Varun Karad started working when he was in university; his first job was at Hungry Jack’s, an experience that instilled in him a real-world work ethic. Soon after, he transitioned into tutoring at his university, leveraging his academic strengths to support others. His first major leap came as a systems and operations manager for a construction company in Australia. But the turning point was his decision to return to India at just 21 to support his family business. Taking charge of production planning and procurement, Karad navigated the realities of a struggling enterprise, gaining invaluable lessons in business operations, people management and cash flow that no classroom could replicate.
Committed to lifelong learning, he later pursued executive education at Harvard University and Stanford University, complementing his bachelor’s in accounting and economics. This blend of hands-on experience and academic growth eventually led him to renewable energy. After brokering power purchase agreements and consulting in the sector, Karad co-founded REnergy Dynamics (RED) with Kushagra Nandan.
A key concern in the compressed biogas (CBG) segment, he notes, is the offtake and subsidy structure for organic fertilisers derived from biogas production. Going forward, better alignment of state and federal subsidies is essential to incentivise farmers to transition away from heavily subsidised chemical fertilisers. He also points out the paradox that, despite CBG having a higher calorific value than many green fuels, it is sold at a discount in India, whereas globally, green energy commands a premium. At the very least, he urges parity with market prices.
By hiring people smarter than himself and his co-founder, he ensures the team becomes an asset, not a liability. His focus is on quality over quantity, empowering individuals with the right incentives, training and growth opportunities to build a high-performing team.
Karad begins his day early and stays constantly engaged, supported by a family that shares his entrepreneurial spirit. His wife, also an entrepreneur, and his co-founder both understand the demands of this lifestyle, making work-life integration seamless. “Entrepreneurship is not about glossy social media portrayals, it is about the challenge and fulfilment of bringing complex ideas to life,” he says.
That said, Karad finds balance in small but meaningful ways, spending weekends with his toddler, catching up on shows and diving into books that fuel his learning journey. For him, building his business is not a burden but a life he has chosen and enjoys fully.
