Bolong Chew is the co-founder and CEO of Getsolar (formerly known as Solar AI Technologies), a rooftop solar startup providing property owners with zero upfront cost, rooftop solar-as-a-service. 

They recently raised $1.5M in seed funding from regional investors like Earth Venture Capital, Investible, and Undivided Ventures.

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

We help property owners in Southeast Asia (starting in Singapore) get instant solar savings with a rooftop solar system at zero upfront costs at 100% carefree.

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

While I'm running a solar company with a site attracting >10,000 monthly readers, I came from zero background in electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering. 

But of course, we've brought in solid engineers over time.

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Successfully launching one of the region's first residential rent-to-own solar offers to make solar even more accessible to everyone.

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

The intersection between software, financing, and climate-tech. 

We're in the midst of one of the most consequential energy transitions as renewable energy takes over oil and natural gas, just as they have replaced coal in the mid-20th century. 

I'm really bullish that software and financing will play an important role in laying the foundations for how this green transition happens.

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

The energy industry often feels opaque and complex, but you'll be more than surprised at the number of folks who're open to sharing their experience and want to see new ideas cross-pollinated from other sectors. 

There's a lot that you can bring to the table even from outside the industry!

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

I'm a solar geek. Anything solar related ;)

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

I didn't grow up liking anime but I got really into Naruto over the last year.

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Pistachio, probably.

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FYI. We've edited this interview for clarity.