Acumen

Yellow is a fintech company dedicated to delivering impactful products and services to rural households through a wide-reaching sales network. The company specializes in the last mile distribution of affordable pay-as-you-go solar home systems, targeting low-income communities. By offering accessible energy solutions, Yellow aims to improve the quality of life for these households, promoting both financial inclusion and sustainable energy use in underserved areas.

RDG Collective was established in 2018 with the ambition to ‘Empower the Future’ by developing and distributing innovative solar home systems throughout Zambia, where an estimated 2.4 million households still lack access to electricity. While the cost of solar energy remained prohibitively high for almost all off-grid households, RDG Collective came up with innovative products distributed on a pay-as-you-go basis. By eliminating this financial barrier, RDG has enabled an increasing number of Zambian households to access solar home systems, refrigerators, solar water pumps and smartphones to improve and empower their lives.

Oorja Development Solutions aims to provide clean energy access to 450 million un/underelectrified people in rural Indian communities. It deploy smart micro-grids powered by biomass gasification and solar PV systems to generate, store and transmit reliable and affordable electricity to SMEs as anchor load and low-income households. It uses a scalable community-owned business model to leverage energy provision as a catalyst for socio-economic development to alleviate poverty, empower women and tackle climate change.

SunCulture, located in Nairobi, Kenya, specializes in solar-powered drip irrigation systems designed to enhance agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability. Their flagship product, the AgroSolar Irrigation Kit, integrates solar water pumping technology with high-efficiency drip irrigation, equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase crop yields and optimize water usage. SunCulture distinguishes itself as a comprehensive resource for Kenyan farmers by offering not only the irrigation systems but also agronomic services, educational training, and access to financing and markets. This holistic approach addresses the needs of smallholder farmers, enabling them to grow food more efficiently while minimizing fertilizer waste through direct application in irrigation systems. By combining innovative technology with essential support services, SunCulture aims to empower rural communities and improve their agricultural outcomes.

Easy Solar is a prominent energy distribution company focused on providing solar solutions to off-grid communities in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company offers high-quality solar products, such as solar lanterns and solar home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to traditional electricity. Customers can finance their purchases through affordable payment plans, which include an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, with payment options available via cash or mobile money. Since its inception, Easy Solar has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries, leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets to ensure accessibility and convenience for its clients.

Winock specializes in providing financial services aimed at supporting micro businesses in Nigeria. The company offers various credit options, including solar credit, equipment credit, and cash loans, which enable small entrepreneurs such as barbers, welders, tailors, and kiosk owners to transition to solar power. By facilitating this shift, Winock helps these businesses reduce operational costs and save funds that can be reinvested to foster growth. In addition to its credit services, Winock leverages its expertise in solar energy investment and data analysis to promote economic development and job creation within the African market.

Easy Solar is a prominent energy distribution company focused on providing solar solutions to off-grid communities in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company offers high-quality solar products, such as solar lanterns and solar home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to traditional electricity. Customers can finance their purchases through affordable payment plans, which include an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, with payment options available via cash or mobile money. Since its inception, Easy Solar has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries, leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets to ensure accessibility and convenience for its clients.

Solaris Offgrid addresses the critical issue of energy poverty, particularly in rural Africa, where over a billion people lack access to clean and affordable electricity. The company develops and installs solar energy systems that leverage smart technology and mobile payment solutions. Its pay-as-you-go solar home system provides households and businesses with essential services such as LED lighting, communication, and media access, as well as opportunities for enterprise and financial services. By offering an integrated and affordable energy solution, Solaris Offgrid empowers local entrepreneurs, equipping them with the necessary hardware, software, and technical expertise to establish and sustain micro-energy ventures. Through this model, Solaris Offgrid not only enhances energy access but also fosters economic development in low-income communities.

Rural populations forced reliance on biomass and kerosene for their energy needs is causing over 1.6M# deaths per annum. Their lack of access to clean water causes over 5M people to die; 2M of them are children under the age of 5. RVE.SOL's _Changing Rural Life Forever_ initiative is creating alternative, renewable energy choices for the rural poor, allowing them to take advantage of natural resources like sunlight, cattle manure and raw water to manage their own way to a better future. Our _KUDURA_ rural village energy hub is community managed; provides communities with potable water, solar electricity, biogas for cooking and organic fertiliser for agriculture. A holistic approach, the solution seeks to target the four areas of rural life that prevalently cause poverty to propagate: 1. Access to clean water to obviate transmission of water borne disease 2. Access to renewable electricity to obviate the dependance on kerosene for light and improve children's opportunity to study at night 3. Access to Biogas to obviate mass destruction of primary forest in a bid to be able to cook food 4. Access to fertiliser to reinvigorate over-used soils and so increase quality and quantity of crop harvest for subsistence farmers. Ultimately, this approach seeks to create wealth for rural farmers by offering a choie of more cost effective and efficient services utilising naturally available resources.

PowerGen Renewable Energy is a leading provider of energy solutions in East Africa, focused on transforming energy access for residential, community, commercial, government, and industrial customers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with additional offices in Arusha, Tanzania; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Lagos, Nigeria, the company specializes in the development, construction, and operation of solar mini-grids. PowerGen offers a range of services including engineering, procurement, construction, and financing, ensuring affordable and reliable power for communities that are not connected to national electricity networks. As a pioneer in the solar mini-grid sector, PowerGen is committed to driving the clean energy transition across Africa and is a founding member of the Africa Mini-grid Developers Association, collaborating with various sector leaders to enhance energy access in the region.

Promethean Power Systems, Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing refrigeration systems tailored for cold-storage and milk chilling applications in off-grid and partially electrified areas. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Pune, India, the company provides a range of products including milk chillers, cold storage solutions, solar add-ons, and smart monitoring systems. Its technologies are particularly beneficial for dairy processors and individual farmers, allowing for improved milk collection and preservation, thereby reducing spoilage and transportation costs. This enhances the quality of milk collected from remote villages and increases farmer incomes. The refrigeration systems operate using grid power, with backup options that include generators and future plans for thermal battery storage, facilitating reliable cold-chain distribution without dependence on diesel generators.

PEG is an asset financing company that specializes in providing Pay As You Go solar energy products to off-grid customers in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Senegal. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG aims to improve the quality of life for its customers by offering financing for solar home systems. This financing model allows households to transition from expensive and polluting fuel sources, such as kerosene, to sustainable solar energy, which not only enhances their living conditions but also serves as a long-term asset. PEG's solar systems provide access to better lighting, mobile phone charging, and appliances like radios and televisions, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient energy solution for underserved communities. Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, PEG is dedicated to promoting renewable energy and improving the standard of living for its customers through innovative financing solutions.

PEG is an asset financing company that specializes in providing Pay As You Go solar energy products to off-grid customers in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Senegal. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG aims to improve the quality of life for its customers by offering financing for solar home systems. This financing model allows households to transition from expensive and polluting fuel sources, such as kerosene, to sustainable solar energy, which not only enhances their living conditions but also serves as a long-term asset. PEG's solar systems provide access to better lighting, mobile phone charging, and appliances like radios and televisions, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient energy solution for underserved communities. Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, PEG is dedicated to promoting renewable energy and improving the standard of living for its customers through innovative financing solutions.

Easy Solar is a prominent energy distribution company focused on providing solar solutions to off-grid communities in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company offers high-quality solar products, such as solar lanterns and solar home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to traditional electricity. Customers can finance their purchases through affordable payment plans, which include an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, with payment options available via cash or mobile money. Since its inception, Easy Solar has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries, leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets to ensure accessibility and convenience for its clients.

PEG is an asset financing company that specializes in providing Pay As You Go solar energy products to off-grid customers in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Senegal. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG aims to improve the quality of life for its customers by offering financing for solar home systems. This financing model allows households to transition from expensive and polluting fuel sources, such as kerosene, to sustainable solar energy, which not only enhances their living conditions but also serves as a long-term asset. PEG's solar systems provide access to better lighting, mobile phone charging, and appliances like radios and televisions, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient energy solution for underserved communities. Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, PEG is dedicated to promoting renewable energy and improving the standard of living for its customers through innovative financing solutions.

Devergy is a social energy utility that focuses on delivering reliable and affordable electricity services to low-income populations in developing countries, particularly in off-grid rural villages. The company operates village-sized energy micro-grids powered by solar energy, allowing households and businesses to access electricity. By utilizing adaptive capacity and regular monitoring, Devergy ensures that its energy services are sustainable and accessible, ultimately enabling communities to benefit from affordable electricity. Based in Ghana, the company aims to improve the quality of life for its customers by providing essential energy solutions.

SolarNow is a company that provides solar energy solutions and financing in East Africa, particularly through its operations in Uganda and Kenya. Founded in 2011 by Willem Nolens and headquartered in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, SolarNow focuses on delivering solar home systems, electrical appliances, and tailored power solutions for rural and urban households, small businesses, farmers, and institutions. The company aims to meet the growing demand for clean and affordable energy by offering high-quality, reliable solar products, along with flexible credit options that enable customers to access these essential services. Through its comprehensive approach, SolarNow addresses the energy needs of various sectors while promoting sustainable energy use in the region.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at making clean energy accessible and affordable for rural and semi-urban populations. The company's offerings include a range of solar-powered devices such as lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all of which are part of rechargeable solar kits. These products are designed to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for users by providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions.

SRE Solutions specializes in providing affordable and high-quality solar products through a unique retail distribution network. The company operates an online platform that offers a variety of solar power products, including solar torches, fans, lanterns, and lights. By focusing on sustainable energy solutions, SRE Solutions aims to enable individuals to utilize renewable energy sources while reducing environmental pollution.

Husk Power Systems Pvt. Ltd. is a renewable energy company based in Patna, India, that focuses on generating and distributing electricity to households, community services, small businesses, and factories. Founded in 2007, the company utilizes biomass waste—such as rice husks and other agricultural residues—to produce electricity through its proprietary technology. Husk Power Systems designs and operates mini-power plants and micro-grids, offering electricity as a pay-for-use service primarily to rural areas. This approach not only provides reliable lighting, reducing reliance on kerosene, but also fosters economic development by enabling microenterprises and the use of electricity-operated machinery. By creating a sustainable energy ecosystem at each power plant, Husk Power Systems aims to deliver shared value to its stakeholders and stimulate local economies.

Orb Energy specializes in providing affordable renewable energy solutions for off-grid households in India, primarily through solar home systems. The company offers these systems at a cost of USD 4 per month, catering to low-income customers by leveraging a robust retail distribution network. Currently operating 90 branches, Orb Energy plans to expand significantly, aiming to double its branches and workforce within the next two years, thereby reaching an estimated 250,000 individuals. In addition to solar home systems, Orb Energy is involved in the design, manufacture, installation, and servicing of solar photovoltaic systems for power generation, as well as solar thermal systems for hot water and related lighting components and appliances.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at making clean energy accessible and affordable for rural and semi-urban populations. The company's offerings include a range of solar-powered devices such as lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all of which are part of rechargeable solar kits. These products are designed to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for users by providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions.

Husk Power Systems Pvt. Ltd. is a renewable energy company based in Patna, India, that focuses on generating and distributing electricity to households, community services, small businesses, and factories. Founded in 2007, the company utilizes biomass waste—such as rice husks and other agricultural residues—to produce electricity through its proprietary technology. Husk Power Systems designs and operates mini-power plants and micro-grids, offering electricity as a pay-for-use service primarily to rural areas. This approach not only provides reliable lighting, reducing reliance on kerosene, but also fosters economic development by enabling microenterprises and the use of electricity-operated machinery. By creating a sustainable energy ecosystem at each power plant, Husk Power Systems aims to deliver shared value to its stakeholders and stimulate local economies.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at making clean energy accessible and affordable for rural and semi-urban populations. The company's offerings include a range of solar-powered devices such as lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all of which are part of rechargeable solar kits. These products are designed to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for users by providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions.