Meet Nishant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nishant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nishant, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for Solace Global after realizing how fortunate I was to grow up with access to robotics programs, STEM resources, and supportive mentors. I was pretty privileged to have these opportunities and I noticed that many people around the world did not have the same access, not just to STEM education but sometimes even to basic needs like food, clean water, or safe spaces to learn. Through robotics competitions and STEM projects, I saw how empowering these skills could be, giving students the confidence to solve problems and create new things. I could not stop thinking about how many brilliant minds might never get that chance simply because of where they were born or the circumstances they faced. That is why I wanted Solace Global to focus on STEM education and also integrate humanitarian aid, because education is hard to focus on when basic needs are not met. Our mission became about bridging that gap by providing the tools, knowledge, and support that can truly change futures.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started Solace Global in 10th grade, during the summer before my junior year, as a way to give back to the community by reaching underserved groups and teaching them about robotics. In the beginning, we focused on local impact, working with kids in our neighborhood and teaching them about topics like climate change and basic STEM concepts. Those early sessions were simple but powerful, showing me how much curiosity and potential existed when people were given the opportunity to learn. As we grew, we began partnering with schools, community centers, and eventually larger organizations that shared our vision. Over time, we were able to connect with companies like Google and other partners who believed in what we were doing.

What started as a small neighborhood project has now grown into an organization that operates in over 15 countries. We focus not only on STEM education but also on humanitarian aid, because we realized that teaching skills is not enough when basic needs are not being met. What sets us apart is that we are the world’s only teen-led nonprofit dedicated to both STEM education and humanitarian aid, and possibly the largest of its kind. This dual mission allows us to address immediate challenges while also investing in long-term solutions for communities.

In addition to our educational and humanitarian programs, we now host events with over 100 participants, including sports tournaments and community activities that bring people together while also raising funds for our mission. These gatherings have become an important way to unite communities, create connections, and generate support for our work. We have also built a digital presence with over $70,000 in value and more than 100,000 views on our educational content across social media, expanding our impact far beyond in-person programs.

It has not always been easy to get here. I have spent countless late nights working to secure partnerships, manage logistics, and keep our projects moving forward. One of the biggest challenges I faced was people telling me to focus on just one thing, and not believing in my vision to combine education and humanitarian support. I learned quickly that staying true to your mission requires persistence, even when others doubt you.

A lesson I have learned along the way is that everyone has something valuable to contribute to society, no matter their background or resources. Listening to others is one of the most powerful tools you can have, because it helps you understand needs from perspectives you may never have considered. I have also learned that humility matters, you are above no one, and the best leaders are the ones who see themselves as part of the team.

I want the world to know that I am not afraid to take risks, to step into the unknown, and to expand when it matters most. I want people to understand that Solace Global will always be willing to adapt and grow to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Our story is still being written, and as long as there are barriers to opportunity, we will keep finding ways to break them down.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit me in Dallas, I would make sure we had a week full of fun, food, and new experiences. On the first day, I would take them to the Galleria Mall to go ice skating and shop around because it is such a Dallas classic and a great way to start the trip with some energy. After that, we could go to Grandscape where there is always something happening. We could spend an afternoon doing activities like go karting, playing games, or just hanging out and exploring the shops and entertainment spots there.

One evening, we would go to Stonebriar to watch a movie and then enjoy a great dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. For a mix of culture and inspiration, we would spend some time downtown visiting the museums, especially the Dallas Museum of Art. I like that whenever I visit the DMA, there is always a new exhibition or installation to see, so it never feels the same twice.

Throughout the week, we would make it a point to try a variety of restaurants. One night we would go for delicious Mexican food, another night we would enjoy The Cheesecake Factory, and another we would explore authentic Indian cuisine. On the last night, we would end the trip with a classic Texas experience by having dinner at Dickey’s Barbecue.

Dallas has such a variety of experiences, from shopping and entertainment to arts and culture, and I would make sure my friend left feeling like they got to see and taste many sides of the city, especially the food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Aaron Sands, my American Studies teacher from junior year, because he had a profound and lasting influence on both my way of thinking and the direction my life eventually took. Before his class, I tended to look at problems in a straightforward, conventional way, focusing mostly on the subjects and challenges directly in front of me. But Mr. Sands challenged that. He encouraged me to think unconventionally, to connect dots between different disciplines, and to explore ideas that were well outside the textbook.

What made his impact so special was the way he engaged with my curiosity. He didn’t know anything about my nonprofit back then, but I often found myself asking him questions that had nothing to do with American Studies — questions about world issues, ethics, technology, and the kinds of social problems I would later try to address through Solace Global. Instead of shutting those questions down or getting frustrated that we were off-topic, he would listen and respond thoughtfully. He answered in a way that made me even more inquisitive and eager to dig deeper, without ever making me feel like my questions were a burden.

Looking back, those conversations planted the seeds for what Solace Global would become. At first, my focus was purely on STEM education, because that was the world I knew best from my own experiences in robotics and technology. But over time, I began to see how STEM was only one piece of a much larger puzzle, especially in communities where basic needs weren’t being met. It was Mr. Sands’ openness and encouragement that helped me develop the mindset to see beyond my original scope and ultimately expand our mission to include humanitarian aid. Today, Solace Global has carried out education and humanitarian projects in over 15 countries, and that evolution can be traced back, in part, to the lessons I learned in his classroom.

He deserves real credit for that, not just because of what he taught in American Studies, but because of how he taught — with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to explore ideas outside the “official” subject matter. The way he engaged with my curiosity so effortlessly and without judgment made me believe that asking questions, even unconventional ones, is not just acceptable but necessary. That perspective has shaped the way I lead, the way I think, and the way Solace Global continues to grow.

Website: https://solaceglobal.world

Instagram: solaceglobalnpo