What Koolboks does

Koolboks is a France-headquartered climate tech company that designs, manufactures, and distributes solar-powered refrigeration equipment — primarily chest freezers, beverage chillers, and ice makers — for African markets where grid electricity is unreliable or absent. Its core differentiator is a patented (or patent-pending) "ice battery" thermal storage system that charges from solar panels and sustains cooling for 4–7 days without sunlight or grid power, reducing food and vaccine spoilage for off-grid users; complementary features include USB charging ports, LED lighting, double-gasket insulation, smart auto-switching between solar and grid, and IoT-enabled monitoring on the AC Inverter line.

The company's revenue mechanics span outright hardware sales, Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) installment financing with embedded payment-tied lock functionality, a Cooling-as-a-Service subscription pilot with FanMilk Nigeria (Danone), and a Scrap4New trade-in program. Pricing is publicly listed in Nigerian Naira, ranging from ₦65,000/month entry-level PAYGO plans to ₦4,584,000 outright for the 750L AC Inverter Freezer, with a 25% Results-Based Financing discount for female customers. Koolboks also sells PowerFoot battery modules (30–150Ah, AC and DC) as ecosystem add-ons.

Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via owned retail stores across Nigeria (Lagos, Akure, Ibadan, Ilorin), telesales teams, and the KoolBuy e-commerce marketplace; enterprise field sales to anchor accounts such as FanMilk (300-unit CaaS pilot), Coca-Cola Nigeria (10-unit pilot), the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (8,000-unit vaccine cold-chain partnership), and LASUTH pharmacy; plus channel partners like Orange Renewable Power across 12 African nations. Headquartered in Paris with regional offices in Lagos, Nairobi (opened August 2022), and Kampala (opened December 2023), the company has deployed over 10,000 units across approximately 25–28 countries and is building a 72,000-unit annual capacity assembly plant in Nigeria funded by a 1.4 million euro FFEM grant.

Name

Koolboks

Legal name

Koolboks

Website

https://koolboks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Koolboks is a France-headquartered climate tech company that designs and distributes solar-powered freezers, chillers, and ice makers using patented ice-battery thermal storage for off-grid African markets, selling via retail, PAYGO financing, and enterprise partnerships across 25–28 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-Grid Solar Refrigeration

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Solar refrigeration solutions
• Off-grid cold storage
• Ice battery technology
• Pay-as-you-go freezers
• Solar-powered freezers

Headquarters

HQ city

Rosny-sous-bois

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar Refrigerator and Freezer Hardware Sales: Koolboks generates primary revenue from selling solar-powered refrigerators, freezers, chillers, and ice makers. Products are available as outright purchases or through PAYGO installment plans where ownership transfers after full payment. Hardware is sold directly to consumers, SMEs, and enterprise clients across Africa.
2. Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Financing: Koolboks offers PAYGO financing, treating freezers as a service where customers make regular payments. Once fully paid, ownership transfers to the customer. This model enables access for cash-constrained micro-entrepreneurs and generates recurring revenue through installment collections.
3. Scrap4New Trade-In Program: Customers can trade in their old freezers to receive a brand-new Koolboks solar freezer with easy payment plans, generating revenue while supporting circular economy and customer acquisition.
4. Cooling-as-a-Service (Caas): Koolboks piloted a Cooling-as-a-Service model with FanMilk, deploying 300 freezers under this model, generating recurring service revenue rather than one-time product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Koolboks designs, manufactures, and distributes solar-powered refrigeration products, including DC and AC solar freezers, AC inverter freezers with IoT monitoring, beverage chillers, ice makers, and combo fridges, primarily for off-grid and unreliable-grid environments across Africa. Hardware is paired with embedded Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) financing so customers can pay in monthly installments and gain ownership after full payment, and the company also runs a Cooling-as-a-Service model for enterprise deployments.

Product overview

Koolboks offers a portfolio of solar-powered refrigeration products designed for off-grid and unreliable electricity environments across Africa. The core product line includes DC Solar Freezers, AC Solar Freezers, and AC Inverter Freezers available in various capacities (128L to 750L), complemented by specialized Chillers for beverages and Ice Makers for commercial ice production. The product ecosystem includes Powerfoot battery storage modules (AC and DC variants in 30Ah-150Ah capacities) as add-on accessories. Supporting services include PAYG (Pay As You Go) financing for affordable access, the Scrap4New trade-in program, and the KoolBuy marketplace platform launched in 2025. All products utilize patented ice battery technology enabling 4-7 days of cooling without sunlight, and the AC Inverter Freezer line features IoT-enabled smart monitoring capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kool Impact: Impact and social responsibility initiatives focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and sustainable cooling solutions.
• KoolBuy

Products and services

• Koolboks DC Solar Freezer (208L) Solar-powered chest freezer with patented ice battery technology providing 4-7 days of cooling without sunlight, automatic switching between solar and grid power, 2 USB charging ports, and 2 LED bulbs. Targeted at off-grid households and micro-SMEs in Nigeria at ₦989,000 outright or ₦65,000/month PAYGO.
• Koolboks AC Solar Freezer (208L-750L) Dual AC and solar powered freezer available in capacities from 208L to 750L, combining grid electricity and solar energy for uninterrupted cooling and reduced electricity costs. Designed for SMEs and commercial users with PAYGO financing available.
• Koolboks AC Inverter Freezer (200L-750L) Premium freezer line with AC inverter technology that automatically adjusts cooling power based on demand and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring of energy usage, billing, location, and temperature. Available in 200L, 600L, and 750L capacities with up to 8-year warranty.
• Koolboks Chiller (358L) Solar-powered beverage chiller with full frontal clear panels for product display, designed for commercial cold storage of drinks in retail outlets. Targeted at beverage vendors, retail stores, and enterprise partners such as Coca-Cola.
• Koolboks Ice Maker (195L) Solar-powered ice-making freezer with 195L capacity and integrated 45Ah battery, enabling ice-block and ice-cube businesses with zero electricity costs. Sold outright or via PAYGO from ₦44,000/month with a 3-year warranty.
• Koolboks 128L Combo Fridge DC Solar-powered combo fridge combining refrigerator and freezer functionality with integrated 1156Wh battery and 275W solar panel for complete off-grid operation, silent DC performance, and PAYGO financing.
• Koolboks DC Powerfoot Battery Storage Standalone DC solar battery storage solution available in 30Ah, 45Ah, 60Ah, 100Ah, and 150Ah configurations, designed for extended off-grid energy storage to power Koolboks appliances and DC devices.
• Koolboks AC Powerfoot Battery Storage High-capacity AC energy storage system available in 60Ah, 100Ah, and 150Ah configurations, providing reliable backup power for AC appliances and commercial refrigeration setups, with grid-connected and off-grid capability.
• KoolBuy Marketplace Online marketplace platform for purchasing Koolboks solar-powered refrigeration and battery products, providing a direct e-commerce sales channel.
• Scrap4New Trade-In Program Trade-in program allowing customers to exchange old freezers for new Koolboks solar-powered units on flexible payment plans, supporting customer acquisition and circular-economy objectives.
• Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) Managed cooling service where Koolboks owns and operates solar freezers deployed at customer sites (e.g., FanMilk vendor network) for recurring service revenue instead of one-time hardware sales.
• PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) Financing Subscription-based installment financing program enabling customers to acquire Koolboks freezers through monthly payments without traditional loans, with ownership transferring after full payment and freezer functionality tied to payment status.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% cost savings vs. traditional refrigeration through superior insulation and ice battery technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Give to Africa FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 December 2025Give to Africa Foundation partnered with Koolboks in December 2025 to empower 150 women entrepreneurs across Gulu, Arua, and Iganga districts in Uganda with solar-powered freezers.
• Inclusive EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2024Koolboks and Inclusive Energy partnered to install solar-powered refrigerators at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) pharmacy, ensuring reliable medical storage regardless of external power fluctuations.
• FanMilk Nigeria (Danone)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2023Koolboks piloted 300 freezers with FanMilk in Nigeria under a revolutionary Cooling-as-a-Service business model. CEO of Danone extended invitation for potential partnerships with West African FanMilk operations.
• Coca-Cola NigeriacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2023Koolboks launched a pilot with Coca-Cola to test 10 units of the solar-powered Koolboks Beverage Chiller in retail outlets across Nigeria, exploring cold beverage storage solutions.
• Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023Koolboks partnered with ACPN to supply 8,000 solar-powered refrigerators for vaccine storage across Nigeria, addressing healthcare cold chain needs in off-grid areas.
• Orange Renewable Power Private LimitedflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2023India-based Orange Renewable Power partnered with Koolboks in October 2023 to deploy solar freezers and refrigeration solutions across 12 African nations, improving off-grid refrigeration access for households and small businesses.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Greenlight Planet / Sun King sells PAYGO solar lanterns, home systems, and appliances (including some refrigeration products) to off-grid households in Africa and South Asia. Direct competitor in PAYGO distribution channels and target customer base.
• BBOXX: BBOXX is a UK-headquartered PAYGO solar provider operating across multiple African markets with solar home systems and appliances. Comparable PAYGO business model, geographic focus, and target SMB/off-grid customer segment.
• BioLite: BioLite manufactures clean energy products including solar-powered lighting, charging, and cooking solutions for off-grid households in Africa and South Asia. Comparable as a solar appliance manufacturer targeting emerging market consumers with similar off-grid pain points.
• Nova Lumos: Nova Lumos provides PAYGO solar home systems to off-grid households in Nigeria and other West African markets. Directly comparable as PAYGO-distributed solar products serving Nigerian off-grid consumers.
• SolarFreeze: SolarFreeze is a Kenyan startup that provides solar-powered cold storage as a service to smallholder farmers and market vendors in East Africa. Directly comparable as a solar refrigeration provider targeting African SMBs and smallholder value chains.
• d.light: d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes solar-powered lanterns, home systems, and appliances across Africa and Asia, often via PAYGO. Most directly comparable PAYGO competitor in the African off-grid solar appliance space.
• Zola Electric: Zola Electric (formerly Off Grid Electric) provides PAYGO solar power systems and appliances across sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Directly comparable as a PAYGO solar + appliance provider in overlapping African markets.
• M-KOPA: M-KOPA is the largest PAYGO solar home system provider in Africa, selling solar products on installment to off-grid households and SMEs. Directly comparable to Koolboks' PAYGO model for solar-powered appliances, though M-KOPA focuses on lighting/TV systems rather than refrigeration.

Emerging players

• PHB Solar Ice (ColdHubs / Inspira Farms): ColdHubs operates solar-powered cold rooms for fresh produce preservation across Nigeria and other African markets. Comparable as a solar refrigeration-as-a-service provider serving African agricultural value chains; smaller scale and narrower product offering than Koolboks.
• Fosera: Fosera manufactures solar home systems and DC appliances for off-grid consumers in West and East Africa. Comparable product portfolio (solar DC appliances) with smaller scale; emerging player in similar customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/koolboksnigeria
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFjTO4s-zYbk7kEb89deEzQ
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/koolboksng
• Instagraminstagram.com/koolboksng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koolboks

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds13 records

Investors19 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koolboks