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.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...

Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.

Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.

Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.

SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.

41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.

Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.

Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future

A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated

Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 15th December 2015
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.