What BURN does

BURN (BURN Manufacturing, product brand: ECOA) is a Kenya-based, vertically integrated clean cooking appliance manufacturer and carbon project developer headquartered in Nairobi/Ruiru with manufacturing capacity of 450,000 cookstoves per month across facilities in Kenya, Nigeria, and Asia. The company designs and distributes a full portfolio of fuel-efficient stoves spanning biomass (ECOA Char/Jikokoa at 72% thermal efficiency, ECOA Wood/Kuniokoa at 51%, ECOA Char Pro for commercial use), institutional (ECOA Pro 200), LPG (ECOA Gas), ethanol (ECOA Ethanol), and cellular-enabled IoT induction cookers — supported by the proprietary myECOA mobile app, digital MRV system with serialized stoves and GPS-tagged deployment data, and integration with Gold Standard's Metered Methodology for carbon credit issuance. BURN operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (ecoa.co.ke), WhatsApp ordering, Kenyan supermarket chains (Naivas, Carrefour, Magunas, Quickmart), microfinance institutions (Equity Bank, KWFT), pan-African social distributors (M-Kopa, Living Goods, Givewatts), and country-specific national distributors across 20+ African countries.

The company earns revenue through three streams: (1) hardware sales at retail prices (e.g., ECOA Char at ~$27 in Kenya) subsidized via carbon finance, with wood stoves subsidized to $3-5; (2) Pay-As-You-Cook financing on IoT induction cookers with mobile money integration; and (3) sale of high-integrity Gold Standard carbon credits — including monthly individual subscriptions at $30-$150/month, institutional bulk sales (discounted above 500 tonnes), and corporate B2B sales to SBTi-committed buyers. Its primary customer segment is low-income households across Sub-Saharan Africa, with secondary segments including institutional buyers (schools, hospitals, restaurants) and corporate ESG/climate buyers. Since its founding, BURN has sold over 7.2 million stoves, impacted 22-36.7 million lives, claims to have prevented 75.7 million tonnes of CO2, and issued 5M+ carbon credits that are independently rated by BeZero (BBB), Calyx (AA Tier 1), and Sylvera. The company has raised over $140M cumulatively across multiple DFI and impact investor rounds, including a $80M financing from the Trade and Development Bank in June 2025.

Name

BURN

Legal name

BURN

Website

https://burnstoves.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

BURN is a Kenya-headquartered, vertically integrated cookstove manufacturer and Gold Standard carbon project developer producing IoT-enabled electric, biomass, LPG, and ethanol stoves under the ECOA brand for low-income Sub-Saharan African households, institutions, and corporate carbon credit buyers across 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Cookstoves and Clean Cooking Appliances

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (335210)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430), Electric Housewares & Fans (3634)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Offset Projects (Grid/Off-grid, Cookstoves, Buildings/Industry) (EUABABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon Offtake Structuring & Contracting (ERPA, Long-term Offtakes, Price Floors) (EUABADAE), Audit-Ready Controls, Assurance & Compliance Workflow Tools (CSRD/SEC/ISSB) (EUABAEAG)

Keywords

• Clean cookstove manufacturing
• Carbon credit development
• Clean cooking appliances
• Biomass and induction stoves
• Gold Standard carbon projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Ruiru

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cookstove Hardware Sales: Sale of clean cooking appliances (charcoal stoves, wood stoves, LPG stoves, ethanol stoves, electric induction cookers, institutional stoves, and cookware) to households and institutions across Africa and internationally. Products are sold at retail through own e-commerce, supermarkets, distributors, and marketplaces. Includes both subsidized (carbon-finance-reduced) and full-price sales.
2. Carbon Credit Sales: BURN develops high-integrity Gold Standard carbon credits through its clean cooking projects. Credits are sold to corporate buyers, sustainability leaders, and carbon market intermediaries. Individual consumers can also purchase carbon credits (monthly subscriptions at $30-$150/month, or one-time purchases) to offset their carbon footprint. Credits are CCP-labelled and independently rated by BeZero, Calyx, and Sylvera.
3. Pay-As-You-Cook / PAYG Financing Revenue: IoT-enabled induction cookers support pay-as-you-cook financing, where households pay for cooking electricity through mobile money in small increments. This revenue stream combines usage-based electricity payments with potential for financing income.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BURN designs, manufactures, and distributes clean cooking appliances (charcoal, wood, LPG, ethanol, and IoT-enabled electric induction cookstoves) for households and institutions across more than 20 African countries. The company also develops, verifies (Gold Standard), and sells high-integrity carbon credits generated from its clean cooking projects to corporate buyers, sustainability leaders, and carbon market intermediaries, while offering individual consumer carbon offset subscriptions and Pay-As-You-Cook financing via IoT-enabled stoves.

Product overview

BURN (operating as ECOA) is Africa's largest cookstove manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of clean cooking solutions spanning multiple fuel types: charcoal stoves (ECOA Char, ECOA Char Plus, ECOA Char Pro), wood stoves (ECOA Wood), institutional stoves (ECOA Pro 200), gas stoves (ECOA Gas), ethanol stoves (ECOA Ethanol), and electric induction cookers (ECOA Induction Cooker). The company also produces complementary cookware and grill accessories. BURN operates as a vertically integrated carbon project developer, combining cookstove manufacturing with carbon credit generation and issuance through Gold Standard verification. The product architecture spans from basic affordable biomass stoves to premium IoT-enabled electric cookers with real-time monitoring and Pay-As-You-Cook payment systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECOA: Product brand for clean cooking appliances including electric stoves, biomass stoves, and LPG appliances. ECOA encompasses the company's product lines including ECOA Char (charcoal stoves), ECOA Wood (wood stoves), ECOA Gas (LPG stoves), ECOA Ethanol, ECOA Induction Cooker, and ECOA Cookware.

Products and services

• ECOA Char (Jikokoa) The world's most fuel-efficient charcoal cookstove with 72% thermal efficiency and ISO Tier 4 rating for PM2.5 and thermal efficiency. Saves 40-65% on charcoal compared to traditional stoves. Features a conical combustion chamber, durable rustproof housing, easy ash removal, and ergonomic handles. Targeted at low-income African households and available at KES 3,290 (~US$27) in Kenya supermarkets.
• ECOA Char Plus An enhanced version of the ECOA Char with 62% savings on charcoal consumption, 43% larger capacity, and 20% more efficiency than the previous model through an innovative combustion chamber. Designed for households needing greater capacity than the standard ECOA Char.
• ECOA Char Pro A commercial-grade charcoal cookstove that saves 50% on charcoal versus traditional commercial stoves, with a 30-litre capacity cooking for up to 100 people and 3x longer durability than traditional charcoal stoves. Targeted at institutions such as schools, restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses.
• ECOA Wood (Kuniokoa) The world's most fuel-efficient natural-draft portable wood stove with 51% thermal efficiency and ISO Tier 3 rating for particulate matter. Uses 71% less wood and reduces emissions by 81% compared to a three-stone fire. Delivers $178.6 in annual household savings per Yunus Social Business impact survey. Targeted at rural households using wood fuel.
• ECOA Pro 200 An institutional stove available in firewood, briquettes, and gas variants with up to 85% firewood savings and a tall chimney that eliminates indoor air pollution. Targeted at schools, hospitals, restaurants, and catering operations needing high-capacity, smoke-free cooking.
• ECOA Gas East Africa's most efficient 2-burner LPG stove, with up to 23% gas savings, user-friendly auto-ignition, and 72% thermal efficiency. Targeted at households transitioning from biomass fuels to clean LPG cooking.
• ECOA Ethanol An ISO Tier 5 ethanol cookstove providing 4 hours of full-power cooking with 1L or 2L ethanol, suitable for indoor use and portable. Targeted at households seeking a clean, smoke-free cooking alternative.
• ECOA Induction Cooker A cellular-enabled IoT induction cookstove with real-time monitoring of electricity usage and Pay-As-You-Cook payment plans for low-income households. Generates carbon credits via Gold Standard's Metered Methodology. Includes child lock, adjustable settings, and the myECOA mobile app for monitoring and payments. Targeted at African households transitioning to electric cooking, with PAYG financing to enable affordability.
• ECOA Cookware A 100% Kenyan-made cookware set made of stainless steel including a pan, a 6L pot, and an 8L pot. Locally produced to reduce cost by 55% versus comparable imported products, and induction-ready for even heat distribution. Sold alongside BURN cookstoves as a complementary offering.
• ECOA Grill A versatile grill accessory compatible with ECOA charcoal and wood stoves, featuring easy cleaning, maximum durability, a portable design, and cool-to-touch handles. Sold as a complementary product to ECOA biomass stoves.
• Gold Standard Verified Carbon Credits High-integrity carbon credits generated from BURN's clean cooking projects across Africa, verified by Gold Standard and SustainCert under methodologies including MMECD and TPDDTEC. Credits are CCP-labelled, independently rated (BeZero BBB, Calyx AA Tier 1, Sylvera), and sold to corporate buyers, sustainability leaders, climate investors, carbon market intermediaries, and individual consumers via monthly subscriptions ($30-$150/month) or one-time purchases (with bulk discounts above 500 tonnes). Supports SBTi V2.0 compliance, CORSIA aviation offsetting, ESG reporting, and net-zero commitments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 295-296% annual IRR for households investing in Jikokoa cookstove ($40 investment)
• +12 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Key CarboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVPA GS12350 is a Global Cookstoves carbon project delivered through a joint venture between Key Carbon and BURN Manufacturing. Key Carbon partners with BURN for project development, carbon credit generation, and CCP labelling of clean cooking projects across Africa.
• University of Pennsylvania and University of ChicagominorOthersIndependent peer-reviewed Randomized Control Trial (RCT) conducted by professors at the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School) and University of Chicago, validating BURN's Jikokoa cookstove efficiency and savings. Study published in the American Economic Review in 2022.
• Yunus Social BusinessminorOthersYunus Social Business conducted an impact performance study of BURN's Kuniokoa woodstove in July 2021, interviewing 280 customers across Kenya. Survey validated 99% customer satisfaction, $178.6 annual savings, 99% improved safety, and 91% improved durability.
• Gold Standard / SustainCertcoreOthersBURN's carbon credits are issued through Gold Standard, with verification by independent third-party auditors and SustainCert. Gold Standard methodologies (TPDDTEC, Clean Cookstoves) are used for emissions reduction quantification. BURN actively engages in ongoing methodology updates led by Clean Cooking Alliance, UNFCCC, and Gold Standard.
• BeZero, Calyx, and Sylvera (Independent Carbon Ratings Agencies)coreOthersBURN's clean cooking carbon projects have been independently assessed by leading ratings agencies: BeZero rated 5 CCP-issued projects (GS12350, GS12285, GS12299, GS10791, GS10792) at BBB; Calyx rated GS12350 and GS5642 at AA (Tier 1), among the highest ratings for clean cooking projects. These independent assessments validate project quality, technology performance, and development impact.
• M-Kopa Solar, Living Goods, Givewatts, and other social distributorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with pay-as-you-go energy access companies for last-mile distribution of ECOA clean cooking solutions. Social distributors include M-Kopa Solar, Living Goods, Givewatts, Mwangaza Light, Hand in Hand, Dorjos, Sola Integrated, and Jirani Smart. These partners distribute stoves to existing customer bases in underserved areas.
• Equity Bank and KWFT (microfinance institutions)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMicrofinance institutions offer ECOA cookstoves on credit and installment plans, enabling low-income households who cannot afford full upfront costs to purchase clean cooking solutions. ECOA Char available at Equity Bank and KWFT branches.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• BioLite: US- and Kenya-based designer of improved biomass and solar-powered cookstoves with PAYG distribution in East Africa. Comparable product technology focus and emerging-markets distribution strategy.
• Sistema.bio: Mexico- and Kenya-based manufacturer and distributor of biogas and improved biomass cookstoves, with a carbon credit origination business across Latin America and Africa. Directly comparable product line, target customer (smallholder farmers), and carbon credit monetization model.
• ATEC (Advanced Energy Technologies): Cambodia-headquartered manufacturer of biomass and electric induction cookstoves serving Southeast Asia and Africa with a PAYG financing model. Highly comparable as a clean cookstove + IoT + carbon credit competitor targeting emerging markets.
• M-Kopa: Kenya-based PAYG solar home system provider that has expanded into clean cooking products and serves the same low-income Sub-Saharan African customer base via mobile-money financing. Comparable distribution channel, target customer, and asset-financing model.
• Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Global PAYG solar energy provider with strong Sub-Saharan Africa footprint, increasingly active in clean cooking. Comparable asset-financed energy access model targeting off-grid households.
• Envirofit International: US-based clean cookstove designer and distributor operating across Asia, Africa, and Latin America with carbon credit revenue. Comparable product line and carbon-financed business model.
• d.light: Global PAYG solar company with growing clean cooking footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Comparable PAYG distribution model and bottom-of-pyramid customer focus.

Emerging players

• Climate Impact Partners (formerly Natural Capital Partners): Carbon credit project developer and intermediary active in cookstove, clean water, and nature-based projects globally. Comparable carbon project development and corporate buyer engagement model, though less vertically integrated into hardware manufacturing.
• C-Quest Capital: Carbon project developer focused on cookstove, biodigester, and clean water projects across Africa and Asia, with strong ties to Verra registry. Comparable cookstove carbon credit origination business.

Broad incumbents

• Panasonic Corporation: Global appliance manufacturer with induction cooktop and household appliance lines, including products targeting emerging markets. Comparable as a broader player in induction and small electric appliances, though not a clean-cooking specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/burnmfg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burn-co

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds14 records

Investors15 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 BURN