From dorm room ideas to a billion-dollar mission
Two friends, a half-formed idea, and a garage-turned-lab—this is how startups often begin. But for Anish Thakkar and Patrick Walsh, those informal beginnings grew into a mission that aims to illuminate every African home. Over nearly two decades, their collaboration evolved from a campus partnership at the University of Illinois into a venture that has raised about $700 million to bring affordable, reliable lighting to millions of households across Africa.
The journey began with a shared curiosity about energy access and a belief that practical technology could transform daily life. What started as a few prototypes in a lab became a scalable business model built on local manufacturing, durable design, and financing options tailored to communities that traditional energy grids often miss.
Why affordable lighting matters
Energy is more than light; it’s opportunity. Affordable lighting extends productive hours for families, enables safer streets after dark, and supports small businesses that operate in the evenings. In many African regions, the cost of solar devices and the lack of reliable electricity have limited access to education, healthcare, and income-generating activities. Thakkar and Walsh identified a simple, ambitious reply: design lighting that is not only affordable at purchase but also economical to run, easy to maintain, and ready for scalable distribution.
A model built on local fit and sustainable finance
The founders emphasized a local-first approach. They worked with manufacturers who understood regional climates, power reliability, and supply chain realities. The strategy included modular lighting solutions, robust battery technology, and long-lasting components designed for repairs and upgrades. A cornerstone of their approach was a flexible financing model, enabling customers to pay over time through microloans or subscription schemes. This reduces the upfront barrier and creates a pathway toward widespread adoption without compromising product quality.
Beyond hardware, the company invested in service networks—training technicians, creating regional distribution hubs, and fostering after-sales support. The emphasis on maintenance ensures devices endure, preserving value for customers and reducing e-waste. By pairing high-efficiency lighting with smart purchase options, the venture sought to replace kerosene lamps and inferior bulbs with modern, safer alternatives—while keeping price sensitivity at the forefront.
Raising capital with a social impact lens
The $700 million in fundraising reflects more than a financial milestone; it signals a broad conviction in the business model’s potential to drive inclusive growth. Investors were drawn to the combination of a scalable technology platform, a clear path to profitability, and measurable social impact. Thakkar and Walsh often speak about balancing ambition with accountability, ensuring that the company’s growth translates into tangible improvements in people’s lives rather than abstract metrics alone.
Impact on communities and the market
Early deployments focused on regions with volatile power supply and high demand for reliable lighting. Local job creation, transfer of technology, and the development of local supply chains have ripple effects beyond households. By stabilizing night-time economies and enabling small businesses to operate after sunset, the initiative contributes to broader economic resilience. The project also aligns with global commitments to universal energy access, proving that large-scale philanthropic funding can be harmonized with commercial discipline to achieve durable outcomes.
Looking forward: scale, resilience, and inclusion
As the company continues to expand, the focus remains on resilience—adapting to climate challenges, indoor air quality concerns from alternative fuels, and evolving consumer needs. Thakkar and Walsh are committed to maintaining affordability while pushing the envelope on efficiency and smart technologies. The vision is simple and ambitious: ensure that a reliable, clean light is a basic right in every home, not a luxury.
For aspiring founders, their story offers practical lessons: start with a clear social mission, engineer for local realities, pursue sustainable financing options, and invest in the people and ecosystems that scale innovations into everyday life. The path from a college lab to a continent-wide impact is not linear, but it is increasingly achievable when purpose and product move in harmony.
