Acumen

Yellow is a fintech company dedicated to delivering impactful products and services to rural households through a widespread sales network. The company specializes in the last mile distribution of affordable pay-as-you-go solar home systems, targeting low-income communities. By leveraging innovative financing solutions, Yellow aims to enhance access to renewable energy, thereby improving the quality of life for its customers 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. The company offers the AgroSolar Irrigation Kit, which integrates solar water pumping technology with high-efficiency drip irrigation, providing farmers with a comprehensive solution to improve crop yields and reduce costs. This innovative kit not only supplies reliable access to water but also supports smallholder farmers by offering agronomic services, educational training, and access to financing and markets. SunCulture's unique approach positions it as a one-stop shop for Kenyan farmers, focusing on the quality of both its products and services, while also helping to minimize fertilizer waste through efficient application methods.

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 specializes in financing high-quality solar products, including solar lanterns and home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to conventional electricity sources. Easy Solar offers flexible payment plans, allowing customers to make an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, payable through cash or mobile money. Since its inception, the company has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries by leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets, thereby facilitating the transition to eco-friendly and affordable energy solutions.

Winock is a company focused on facilitating the transition to solar energy for micro businesses in Nigeria. It provides credit services tailored to support job creation and economic development, offering solar credit, equipment credit, and cash loans. By enabling small-scale entrepreneurs, such as barbers, welders, tailors, and kiosk owners, to adopt solar power, Winock helps them reduce operational costs and allocate savings towards business growth. The company combines expertise in African business with a commitment to sustainable energy solutions, positioning itself as a key player in the solar energy sector.

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 specializes in financing high-quality solar products, including solar lanterns and home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to conventional electricity sources. Easy Solar offers flexible payment plans, allowing customers to make an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, payable through cash or mobile money. Since its inception, the company has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries by leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets, thereby facilitating the transition to eco-friendly and affordable energy solutions.

Solaris Offgrid is a company dedicated to addressing energy poverty in developing regions, particularly in rural Africa, where over one billion people lack access to clean and affordable electricity. It specializes in the development, manufacturing, and installation of solar energy systems that leverage smart technology and mobile payments. The company's flagship product, a pay-as-you-go solar home system, facilitates the provision of essential services such as LED lighting, communication, and media, while also offering opportunities for enterprise and access to finance. By empowering local entrepreneurs with the necessary hardware, software, and technical expertise, Solaris Offgrid fosters sustainable off-grid energy ventures that enable communities to build and maintain their own micro-energy businesses, ultimately creating a scalable model for real energy access.

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, particularly in off-grid and partially electrified regions. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, with an office in Pune, India, the company provides a range of products including milk chillers, cold storage units, solar add-ons, and smart monitoring solutions. Its innovative systems are aimed at dairy processors and individual farmers, helping them to reduce spoilage and enhance the quality of milk collected from rural areas. By enabling the preservation of milk at the village level, Promethean's technology not only lowers transportation costs for processors but also increases farmer incomes. The refrigeration systems are designed to operate on grid power and are equipped with a generator backup, with plans to incorporate thermal battery storage for greater efficiency in the future.

SimuSolar is dedicated to enhancing rural prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing and financing productive equipment for farmers and small businesses. The company specializes in energy-efficient, solar-powered solutions tailored for off-grid operations, including solar lights, irrigation systems, cold storage, and other tools that support agricultural and fishing activities. By offering innovative financing options, SimuSolar enables access to these essential technologies through flexible monthly payment plans, often facilitated by mobile money applications. This approach not only meets the specific needs of rural smallholders but also fosters sustainable economic growth in the region.

PEG is an asset financing company based in Accra, Ghana, that specializes in providing affordable solar energy solutions to off-grid households in West Africa. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG offers a Pay As You Go financing model that enables customers to acquire solar home systems, which enhance their quality of life by providing reliable lighting, mobile phone charging, and access to appliances like radios and televisions. By facilitating the transition from traditional, polluting fuels such as kerosene to sustainable solar energy, PEG empowers its customers to invest in clean technology while reducing their ongoing energy costs. The company's operations extend to countries including Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, where it addresses the energy needs of underserved communities.

PEG is an asset financing company based in Accra, Ghana, that specializes in providing affordable solar energy solutions to off-grid households in West Africa. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG offers a Pay As You Go financing model that enables customers to acquire solar home systems, which enhance their quality of life by providing reliable lighting, mobile phone charging, and access to appliances like radios and televisions. By facilitating the transition from traditional, polluting fuels such as kerosene to sustainable solar energy, PEG empowers its customers to invest in clean technology while reducing their ongoing energy costs. The company's operations extend to countries including Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, where it addresses the energy needs of underserved communities.

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 specializes in financing high-quality solar products, including solar lanterns and home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to conventional electricity sources. Easy Solar offers flexible payment plans, allowing customers to make an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, payable through cash or mobile money. Since its inception, the company has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries by leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets, thereby facilitating the transition to eco-friendly and affordable energy solutions.

PEG is an asset financing company based in Accra, Ghana, that specializes in providing affordable solar energy solutions to off-grid households in West Africa. Founded in 2013 by Hugh Whalan and Nate Heller, PEG offers a Pay As You Go financing model that enables customers to acquire solar home systems, which enhance their quality of life by providing reliable lighting, mobile phone charging, and access to appliances like radios and televisions. By facilitating the transition from traditional, polluting fuels such as kerosene to sustainable solar energy, PEG empowers its customers to invest in clean technology while reducing their ongoing energy costs. The company's operations extend to countries including Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, where it addresses the energy needs of underserved communities.

Devergy is a social energy utility based in Ghana that focuses on delivering reliable and affordable electricity services to low-income communities in developing countries, particularly in off-grid rural areas like Tanzania. The company operates village-sized energy micro-grids powered by solar energy, enabling households and businesses to access electricity. These micro-grids are designed with adaptive capacity and are regularly monitored to ensure efficient service delivery. By providing solar power, Devergy aims to improve the quality of life for underserved populations while promoting sustainable energy solutions.

SolarNow is a company focused on providing solar energy and financing solutions in East Africa, with its headquarters in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and branch locations in Uganda and Kenya. Founded in 2011 by Willem Nolens, SolarNow manufactures high-quality solar home systems designed to meet the energy needs of both rural and urban households, as well as entrepreneurs and institutions. The company addresses the unmet demand for solar power services by offering a range of products, including solar home systems and electrical appliances. Additionally, SolarNow provides affordable and flexible credit options, enabling customers to access clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for households, small businesses, farming, and corporate needs.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at providing clean energy solutions to rural and semi-urban populations. The company offers a range of solar goods, including lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all powered by rechargeable solar kits. By making these products accessible and affordable, D.light seeks to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for its users.

SRE Solutions specializes in offering affordable and high-quality solar products through an innovative retail distribution network. The company's online platform features a range of sustainable energy products, including solar torches, solar fans, solar lanterns, and solar lights. By providing these environmentally friendly alternatives, SRE Solutions aims to enable individuals to harness solar energy effectively while minimizing their ecological footprint.

Orb Energy is a company focused on providing affordable and renewable energy solutions to off-grid households in India, primarily through solar home systems. By offering its systems at a cost of USD 4 per month, the company effectively caters to low-income customers, supported by a robust retail distribution network. Currently operating 90 branches, Orb Energy has plans to expand significantly, aiming to double its number of branches and employees within the next two years, with a target of reaching 250,000 individuals. In addition to its solar home systems, the company designs, manufactures, installs, and services solar photovoltaic systems for both residential and commercial use, as well as solar thermal systems for hot water and associated lighting components.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at providing clean energy solutions to rural and semi-urban populations. The company offers a range of solar goods, including lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all powered by rechargeable solar kits. By making these products accessible and affordable, D.light seeks to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for its users.

D.light is a developer of solar home lighting and power products aimed at providing clean energy solutions to rural and semi-urban populations. The company offers a range of solar goods, including lights, radios, televisions, fans, and other home appliances, all powered by rechargeable solar kits. By making these products accessible and affordable, D.light seeks to improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the overall quality of life for its users.