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Basics

Describe yourself briefly.

I was born in India and moved to the US with my parents at a young age. Community service became an important part of my life very early on as the stark poverty and disparity between rich and poor in India's pre-tech days left an impression I couldn't forget. I've always had a great interest in electronics, and as a kid, realized the benefits that technology could have in lower-income countries.

I went on to study International Development and Technology Transfer from Tulane University and the School for International Training (SIT). While studying with SIT, I traveled throughout South America, lived with indigenous communities, and met with business leaders to discuss how their policies influenced lives of the under-served. The necessity for business solutions in development became evident here.

Prior to starting One Degree Solar, I spent years in post-conflict Liberia as an adviser to the Deputy Minister of Health, a position sponsored by the Clinton Foundation. While with the Ministry, I secured $8.5M in emergency funding from the World Bank, contributed to Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and led sector-wide energy and technology initiatives (ICT & solar in clinics).

Describe your Unreasonable Venture in 100 words or less.

One Degree Solar is a supplier of solar energy and lighting products created specifically for individuals and small businesses in developing countries. We utilize innovative mobile technologies throughout the entire lifecycle of our products, from advertising to after-sale support. This enables us to have direct contact with customers, build customer loyalty, and quantify revenues per end-user.

Currently, we are operating with partners in Kenya, Rwanda, and Liberia. End-users and resellers confirm that our products are brighter, more portable, and more versatile than anything on the market.

We were selected as scholarship recipients for SOCAP11 and spoke on the panel: Technology Solutions: Ready to Scale. We are a former member of the Wharton Venture Initiation Program (VIP) and have won the first place award from the Wharton Africa Business Forum.

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Team

Describe your relevant experience (especially entrepreneurial).

Before One Degree Solar, I spent years in post-conflict Liberia, sponsored by the Clinton Foundation, to work directly with the Deputy Minister of Health. While with the Ministry, I secured $8.5M in emergency funding from the World Bank, contributed to Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and led sector-wide energy and technology initiatives. I also started an on-the-job training program that created additional mid-level positions for Liberians, and this model has been replicated across Liberia's government ministries.

Additionally, I work as a consultant with a USAID renewable energy program in Africa. I've contributed to the USAID Powering Health initiative and created a guide for off-grid clinicians worldwide to better understand off-grid energy systems.

One Degree Solar now has office space at the Wharton School of Business as part of its Wharton Venture Initiation Program (VIP) and Entrepreneurial Program. I have been a speaker at several conferences and Wharton classes.

My degree is in International Development and Technology Transfer from Tulane University and the School for International Training, where I designed programs for use in international, off-grid settings.

Why is your team uniquely qualified to run this venture?

Our entire team has relevant experience in the US and abroad. Our graduate student Fellows are from the Wharton Business School, Penn Engineering, Oxford, and LSE. Fellows have lived and worked throughout Africa, South America, India, and Afghanistan for several years, including work for the UN, IFC, Conservation International, Endeavor, & McKinsey.

Our advisers are seasoned leaders from the mobile phone, renewable energy, micro-finance, venture capital, operations management, and international development arenas.

Our formal partner in Liberia (a Liberian) has 9 years of solar energy experience, managing programs for the World Bank, USAID, and UN. Distribution partners in Kenya have spent years educating local communities about the benefits of renewable energy and selling solar devices.

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Venture

What is the urgent social or environmental need you're addressing?

For the 1.6 billion people without electricity worldwide, energy is frequently ranked among other pressing concerns like health, education, or housing. But for these individuals, energy means constantly buying toxic disposable batteries, kerosene lamps, candles, diesel, or firewood. These energy sources are inefficient, expensive, and harmful to the individual and the environment.

To access news or education via radio, or to charge cell phones, individuals without power must spend the time and money to buy batteries or to travel to a local phone charging kiosk and pay for each charge. Small businesses, including those that exist purely to charge cell phones, also depend on diesel fuel, which drastically reduces profits and forces higher prices for the low-income customers they serve.

What is your solution to this need? Describe your business strategy.

We provide solar energy devices like desk lamps, multifunction lanterns and solar home systems that are specifically designed to be tamper resistant, user-friendly, and durable. Our solutions enable people to save time and money, charge their phones, use the radio, and have access to safe, clean and bright light. We've developed high-quality devices that are brighter and cheaper in the long run than traditional alternatives and even competitive solar products, and sell these products to wholesalers and NGOs.

We've also created Mobile Phone Charging Stations to replace the diesel generators that vendors currently use to charge dozens of phones per day, thus increasing profits and allowing for lower end-user costs.

We provide after-sales services, customer support, and education via SMS.

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Milestones

Convince us it will work. What milestones have you achieved?

We originally started ODS to meet healthcare needs and have had sales to nonprofit organizations in several countries. We shifted gears in 2010 and have started sales with distribution partners in four African countries. Products have sold out in every location and have received very positive feedback from resellers and end-users. We consistently receive requests for products and are building a team in Africa to help us fulfill the demand we've built.

We are the first supplier to provide affordable solar products in Liberia.

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