Indian counterparts, Soo Mei Fei hadto also put additional efforts to teach herself the make-up requirements that is pivotal to Bharatanatyam performances. “Most of my friends had their mums to help them get dressed but I had to learn lots of things on my own getting valuable tips from my friends and teachers along the way.”
The dancer devours Carnatic music. “It’s very rich. The lyrics and melody have a lot of meaning behind it. I understand the songs because I feel it,” she says. Since 2018 she has been also learning Odissi, another ancient Indian dance form.
The course of life
Indebted to her gurus for recognising the spark in her and working very hard to train her, Soo Mei Fei’s world revolves around Bharatanatyam. Other than the performances, her work as instructor at children's enrichment centres and dance academies in Singapore keeps her busy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g8vwRKYJ6Q
“Artshould not have boundaries. It’s a great learning experience to know more about another culture that is different from us. In doing so, we discover that we are more similar to each other than what we thought,” she remarks.
(June 19, 2024) Growing up in Bengaluru, Jeya Malhotra often saw children with intellectual disabilities being mocked or bullied in her apartment complex. The sight was painful as these kids couldn't defend themselves, but what she found daunting was the lack of sensitivity towards these children. This led her to start Khwahish, a venture dedicated to supporting children with intellectual disabilities. "I want young kids to be sensitised about children with special needs so that the world can become more inclusive," the young changemaker tells Global Indian. The 15-year-old is dedicated to supporting SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities by creating an inclusive world. She recalls a memorable campaign in New York City where people were served dirty water on the streets. "Confused, they questioned why they were served contaminated water and learned that it is a daily reality for people in certain cities, countries, and continents around the world due to lack of access to clean water. It was a way to sensitise people on what's happening in certain parts of the world. Similarly, I want to sensitise people to the experiences of children with special needs so that they understand and see things from a lens of
se people to the experiences of children with special needs so that they understand and see things from a lens of empathy and understanding," says Jeya.
A Tinker Champ in the making
Born in Delhi, Jeya moved to Bengaluru at the age of five. An introvert with not many friends, she spent most of her time surrounded by books. "Nothing like a good read. I have always found myself drawn to the world of books," says the teen whose favourite author is Sudha Murty. But it was in Grade 7 that she first discovered Atal Innovation Mission. "It began with a message that landed on my WhatsApp school group about a Tinkerpreneur encouraging students to teach their peers about entrepreneurship. This got me intrigued," says Jeya, who began exploring the field and soon prepared a masterclass on digital skills. "Teaching students about basic PowerPoint or Excel was the beginning of my journey as a Tinker Champ." Now a Class 10 student, she create resources like boot camps, YouTube lives, and workshops to teach students from Class 6 to 12 on digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and business through peer mentoring. Till now, they have impacted over 5000 students.
Supporting children with intellectual disabilities
Over the years as a Tinker Champ, she noticed a gap: the lack of attention to intellectually challenged children. "Instead of just focussing on the resources for the intellectually challenged children, the bigger problem is the stigma around them." It's something that she witnessed firsthand in her apartment. "Such children are often mocked and made fun of. From the bird's eye view, the bigger issue is the stigma and not the resources they lack," she adds. This motivated her to start Khwahish with a mission to support children with intellectual disabilities by addressing the societal stigma and providing them with necessary resources.
"I found lack of education to be the root cause as many people have no idea about intellectual disabilities, which often leads to insensitivity," explains Jeya. She began by creating a website to share her mission and vision, and started reaching out to specialists in the field. That's when she found Dr Anamika Hui, an audiologist and speech-language pathologist who works with children with intellectual disabilities, and confirmed that stigma is a huge issue. Meanwhile, Dr Anamika also cautioned her that it's a close-knit community that isn't open to the idea of collaboration. "She told me even if I intend to empower them, I will face some resistance. I took her advice seriously and started connecting with more special educators and special schools in Bengaluru to build trust," informs Jeya.
SDG 10
While interacting with one such school - Buddhi Special School - the teenager had an epiphany that to shift the perceptions of children with intellectual disabilities from sympathy to empowerment, she needed to display their talents well and "make people know what they have to offer". Inspired, she conducted an art activity and collected their artworks for a virtual reality art exhibition. "Seeing people's surprise at the children's talent was eye-opening and confirmed that there was genuine interest, which led me to conduct my first awareness session with the help of Dr Anamika." By showcasing the talents of children with intellectual disabilities, Jeya aims to create an inclusive world. "My focus is on SDG 10 - reducing inequalities by creating an inclusive world, which can be achieved by sensitising people and changing their view on other people, who might be a little different from them."
Soon interest grew, and she began organising more awareness campaigns in residential areas as well as schools. Through Khwahish, she wants to support special schools and children and work on providing accessible learning resources and guides for parents and guardians. In just a few months, she has already impacted over 120 students. "I often ask children to picture a child with an intellectual disability, and they usually imagine someone helpless or vulnerable. This is the perception I want to change," she emphasises.
A long journey
Her journey hasn't been easy as the 15-year-old had to face a lot of criticism initially with many doubting her qualifications to work with or raise awareness about children with special needs. "I was told that working with specially-abled children or even spreading awareness about them required a certification. And I had no authority to speak on them. But I stood my ground and told them that one needed passion and the drive to conduct awareness campaigns more than certifications." Many adults dismissed her effort as a mere project due to her age and she even found many students indifferent to the cause. "Since special schools and regular schools are different, not many meet children with special needs daily. Hence, it's hard for them to understand them or know how to behave or react." She often uses the example of braces to make children understand the concept. "I tell them that if they had never seen braces before, they might mock a friend wearing them. But it’s just something normal. The same logic applies to children with special needs. However, changing perceptions takes time," adds Jeya, who believes early intervention is crucial as young minds are easy to influence as they are still far away from rigid beliefs.
Despite the challenges, Jeya has found support from a few people who have become her collaborators. "They believed in me and the cause and were always ready to help," she says. However, she acknowledges that changing perceptions is a long journey. A crucial moment in her mission was her visit to Buddhi Special School in Bengaluru, where an interaction with the coordinator, Mrs Rekha, deeply impacted her. "She told me that these kids have no idea how much stigma they will face the moment they step out into the real world. Most kids are mocked and bullied. Some kids, who need special care, are separated from their parents and stay in the premises all the time since their parents don't have the training or the skillset to take care of them. That's why special schools become important." Realising the challenges that these children might face in the real world, Jeya wants to step in and pull the plug on this by creating as much awareness so that these kids feel equally safe in the outside world. "I want the awareness impact to go into thousands for neurotypical people, especially children so that the world becomes more inclusive."
Jeya, who calls herself a bibliophile, calls awareness a two-way learning process. "When you are spreading awareness, you are in turn learning a lot in the process," says the teenager. She began Khwahish with a passion for working for children with intellectual disabilities and is on a mission to make a more inclusive world. "It's important to go with the flow, and have a growth mindset where you do not quit."
(June 27, 2024) At the age of 17, Eshani Jha created a low-cost, water filtration device to address the problem of clean water around the world. Four years later, the San Jose teen was named winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for her innovation, which uses biochar as a filtering material to produce drinking water. Eshani received a blue crystal award, a handmade diploma and a cash prize of $15,000 awarded by the Stockholm International Water Institute. Her work is also in keeping with the UN's SDG, in particular, SDG 6, which aims to ensure available and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. For the San Jose teen, who is now at the University of Berkeley, the aim is to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices, while addressing water scarcity, water pollution and water-related ecosystems. The clean water challenge "Water contamination is a key challenge of modern civilisation," the Global Indian said. "Nearly half the world's hospital beds are filled with patients suffering from water-related diseases. According to the UN's Environment Program, 80 percent of global wastewater goes untreated and contains a wide range of contaminants, from human waste to toxic industrial
m, 80 percent of global wastewater goes untreated and contains a wide range of contaminants, from human waste to toxic industrial discharge. Severe pathogenic pollution affects around one-third of the world's rivers. Correct water filters are inaccessible to those who need them dueto tradeoffs between cost and effectiveness," the young innovator remarked. Her invention, she says, can lower the cost of use to less than $1 per month for consumers, if it is mass-produced.
[caption id="attachment_31179" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Young innovator Eshani Jha[/caption]
The San Jose- teen is the winner of two of the top competitions for science and innovation - the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021. Eshani received recognition and a cash prize of US$150,000 for her innovative low-cost water filtration device called Biochar. Her invention not only removes heavy metals like lead but also addresses pesticides, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Inspired by her Indian heritage and witnessing the plight of underprivileged communities during a trip, Eshani is determined to provide accessible solutions for water contamination issues. "I see a multitude of applications for this, and I also see great potential in targeting other contaminants too," Jha said. "My ambition is that this should be a one-stop filter."
The journey to the Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Jha's research is titled 'Thiol Functionalized and Manganese Dioxide Doped Biochar for the Removal of Toxic Organic and Inorganic Contaminants from Water" It was chosen for its applicability, the choice of a commonly-available material (biochar) and its potential for scaleability, the Stockholm International Water Instititute said later.
The young innovator began her work when she was a student at Lymbrook High School in San Jose, and was first recognized by the California Stockholm Water and Environment Association. Her research was chosen by a panel of engineering professors and board members of the CWEA, after which she went on to represent her state at a competition hosted by the Water Environment Federation. After being declared the winner there too, she went on to the SIWI international platform, competing against 44 finalists from 32 countries.
Eshani Jha's remarkable journey from a high school student to an internationally recognized innovator serves as an inspiration to young minds around the world. Her determination to address the global water crisis has led to the creation of a low-cost water filtration device that holds the potential greatly increase access to clean water.
Receiving the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021 accolades further solidifies Eshani's place as a pioneering force in the field of science and innovation. The recognition and cash prizes she has received not only validate her groundbreaking work but also provide her with the resources to continue her research and bring her vision to life.
Re-purposing bio waste
Eshani's invention, Biochar, not only filters out heavy metals but also tackles contaminants like pesticides, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals, ensuring cleaner and safer drinking water. Her commitment to addressing water pollution and scarcity aligns perfectly with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, underscoring the relevance and impact of her work on a global scale.
With a clear vision of expanding the application of her filtration device to target other contaminants, the young innovator is determined to provide accessible solutions for water contamination. As Eshani Jha continues her journey at the University of Berkeley, her innovative spirit and dedication will undoubtedly shape the future of water filtration technologies. Through her groundbreaking research, she has opened doors to a world where clean drinking water is not a luxury but a fundamental right for all.
(November 5, 2022 ) Aman Anubhav lives in Sikahar, a village in the interiors of Gaya, the sacred city of Bihar. Nestled into the forest, the weather is cool all year round with the temperature difference between the main town and Sikahar varyies up to five degrees. “In the night it gets very dark here. So, I grew up watching lots of stars and constellations. My father became astronomy teacher, helping me understand the wonders of the natural science” says the teenager. The founder of DeuxStem, which teaches space science to the layman, Aman received his first smartphone only when the pandemic hit and classes were moved online. With it, his knowledge grew multifold over the next couple of years, so much so that Aman is already passing on what he has learned to the less privileged. During the pandemic, the family faced such dire financial constraints that Aman even had to quit studying at a private school and enroll temporarily in the local village school. Still, he persevered. Currently studying in Class 12 at Delhi Public School, Bodh Gaya, Aman educates people about physics, astronomy and aerospace through his website, social media and YouTube channel, has received appreciation
lass="size-full wp-image-23868 aligncenter" src="https://stage.globalindian.com/youth///wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Aman_image.jpg" alt="Indian Youth | Aman Anubhav | Global Indian" width="1213" height="926" />
Currently studying in Class 12 at Delhi Public School, Bodh Gaya, Aman educates people about physics, astronomy and aerospace through his website, social media and YouTube channel, has received appreciation from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and also from many other globally renowned organisations from the sphere of space science.
Apart from creating educational content, DeuxStem is working in partnership with International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)that provides high-quality astronomical data to citizen scientists around the world, to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy.
Aman and his team have been identifying asteroids (small rocky objects that orbit the Sun) in collaboration with IASC. Two of the twelve identified asteroids are already under deep review of NASA. Deeply inclined towards the STEM subjects, Aman has also digitally developed 105 aerospace equipment designs, some of which have stood out in competitions and been acknowledged by specialists in the domain.
All about space
The sixteen-year-old student of standard 12, DPS, Bodh Gaya strives to deliver top class pedagogy in advanced STEM knowledge to the masses. “My purpose in starting DeuxStem was to put all my aerospace equipment designs, and research papers on modern physics, quantum physics, special relativity, general relativity in one place so that people can read them, and get educated.”
Within months of his initiative, he was thrilled to get an appreciation from NASA, European Space Agency, Ariane Group – an aerospace company based in France, JAXA Space Center, Japan, and astronaut Tim Peake,” he tells Global Indian.
https://youtu.be/IAPEjUQjghc
We also got a very good appreciation post from Canadian Space Agency. They even started following our organisation on social media and website. German Aerospace Centre (DLR) also acknowledged our efforts. This motivated us to create some more digital designs of aerospace equipment - Aman Anubhav
Developing aerospace equipment designs
“These days people want to go to places other than earth, and it is possible only with the help of aerospace equipment,” he smiles. Aman dreams big and doesn’t shy away from the work either and taught himself the basics of aerospace design.
As a reward, the Bihar boy has bought himself a new tablet, after having achieved so much with just a smartphone. “I was introduced to a smart phone for the first time during the Covid-19 outbreak, when my school classes shifted online. Before that, we were strictly not allowed to use them,” he says. Like any teenager, he spent his time playing games, watching videos and streaming films.
Aman explored aerospace through a game he had on his phone. “That’s how my passion for designing aerospace equipment developed,” he says. Although there is software available to create these designs, doing so requires a good amount of scientific knowledge. This he acquired through books and research papers from Springer, the German multinational publishing company, watching YouTube videos and going through relevant material available at MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW), a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. “It has some really good courses in aerospace dynamics - that helped,” he says. Aman also watched movies like Interstellar, Ad Astra and Martian.
[caption id="attachment_23873" align="aligncenter" width="839"] Aman Anubhav[/caption]
One of the designs that he is really proud of is a piece of equipment he has named Vyomgami. Derived from the Sanskrit word Vyom Shastra, the name means the scripture of aerospace. “Weather balloons are used to launch rockets to the upper atmosphere and then ejected there, helping the rocket take off without having to fight atmospheric resistance. That’s how it gets into orbit with very little fuel consumption.” Vyomgami is meant to facilitate this process.
The design of Vyomgami stood out in a competition organised by Spaceonova, an organisation that educates people about space and aerospace. He has also come up with solutions that he has named Rakshak and Pavana that can help achieve sustainable energy and clean climate.
Don’t expect the voyage to be a cruise - we should focus on research and innovation rather than scores to help secure the true act for which humans are here - 'Development' - Aman Anubhav
Aman attended one of Asia’s largest Techfest, IIT Bombay Techfest last year. Amidst the many talented young minds, he got acquainted with Roshan Naidu a VIT student who is now the co-founder of DeuxStem, taking care of the operations part of it. He has also participated in CERN - European Council for Nuclear Research conference. "I got the opportunity to interact with Dr Steven Goldfarb from University of Melbourne working at ATLAS experiments for the launch of LHC (large hadron collider), Higgs Boson, Gravity & Graviton and particles & nuclear physics," he tells.
Finding asteroids
Talking about his partnership with IASC, Aman says, “It’s a not-for-profit organisation that enjoys sponsorship from well-known research bodies like NASA, International Astronomical Union, Catalina Sky Survey etc. to equip citizen scientists with knowledge of astronomy.
IASC get pictures of the night sky directly from NASA-controlled Pan-STARRS Observatory in Hawaii. “These pictures are like data of identifying asteroids, which is a technical and tedious process.”
[caption id="attachment_23875" align="aligncenter" width="950"] The process of finding asteroid in progress[/caption]
There are certain criteria to classify an asteroid. Since it involves processing an extremely large amount of data (several Petabytes per night are captured by NASA telescope), they send it to IASC, giving citizen scientists an opportunity to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy. In collaboration with IASC, Aman and his team have educated 85 people from places like USA, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran and other countries on astronomy, hand-holding them in identifying asteroids. The discovered asteroids are then put under deep review of scientists at NASA.
“It’s such a technical and tedious process that in close to three years, we have been able to identify just about 12 preliminary stage asteroids,” says Aman.
Out of those 12, two have qualified for the probational phase of study by NASA scientists. “The process of the preliminary stage asteroids getting categorized for probational review takes another six-to-10 months. Once NASA confirms after their investigation, we will get to name the asteroids we identified,” he says.
Aman is associated with Child Rights and You (CRY), and has raised funds to support the cause. He was also selected to the prestigious LaunchX 2022 a programme hosted by MIT to promote entrepreneurship and technology. "Just about 10 percent of students who apply for the programme get selected globally for this programme," says he.
Although the programme was scheduled offline at the University of Michigan, due to covid protocols it was conducted online. With a team of students from different countries, Aman developed a startup - SEDU which was a solution to teach teenagers about the importance of sexual knowledge and removing taboos attached to it. To facilitate knowledge in a fun way he and his team developed a physical board game and a web game. Through marketing and sale they got successful in generating $285 during the five weeks course and $500 thereafter for the business model, completing the programme with flying colours.
Life and role models
Aman comes from a humble background. His father, a farmer, is still trying to recover from the losses of the pandemic, after his business shut down. It was so hard on the family that Aman had to discontinue his studies at DPS and enroll himself in the village public school for a time. “When I was in class 9, it became difficult to continue studying at the local school so I was re-admitted to DPS,” says Aman. He aims for a PhD in Astrophysics, so that he can be a researcher from “the very start.”
The Bihar teen is deeply inspired by Google CEO Sundar Pichai and relates to him a lot. “His father had to spend a year’s salary to buy him the air ticket to send him to Stanford University in the US” remarks he adding, “I too cannot afford higher education.” Like his role model he aims to bag a scholarship from a good institution to take forward his dreams.
In his free time, the youngster likes going to the farm with his father and even enjoys helping his mother in the kitchen. “It’s not very conventional for boys to work in the kitchen where I live but my mother appreciates it,” says the teen who could barely converse in English until 2019. “It was after getting my phone that I immersed myself in listening to TED talks and podcasts, and from there I have picked up the ability and confidence to speak English,” he says.
The teenager is a good example of how to put technology to good use for enhancing one’s knowledge and personality, and that if there is a will, a lot can be achieved even when the resources are limited.
(February 16, 2024) Anurag Kamal, inspired by his early work on electric trucks at Eicher Motors and the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) revolution led by Tesla, transitioned from conventional internal combustion engines to a focus on EVs, culminating in his co-founding of ElectricFish in 2019. The Forbes 30 Under 30 is the co-founder of ElectricFish, a climate tech innovator, is redefining the EV charging experience with its software-powered, distributed energy storage solutions, utilizing 100% renewable energy to enhance local energy resilience and streamline EV charging. [caption id="attachment_35867" align="aligncenter" width="418"] Anurag Kamal[/caption] From Eicher to ElectricFish Anurag Kamal began his career at Eicher Motors, where he began working with conventional internal combustion engines. During the two years he worked there, he transitioned to electric transportation, as the company began developing its first electric truck. "At Eicher, I came to realise the important role electric vehicles play in reducing emissions," the Global Indian said in an interview. At around the same time, Tesla was being built in the U.S. It was an exciting development, one that prompted him to move to the US, where he did a master's in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He continued to pursue his interest in
n said in an interview. At around the same time, Tesla was being built in the U.S. It was an exciting development, one that prompted him to move to the US, where he did a master's in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He continued to pursue his interest in EVs, studying inverters, motors and batteries. Eventually, he wrote his master's thesis on the mathematical modelling of aging in lithium ion cells.
After graduation, Anurag moved to Silicon Valley where he joined BMW and worked on their i4 electric optimization systems, as well as using his time to attend industry and climate conferences. "I understood there was a massive need for energy storage and EV charging infrastructure in the coming years and that integrating those two domains would make sense." In 2019, Anurag co-founded ElectricFish with Vince Wong and Nelio Batista, after he pitched the idea of an integrated energy storage and EV charging service at a hackathon in San Francisco. Anurag, Wong and Batista continued working together after that, and eventually attended an accelerator at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. There, they met their fourth co-founded, Folosade Ayoola.
What is ElectricFish?
[caption id="attachment_35868" align="aligncenter" width="489"] Anurag Kamal and the ElectricFish team[/caption]
Founded in 2019, ElectricFish is a pioneering climate technology company that focuses on revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) charging experience while promoting energy resilience in local communities through the use of 100% renewable energy. At the heart of ElectricFish's mission is the development of distributed energy storage systems, powered by advanced software, to address some of the critical challenges facing the electric grid and EV infrastructure today.
ElectricFish's approach involves creating a network of energy storage solutions that are distributed across various locations, rather than relying on centralized energy storage facilities. This method allows for a more efficient management of energy distribution, ensuring that power is readily available closer to where it is needed, especially in areas with high demand for EV charging or those vulnerable to power outages and grid instability. They currently use a lithium iron phosphate battery, which is slightly safer in case of a fire than the traditional lithium-ion versions.
The product
"It's a big battery," Anurag laughed, in an interview. "It can do bi-directional energy transfers from the electricity grid (stored energy) and makes decisions about when to store and when to feed energy." It also comes with an extreme fast charging port with a 200mAH range. "You charge your car from seven to 10 minutes and it can go another 150-200 miles," he explains. In comparison, there are over 1,70,000 publicly available EV charging ports in the US, which are a mix of both regular (Level 2) and fast charging (DC Fast Charging) stations. Level 2 charging stations, which are the most common, provide around 20 to 30 miles of range per hour of charging.
ElectricFish's 350², which is a plug-and-play energy storage system, works with all vehicle architectures from 300 to 950 VDC. Their software-backed smart chargers can store cheap, clean power supply from the grid and shift this power through the day when required.
Normally, an EV is plugged for around eight hours in a parking spot. Tesla is the only other company that provides extreme fast charging and this is mainly compatible with its own vehicle architecture and works with 400-600 volt batteries, Anurag explains. Only Tesla vehicles, as well as other EVs like the Hummer, which have such large architectures, can use these charging stations. 350² is also designed to power community loads through its bi-directional electricity meter and an ultrafast CCS port.
Not only do ElectricFish batteries offer extreme fast charging for non-Tesla cars, they also don't deplete energy from the grid. Instead, the batteries can learn how to draw energy when demand is low and store it for later use. "It's green and available to charge cars very quickly," Anurag says. They work with convenience stores, municipal depots and car dealerships as well. "The idea is to slowly grow the business and have enough critical mass of stored energy."
Who are their customers?
ElectricFish currently has three customer segments: convenience stores/ gas stations, fleet operators and utilities. "Car dealerships are also becoming a key segment," Anurag adds. Convenience stores that are usually located with gasoline pumps were the first target group. "Our fast EV chargers provide a gasoline-like experience for customers, where they can get their EV charged, grab something to eat and continue their journey." Getting up to 200 miles of range in 10 minutes is very handy, especially on long-haul trips. Fleet operators are also looking to electrify their vehicles and need a quickly deployable charging solution. "Electric utilities are also interested in our product as either adding energy storage at substations or providing EV charging services for their customers. We are part of several electric utilities' innovation programs across the US," he explains.
Soo Mei Fei | Photo Credit: Apsara Arts[/caption]
Soo Mei Fei | Photo Credit: Kaya, a publication of Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore[/caption]
Young innovator Eshani Jha[/caption]
Aman Anubhav[/caption]
The process of finding asteroid in progress[/caption]
Aman's village[/caption]
Aman's village[/caption]
Anurag Kamal and the ElectricFish team[/caption]