Develop and market low-cost solar lighting to millions of poor people. An investment you can be proud of.

Basic Information

The company was established in 2005 in Australia as a social for-profit company that assists poor people in developing countries to have access to affordable renewable energy and efficient solar lighting. The company develops and markets LED lamps and micro solar panels for a market of 1.5 billion global poor people, who have no electricity, and currently spend about $1/week on kerosene lighting and batteries. We offer customers in the Bottom of the Pyramid (poorest 20% of the world) affordable safe and clean alternatives to kerosene, eliminating carbon release.

Starting with portable 0.5 and 1Watt desk-lamps costing as little as US$15.00 The company has a full range of solar-powered lighting kits manufactured in China and Germany that can be expanded to meet the needs of a large household or school. Through partnerships with Microfinance institutions such as Oikocredit, we have already set up 300 micro-entrepreneurs in Uganda and Kenya selling their products, and have brought solar electricity to nearly 100,000 families in 25 countries in four years. This saves families the money previously burnt as kerosene, reducing black carbon emissions, and bringing small business opportunities to poor people.

The company has raised funds from institutions, including a US$960,000 grant from the European Council through the EIB in 2010 and also a global syndicate of about 40 angel investors. Our efforts are supported by the Australian Association of Angel Investors, Jigar Shah (CEO of Richard Bransons' Carbon War Room http://www.carbonwarroom.com/about/executive-team) and our Africa-investment model was well recognized at the World Business Angels conference in Beijing in December 2009, gaining interest from Angel Association leaders from Australia, Europe, USA and other countries. We hope to expand angel investment in Africa to 100 or more angels during 2010.
Our products, in May 2010, won 3 out of four First Prizes and one Second Prize from the World Bank at the Lighting Africa conference in Nairobi. This was in competition with industry giants like Philips and after rigorous international testing. Uniquely we supply funding, free training, and free software, business plans etc to our micro-entrepreneur sales force. 

Based in Aberdeenshire, seeking investment of £500,000.

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