IET DAVV Alumna Transforms a Classroom Observation into a Startup India Success Story
Mechanical Engineering Graduate Kanupriya Pandya Leads Renewable Energy Innovation through Reya Solar Panels Pvt. Ltd.
By IET Times Desk
Indore: The Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET), Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), has long nurtured students who transform engineering knowledge into solutions for society. Adding another inspiring chapter to this legacy is Ms. Kanupriya Pandya, a 2025 graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, whose entrepreneurial journey has led to the establishment of Reya Solar Panels Pvt. Ltd., a Startup India-recognized renewable energy company dedicated to making solar energy more accessible for urban India.
For Kanupriya, entrepreneurship did not begin in a boardroom—it began in the classrooms and laboratories of IET DAVV, where the institute's emphasis on innovation, critical thinking, practical engineering, and problem-solving encouraged her to look beyond textbooks and identify real-world challenges.
During her undergraduate years at IET DAVV, she observed that while a large section of India's urban population resides in apartments and residential complexes, the benefits of solar energy remained largely limited to independent houses with rooftop space. This simple yet significant observation inspired her to develop an innovative solution capable of bringing renewable energy to apartment residents, including those living in rented accommodations.
Determined to convert this idea into reality, Kanupriya founded Reya Solar Panels Pvt. Ltd. during the third year of her engineering studies. Balancing academics with entrepreneurship was far from easy. Numerous product designs and prototypes were developed, tested, and redesigned before arriving at a technically sound and commercially viable solution. Every failed prototype became a valuable lesson in engineering design, product development, and perseverance.
Reflecting on her journey, Kanupriya credits the strong academic foundation, innovative culture, and problem-solving approach fostered at IET DAVV for helping shape her entrepreneurial mindset and providing the confidence to pursue an ambitious idea.
Her innovation soon gained recognition under the Startup India Initiative, earning selection for the interview round at the Atal Incubation Centre – GUSEC, Ahmedabad. Exposure to one of India's leading startup ecosystems provided valuable mentorship in product development, commercialization, business strategy, and innovation management, enabling her to transform an engineering concept into a market-ready solution.
To accelerate development, she relocated to Ahmedabad and dedicated herself to the project full-time. Although the product reached launch readiness within six months, evolving government policies in the solar sector required significant redesign and redevelopment. Rather than viewing this as a setback, the challenge resulted in a stronger and more robust solution aligned with the latest regulatory framework.
Today, Reya Solar Panels Pvt. Ltd. is preparing for commercial launch while actively executing rooftop solar projects across Gujarat. These projects have provided the company with extensive expertise in solar technologies, system integration, project execution, and India's rapidly evolving renewable energy ecosystem.
Among the company's noteworthy innovations is its Retractable Cantilever Solar Panel System, specifically designed for locations where conventional rooftop installations are not feasible. The solution has the potential to benefit apartment complexes, commercial buildings, and industrial establishments with limited rooftop availability, thereby expanding access to clean energy in urban environments.
The company is currently engaging with real estate developers in Ahmedabad to integrate apartment-friendly solar solutions into residential projects while also promoting vertical solar panel systems for commercial spaces with limited rooftop area. The objective is to make sustainable energy more practical and accessible for urban households and businesses.
As an officially recognized Startup India enterprise, Reya Solar Panels Pvt. Ltd. offers complete rooftop solar solutions using BIS-certified solar panels, premium electrical components, quality mounting structures, and professional installation services backed by a 30-year product warranty and three years of free maintenance.
An Inspiration for Future IETians
Kanupriya's journey reflects the spirit of innovation that IET DAVV strives to instill in its students. From identifying a practical engineering challenge during her undergraduate studies to building a technology-driven startup, her success demonstrates how curiosity, technical knowledge, and perseverance can translate into meaningful societal impact.
Sharing a message for the current generation of IETians, she says:
"Stay curious, observe the world around you, and never hesitate to pursue your ideas. Every successful innovation begins with a simple observation. With continuous learning, resilience, and determination, that observation can be transformed into a solution that creates real impact."
The Institute of Engineering & Technology, DAVV takes immense pride in the achievements of its alumni, whose accomplishments continue to strengthen the institution's reputation as a centre of academic excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological leadership.
As Kanupriya Pandya carries the values of IET DAVV into India's growing renewable energy sector, her journey stands as an inspiration for every aspiring engineer—that transformative ideas can emerge from campus life and evolve into ventures that contribute meaningfully to national development.
IET Times congratulates Ms. Kanupriya Pandya on her remarkable entrepreneurial journey and wishes her continued success in advancing sustainable energy solutions for India.
