Nithish Sairam and Sudarshan saw a gap in design and engineering talent in the US solar industry, prompting them to establish Illumine Industries in 2015. The startup initially provided engineering expertise for solar projects but has expanded to offer services throughout the renewable energy project development cycle. Illumine now handles a range of projects, including solar plants, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging, natural gas power plants, and upcoming hydrogen plant projects. The company secured $2 million in funding in 2024, facilitating its growth and expansion plans. Despite potential challenges like trade tariffs and federal subsidy uncertainties under the Trump administration, Illumine remains optimistic due to the attractiveness of solar power in many US states. Looking ahead, the company aims to enter Australian and European markets while also pursuing projects in Canada and the Middle East. With ambitions to become a global engineering firm from India, Illumine targets reaching $100 million in revenue and a $250 million valuation within the next five to six years.