You’re Ignoring the Opportunities: How Cornelia Daniel Built Austria’s PV Future | OUAS ep.15

What if the biggest opportunities are already right in front of you?In this episode of Once Upon a Student, we sit down with Cornelia Daniel, founder of Dachgold and one of Austria’s leading voices in renewable energy.While many of her classmates were preparing for traditional careers in consulting and banking, Cornelia followed a different path. What started as curiosity during her master’s thesis turned into a mission: bringing photovoltaic systems to rooftops across Austria.But building a company in an industry that barely existed wasn’t easy. When Cornelia started, the solar market in Austria was still developing, regulations were uncertain, and most companies didn’t yet see the opportunity.Today, she has helped equip hundreds of rooftops with solar energy, shaped the renewable energy conversation in Austria, and was named Austrian of the Year.This conversation goes far beyond solar energy. We talk about curiosity, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and why some of the best opportunities appear long before the world is ready for them.If you’re a student, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone trying to figure out your path, this episode will challenge the way you think about opportunity, timing, and following your curiosity.00:00 – Intro "You will never again have so much time"01:11 – From Safe Career Plans to an Entrepreneurial Path04:36 – The Moment She Discovered Her Big Opportunity07:38 – The Decision to Start a Company12:25 – Why Founders Often Ignore Simple Ideas19:03 – Thinking Big: A Mission Beyond Just a Company26:07 – The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship31:09 – Navigating Uncertainty, Politics & Market Changes44:51 – How AI Is Changing Entrepreneurship49:45 – Austrian of the Year & Advice for Future Founders