Dare to Disrupt Episode 32: Simplifying Solar Investments with Enact Co-Founder Deep Chakraborty

Deep is the co-founder and CEO of Enact Systems, a leading software platform revolutionizing the solar and energy storage industry. Deep co-founded Enact in 2014, driven by the vision of creating a scalable and impactful solar solution. Deep has led Enact through exponential growth, nearly quadrupling its staff and expanding its reach to over 35 countries.

In this episode, Deep discusses his journey in building a North American subsidiary of CentroSolar, a German solar company, from the ground up. He also explains how Enact serves diverse customer segments by providing innovative software solutions that streamline the solar implementation process. Additionally, Deep shares his predictions for the future of alternative energy sources and how Enact plans to adapt to industry shifts and trends.

At the end of the episode, current Penn State student Gauri Patil joins the conversation. Gauri is a senior at Penn State studying computer science. She participated in Penn State’s Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship program and placed in the social impact pitch competition during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC. Gauri and Deep talk about how Deep overcame challenges he faced when founding Enact, as well as how his Penn State education helped position him for success. 

Episode Chapters

01:58 – 00:09:44 Growing up in India, Experience at Penn State, Learnings from Automotive Industry

09:48 – 13:23 Transition from Consulting in Munich to Entrepreneurship

13:24 – 00:17:01 Identifying the Need for a Customer-focused Approach in Solar

17:02 – 20:07 Building a Global Business

20:08 – 21:05 A Software-driven Approach to Solar

22:26 – 23:34 Adapting to Global Markets

23:34 – 25:40 The Two-sided Solar Platform

25:40 – 31:388 The Future of Solar in Renewable Energy

31:38 – 35:27 Student Section

About Deep Chakraborty

Deep is the CEO and co-founder of Enact Systems Inc. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur with a bachelor’s in tech and mechanical engineering in ‘98. He graduated from Penn State in 2000 with a master’s in mechanical engineering, and from the University of Michigan in 2006 with an MBA in business administration. 

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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.