Solar Powered Social Business, Little Sun
by Startacus Admin
Little Sun- A Solar Powered Social Business
World leaders in Paris have just signed an historic agreement to cut carbon emissions and thus decrease the rate of global warming. Whether collectively the nations are able to do so remains to be seen, but nevertheless there are entrepreneurs and innovators everywhere, who are already doing their bit to make the dream of a low carbon world a reality. People like Olafur Eliasson and Frederik Ottesen.
Olafur is an artist, and Frederik an engineer and together they have developed a product called Little sun; an aptly named little solar powered led light that has the potential to deliver energy to over 1 billion people worldwide without access to electricity- and look rather splendid whilst doing so.
But this social impact business is about a lot more than providing just providing a sustainable source of light, it is seen as a vehicle through which young people can to become entrepreneurs through training as Little Sun sales agents through access to seed capital of Little Sun lamps, which helps them to get their small business off the ground and lay the foundations for a sustainable and profitable enterprise.
Impacts and Investments
Having launched in 2012 the team have so far distributed Little Sun Lamps to over 10 nations in Africa including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana as well as places within Europe, Australia, and North America.
In 2014 the team were the recipients of a $5M impact funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, an investment fund that distributes funds to projects that can have a real, meaningful, and lasting change around the world. This funding has allowed the team to crank up their efforts, especially in Africa, delivering light and a better future for people across the continent.
Little sun lamps can be bought from anywhere in the world, and each one sold to people who already have access to electric light, makes it easier for the team to deliver them to areas which don’t.
Maybe a nice Christmas present for a socially conscious pal of yours?
The video below shows Olafur discussing Little Sun at the Venice Architecture Biennial in 2012.
Little Sun
Olafur Eliasson talks about Little SunSubscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
London startup Soldo, is aiming to streamline the entire business expense cycle –from payment to reconciliation.
Don’t worry if your business died. You just got a step closer to entrepreneurial heaven says Richard Myers, Commercial Director at Transmit Start-Ups.
SupplyCompass, a design-to-delivery sourcing platform that provides an efficient and sustainable solution for global supply chains, agrees a £1.5m seed fund deal.
Apprenticeship startup WhiteHat raises $16m Series A led by Index Ventures and prepares to expand its alternative to university.
How can women effectively challenge gender bias in the workplace? Hayley Mackenzie from Boiler Guide, shares here thoughts and experience.
The app that's aiming to help us to take the first step in reversing climate change...
The startup that's providing Nursing Home residents with additional meaningful social interactions provided by local people!
Some easy and inexpensive ways to make your start-up more secure.
The vidiCREW app is on a mission to show your wedding through the eyes of your loved ones. How does it work?
The Startup Leadership Program continues to grow, inviting applications for its 9th London cohort to join the six-month program.
Published on: 15th December 2015
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Startup Leadership Program invites applications for its 9th London cohort 12th Jul 2019 The Startup Leadership Program continues to grow, inviting applications for its 9th London cohort to join the six-month program.
- Latest Zinc Company Builder Programme to transform the quality of later life 9th Jul 2019 Do you want to build a new purpose-driven startup with support from a world-class network of experts?
- HealthTech startups sought for Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge 4th Jul 2019 The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge is on the hunt for innovative healthtech startups and scaleups...
- Seedrs FMCG Accelerator Programme to help 10 UK-based FMCG businesses 3rd Jul 2019 Seedrs have launched their first FMCG Accelerator Programme dedicated to helping up to 10 UK-based FMCG businesses raise capital.
