SoBz Energy Limited

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; UGANDA

Solar on the Boda.jpeg

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Solar Lamps.

Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

SoBz Energy will utilize a network of boda (motorcycle) riders to distribute solar lights to hard to reach communities. The Venture will identify the boda riders, train them in solar marketing, functioning, and simple troubleshooting and roll them out to sell solar lamps to the rural customers. The venture will also carry out customer screening, especially of those buying on credit, to determine credit readiness, and then determine repayment method. The venture also will conduct field visits to customers to assess their experience with the lamps, gather impact stories, and issue repayment reminders. The venture will initially operate in Mubende district in Western Uganda, with plan to scale to the neighboring communities.

SoBz Energy’s co-founders all have experience in Uganda’s renewable energy sector. Noah Ssempijja, the Managing Director, worked with Fenix International as a Customer Field Support Manager. Florence Nabukenya, the Customer Support Manager, previously supported Fenix International’s customer call center in Uganda. And Denis Mulangwa, the Operations Director, previously worked as Head of Customer Care and Credit at Solantis Solar Uganda.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • 500 lamps distributed over the first three months, reaching 3,000 people

  • 39,000 people reached by the end of Y1

  • 99,000 people reached by end of Y2

FOUNDING TEAM

Noah Ssempijja - Co-founder, Managing Director

Denis Mulangwa - Co-founder, Operations Director

Florence Nabukenya - Co-founder, Customer Support Manager