When Julia Ha and Mohit Patel were introduced to the concept of microgrids in developing countries as a way to address electricity access, they were intrigued to learn more about a market opportunity that also positively impacted a huge, unaddressed population. Later, as they began to explore the topic more deeply, they eventually decided that the best way to go deeper was to speak directly to their potential consumers and current companies trying to address this issue. For their Inspiration Grant, they traveled to Kenya and Ethiopia, and along the way, they learned that things were more complicated than they anticipated and a one-size-fits-all approach was not the way to go.

Show Notes:
- Productive Use of Electricity: https://energypedia.info/wiki/Productive_Use_of_Electricity
- What is a microgrid?: https://www.microgridknowledge.com/about-microgrids/article/11429017/what-is-a-microgrid

Learn more about the Levy Inspiration Grant Program on the program's webpage here: https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/academics-research/entrepreneurship/levy-inspiration-grants

Learn more about the Entrepreneurship at Kellogg program at kell.gg/entrepreneurship


Produced, written and edited by Tyler Seybold

Hosted by Tyler Seybold

Special thanks to our featured students, Julia Ha and Mohit Patel

Background music by Blue Dot Sessions