Zola Electric
Zola Electric (ZOLA Intelligence) provides an AI-powered platform combining solar hardware, control systems, software, and services to Last Mile Energy Providers, enabling Pay-As-You-Go distributed solar energy for underserved households across 10+ emerging-market countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zola Electric does
Zola Electric, doing business as ZOLA Intelligence, is a Netherlands-headquartered (Amsterdam) private renewable energy company that provides an AI-powered platform and distributed solar hardware to Last Mile Energy Providers serving underserved populations in emerging markets. The company's core product is the ZOLAi Intelligence Platform, which integrates four modules — ZOLAi Hardware (panels, batteries, connectivity components), ZOLAi Control (energy distribution and optimization control system), ZOLAi Software (operations, delivery, financing, and maintenance applications), and ZOLAi Services (deployment and support). Layered on top of this integrated stack is the Infinity Energy System, a solar-plus-storage solution designed to support Pay-As-You-Go (PayGo) financing for end consumers.
The company monetizes through three primary streams: PayGo solar energy access (usage-based, small incremental payments from end users), platform services to Last Mile Energy Providers (recurring/subscription-style software and operations support), and hardware sales (panels, batteries, and control systems) to deploying providers. GTM combines B2B platform sales to Last Mile Energy Providers with a product-led PayGo model that lowers affordability barriers for lower-income households. The company reports 500,000+ installations deployed across 10+ countries on 4 continents (Africa, EMEA, LATAM, Southeast Asia), reaching approximately 3 million people with clean, reliable energy, and has raised roughly $315 million cumulatively across multiple equity and debt rounds from investors including Tesla, GE Ventures, Électricité de France, TotalEnergies Ventures, DBL Partners, Helios Investment Partners, Vulcan Capital, Omidyar Network, FMO, IFC, and SolarCity.
Operationally, Zola is venture-backed, employs 251-500 people, and is led by CEO Bill Lenihan alongside a leadership team covering operations (Tony Hamilton), technology (Masautso Ngosi), commercial (Doye Ogionwo), finance (Guido Frantzen), corporate finance (Chris Wurdemann), and human capital (Cherilyn Vossberg). No public revenue, ARR, or current burn rate is disclosed in available sources, and no named enterprise customers were identified; customer concentration risk is therefore inferred from the B2B/PayGo channel mix rather than logo concentration.
Zola Electric firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zola Electric
- Legal name
- Zola Electric
- Website
- https://zolaelectric.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Zola Electric (ZOLA Intelligence) provides an AI-powered platform combining solar hardware, control systems, software, and services to Last Mile Energy Providers, enabling Pay-As-You-Go distributed solar energy for underserved households across 10+ emerging-market countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zola Electric industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Distributed Solar Energy Systems
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Computers (3571)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control) (EUAMAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Energy Asset O&M (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Geothermal) (EUAEAGAB), Distributed & Commercial Renewable O&M (Rooftop Solar, C&I Wind, Small Hydro) (EUAMAGAB), Smart Grid Automation & Distribution Management (DA/ADMS) (EUADAPAA)
Keywords
Where Zola Electric is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Zola Electric business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pay-As-You-Go Solar Energy: Customers pay for solar energy access through small incremental payments, enabling affordability for lower-income households while providing recurring revenue for energy providers
- Platform Services: AI-powered platform services for energy providers including operations management, delivery, financing, and maintenance software
- Hardware Solutions: Sale of solar hardware including panels, batteries, and control systems for energy providers deploying distributed networks
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Zola Electric product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zola Electric provides the ZOLA Intelligence platform—an integrated AI-powered energy solution combining hardware (solar panels, batteries, control systems), software for operations, delivery, financing and maintenance, and related services—to enable Last Mile Energy Providers to deploy intelligent distributed solar networks in emerging markets. The company also offers the Infinity Energy System, a solar power and storage solution that supports Pay-As-You-Go financing for households and communities lacking reliable grid access.
Product overview
Zola Electric operates as a renewable energy provider targeting emerging markets with its ZOLA Intelligence platform—a unified, AI-powered solution consisting of integrated modules: ZOLAi Hardware, ZOLAi Control, ZOLAi Software, and ZOLAi Services. The platform goes beyond hardware-centric solutions by combining artificial intelligence to optimize energy networks with software that empowers local teams to manage operations, delivery, financing, and maintenance. The company also offers the Infinity Energy System, a core solar power and storage solution that supports Pay-As-You-Go financing models. Together, these products enable energy providers to create thriving, electrified communities while helping emerging markets leapfrog to intelligent, distributed energy networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ZOLA Intelligence Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 500k+ installations deployed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Zola Electric
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Zola Electric technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Zola Electric partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zola Electric competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zola Electric social profiles
Digital presenceZola Electric financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zola Electric leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Zola Electric funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors26 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zola Electric M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zola Electric
What does Zola Electric do?
Zola Electric provides the ZOLA Intelligence platform—an integrated AI-powered energy solution combining hardware (solar panels, batteries, control systems), software for operations, delivery, financing and maintenance, and related services—to enable Last Mile Energy Providers to deploy intelligent distributed solar networks in emerging markets. The company also offers the Infinity Energy System, a solar power and storage solution that supports Pay-As-You-Go financing for households and communities lacking reliable grid access.
Is Zola Electric a public or private company?
Zola Electric is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Zola Electric founded?
Zola Electric was founded in 2010. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Zola Electric based?
Zola Electric is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Zola Electric make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pay-As-You-Go Solar Energy is the primary driver. The others are platform Services and hardware Solutions.
Does Zola Electric have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zola Electric.
What industry is Zola Electric in?
Zola Electric's product category is Distributed Solar Energy Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAIAI, Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control), with a secondary code of EUAEAGAB, Renewable Energy Asset O&M (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Geothermal). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.