Beyond smart devices, the next leap is self-powered technology, and AIKO POLY is already there. What if wireless headphones could charge themselves from ambient solar light? Sohom Pal and Aditya Kushwaha from AIKO tell EFY’s Akanksha Sondhi Gaur how their innovation blends consumer electronics, sustainability, and material science.
Q. What is the origin story of the solar headphone concept?
A. The idea sparked during a trip to Hampi. I met someone living on a hilltop with minimal access to electricity but abundant sunlight. That moment stayed with me. Later, a school friend from Kolkata’s Chinese community helped us connect with manufacturing partners in Southeast Asia. At the same time, Aditya was building our software ecosystem. Many complementary skills converged organically, and that is how the solar headphone was born.
Q. How has the vision evolved, and where is it headed next?
A. We are a young, two-year-old organisation, but our core vision has remained unchanged: innovation should feel natural in daily life. Solar-powered headphones became our first proof point of this principle. Sunlight is universal, so why should it not power everyday electronics? Over the next decade, we plan to extend this philosophy beyond audio into mobility, public transport, and daily-use electronics, where clean energy can meaningfully reduce environmental impact. This expansion will be driven by deep research and development (R&D) and partnerships with governments and long-term investors aligned with India’s sustainability journey.
Q. Solar is usually associated with rooftops, not wearables. What strategic bet gave you confidence that this could become a mainstream consumer-technology category?
A. Most people view solar as a static technology, meaning flat panels fixed on rooftops. We saw the opposite. Solar is inherently modular. Even harvesting two to three per cent incremental power in micro form factors creates disproportionate value for consumers. Our core insight was that battery anxiety is universal. If sunlight can remove even part of that anxiety, it becomes a category shift. Early prototypes that delivered consistent trickle charging under non-ideal lighting conditions demonstrated that this was not a niche concept but rather something that could fundamentally redefine the wireless experience.
Q. What inspired you to launch solar-powered wireless headphones in an already crowded audio market?
A. Wireless audio still struggles with battery dependence. People aspire to a wireless lifestyle, yet remain tethered to charging cables. Solar offered a practical solution. We identified a clear market gap: combining premium audio quality with sustainable, plug-free convenience. At the same time, growing consumer interest in environmentally conscious technology reinforced our belief that headphones could evolve beyond sound alone.
Q. What lens helps you identify opportunity in an overcrowded consumer-technology space?
A. The market is crowded with low-cost imports and heavily price-driven brands. We differentiate by introducing a genuinely new value proposition through automatic solar charging, while keeping products accessible. Unlike global solar-audio players priced above ₹25,000, we focus on affordability without compromising on quality or durability. This balance between innovation and accessibility is our entry point into the ecosystem.
Q. Audio brands usually differentiate through sound profiles. How does solar change the product segmentation framework?
A. Sound defines a headphone, but solar defines the experience. Instead of segmenting users by bass-heavy, neutral, or Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), we segment by charging behaviour, mobility patterns, and light-exposure profiles. This creates an entirely new matrix around which we can design products.
Q. What are the biggest misconceptions about solar wearables that you are trying to correct?
A. Many people believe solar wearables require direct sunlight, only work outdoors, or must be fully charged through solar alone. In reality, our system is engineered for ambient-light optimisation, not sun exposure. It is a hybrid ecosystem rather than a replacement for conventional charging. By presenting real-world performance data through our application, we consistently convert scepticism into understanding.
Q. What were the most significant technical challenges in designing solar-powered headphones?
A. Miniaturising rooftop-style solar technology into a curved, wearable surface required solving challenges related to durability, flexibility, and the balance between weight and energy efficiency. We also had to engineer hybrid power systems that perform reliably under inconsistent lighting conditions. Much of our early thinking was informed by research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on printed thin-film solar cells.
Q. Which photovoltaic technologies are you using, and how do you approach emerging options like perovskites?
A. We currently use market-grade Photovoltaic (PV) technology optimised for compact wearables. Our R&D follows a parallel-innovation philosophy. This means we ship products using proven solar technologies while simultaneously testing next-generation materials, especially perovskite cells, which are strategically important given India’s mineral reserves, including those in Andhra Pradesh. We are also evaluating All-Black-Contact (ABC) solar technology for higher efficiency. This dual-track approach avoids what we call “science project syndrome,” where companies wait indefinitely for perfect technology instead of delivering real products. As newer materials mature and meet durability benchmarks, our architecture allows drop-in upgrades without requiring a complete redesign.
Q. How did you engineer the power system for stable performance across varying light conditions?
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