Rajshree Upadhyaya | Jaipur | Business Remedies | To reduce post-harvest waste, Varun and Babita Raheja built Raheja Solar by leveraging solar-based dehydration technology and carved a distinct place for themselves. A young mechanical engineer from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Varun Raheja began questioning why farmers in India were suffering such heavy losses despite the country receiving abundant sunlight. After completing his engineering degree in 2018, Varun started experimenting with dehydration technologies. What began as a small terrace-level prototype soon evolved into a larger mission: to develop sustainable, farmer-friendly technology that could preserve fruits and vegetables without expensive infrastructure.
In 2019, Varun formally co-founded Raheja Solar Food Processing Private Limited in Indore along with his mother, Babita Raheja, with a clear objective of converting surplus produce into long-lasting, value-added products. At the heart of the company’s innovation are its flagship solar dryers-specially designed closed systems that use solar energy to remove moisture from fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and spices. Unlike traditional open sun-drying methods, where produce is exposed to dust and uneven drying, these units provide a controlled and hygienic environment. The technology helps retain natural colour, taste, aroma, and nutrients, while extending shelf life from a few days to several months. For farmers, this has been a game-changer, enabling them to sell dried products at higher margins instead of discarding unsold fresh produce.
Strengthening the Ecosystem by Bridging Rural Producers and Health-Conscious Consumers
As the company grew, Raheja Solar established a manufacturing and research facility in Indore to enhance and expand its range of solar drying systems. The portfolio now includes portable models for individual farmers as well as modular units suitable for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and rural enterprises. Beyond selling equipment, the company also began offering training and capacity-building services, guiding farmers on processing techniques, packaging, and value addition to help them access better markets.
This integrated approach positioned the enterprise not just as a hardware supplier, but as an enabler of rural livelihoods. To showcase the potential of dried fruits and vegetables in urban markets, the founders also launched a consumer-facing brand called Barefruit, offering solar-dried fruit snacks and natural fruit-based products without preservatives. By creating demand for dehydrated produce, the company built a strong bridge between rural producers and health-conscious consumers, strengthening the entire ecosystem.
Active in Manufacturing, Deployment, and Farmer Support Programmes
The brand gained nationwide recognition after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4. During their pitch, Varun and Babita highlighted the issue of post-harvest losses in India and presented their solar-powered solution as both commercially viable and socially impactful. Following discussions, they secured an investment of Rs. 1.75 crore for 7 percent equity from investors including Kunal Bahl, Piyush Bansal, and Vineeta Singh. The deal not only brought in capital but also significantly enhanced the company’s visibility and credibility within the agritech and startup ecosystem.
After its television appearance, Raheja Solar continued to expand its footprint across several Indian states as well as select international markets in Africa and South Asia. Thousands of farmers have adopted its solar dryers, helping them reduce waste and increase income through value-added dried products. The company remains operational and actively engaged in manufacturing, deployment, and farmer support programmes from its Indore base.
From a simple open-air experiment to a nationally recognised agritech enterprise, Raheja Solar’s journey demonstrates how grassroots innovation combined with sound business strategy can address systemic challenges in agriculture. By turning sunlight into a tool for income generation, the Raheja family has built a brand that blends sustainability with large-scale impact and continues to grow within India’s renewable energy and food processing landscape.
