Socent Spotlight: My Solar Wealth

This is part of a Business+Impact series on U-M alumni who have created social enterprises and continue the work of entrepreneurship after graduation. For this edition, we are shining the light on  MySolarWealth, which provides highly economical,100% sustainable energy without the middleman (the grid) for small and medium-sized businesses in Europe.

Growing up, Rui Wang often traveled with his younger brother along Portugal’s stunning coastline. These trips made Rui deeply aware of the beauty of nature—and sparked a desire to work on something that could preserve it for future generations. 

The pivotal moment came during the summer before his senior year in high school. Rui had the chance of researching solar installations at his home, and the process was far more complicated than expected—full of legal red tape, unclear documentation, and a high upfront investment with little visibility into actual savings. That frustrating experience inspired him to build MySolarWealth: a simpler, more transparent, and accessible way to adopt solar energy.

We caught up with Rui Wang soon after his second place finish in the Michigan Business Challenge Seigle Impact Track.

What does MySolarWealth do, and where was it founded? 

MySolarWealth was founded in Portugal with a mission to reduce energy costs for small and medium-sized businesses across Europe—especially those spending between $2,400 to $100,000 annually on electricity. 

We tackle this in two ways: 

1. Hardware: Through our Zero-Investment Solar + Battery Model, we install solar panels and batteries on clients’ rooftops at no upfront cost. In return, they pay an average of 35% less for the energy they consume from our system over a 15-year contract. We handle everything—installation, maintenance, and operations. 
2. Software: Our proprietary tool, AI Energy Autopilot, acts as a virtual Chief Energy Officer. It optimizes energy usage by intelligently deciding when to draw power from solar, battery, or the grid—and when to store or even sell electricity (such as through EV charging). This software is

tailored to the unique needs of businesses like restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and retail stores. 

What are the primary reasons you have chosen to start your business in Portugal? 

I was raised in Portugal, so it was a natural starting point. But more importantly, the local market has a huge gap when it comes to renewable innovation—Portugal has very few unicorns. Our mission has always been to expand and scale internationally, with Spain being the next target on our roadmap. 

What has been your biggest unexpected discovery or adjustment since founding?

There have been two major pivots: 

1. Market Focus Shift: Initially, we targeted residential customers. But over time, we realized the value we could create was far greater for businesses with consistent daily, and yearly energy usage. Our first pilot with a small business in summer 2023 validated this, and we shifted focus to SMBs—particularly restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels.

2. AI Spin-Out Consideration: In early 2024, we faced challenges with sales and finding product-market fit. I considered spinning out the AI Energy Autopilot ISBA as a standalone business. However, when I entered the Michigan Business Challenge, things turned around. Our sales surged in Q4 2024 and have been growing rapidly in 2025, proving that the integrated solution works better together. 

What business school courses or UM entrepreneurship programs have helped you the most in building out the business?  

Impact Studio: This program helped me validate the problem we’re solving and pushed me through the most difficult early phases of idea development. 

Entrepreneurial Sales with Ted: This course taught me how to make my first sale, build a sales pipeline, and choose the right team. It’s been one of the most practically valuable courses I’ve taken. 

ELP (Entrepreneurial Leadership Program): It connected me with experienced entrepreneurs and investors, helping me understand go-to-market dynamics, fundraising, and how to build a better product. 

I highly recommend entrepreneurship courses—they offer hands-on learning experiences. However, they also require a high level of self-motivation and initiative; without that, it’s difficult to create a great and exciting product. 

Describe how AI is playing a part in your business model. 

AI is a core component of our model—it allows us to do things that were never possible before. Our AI Energy Autopilot acts as a real-time decision-maker for energy usage, maximizing efficiency and lowering costs. It’s not just a feature—it’s the brain of our system. 

What new ideas/areas are you looking to pursue next, or what connections are you looking to make in the near future? 

We’re aiming to complete and sign 1 MW worth of projects this year. 

We’re also looking to: 

• Hire top-tier software engineers who are passionate about sustainability.
• Connect with investors and VCs who believe in building a greener future—and want to grow with us.

What’s your ultimate vision for MySolarWealth? 

We envision a future where every small and medium-sized business in Europe can access clean, affordable energy—without complexity or compromise. In this future, the traditional grid becomes obsolete, replaced by energy communities and microgrids where energy is generated, shared, and consumed locally. Our goal is to make sustainable energy not just accessible—but inevitable.