Liquidstar
Liquidstar builds and deploys 'Waypoints' — solar-powered modular micro data centers that deliver electricity, water, internet, AI compute, and electric mobility to off-grid communities in emerging markets, primarily funded through government and development institution partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Liquidstar does
Liquidstar designs, builds, and operates 'Waypoints' — solar-powered, modular micro data centers that convert solar and atmospheric inputs into compute, electricity, water, internet, and electric mobility for off-grid frontier regions. Each Waypoint integrates atmospheric water generation with immersion cooling, swappable lithium battery rentals (with custom battery management boards), LEO satellite (Starlink) connectivity, blockchain-based self-sovereign identity, and EMOTO electric utility motorcycles, and is intended to serve approximately 80 households with electricity, 1,200 individuals with internet, and 100 liters of clean water per day. The company has progressed through four prototype iterations: a V0 demo in Los Angeles (complete), a V1 at Munro College in Jamaica (paused), V2 on Sumba Island, Indonesia (active), and a V3 in Kalaf Village, Djibouti (active, funded by an unsolicited USAID grant and monitored under a 2-year program with the Djibouti Ministry of Energy).
Liquidstar generates revenue through daily battery rentals (e.g., 50DJF per day in Djibouti), per-unit water sales (30-50DJF, roughly half the price of bottled water), internet subscriptions, AI/edge compute services sold as anchor digital workload demand, and proof-of-work mining on surplus energy. Go-to-market is enterprise-field-sales in character: deployments are secured through government ministries, multilateral institutions (USAID, UNDP), and humanitarian organizations rather than through traditional SMB or consumer sales channels, with local 'Power Ranger' employees handling community-side operations. End customers span rural communities in Djibouti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Benin, Nigeria, and Lebanon, alongside institutional sponsors and development partners. To date the company has raised approximately $1.02M across three funding rounds (Techstars 2023, ~$900K seed from Flori Ventures and The Edgeof in 2022, Startupbootcamp Australia 2020) and operates with a 1-10 person team out of Los Angeles.
Liquidstar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Liquidstar
- Legal name
- Liquidstar
- Website
- https://liquidstar.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Liquidstar builds and deploys 'Waypoints' — solar-powered modular micro data centers that deliver electricity, water, internet, AI compute, and electric mobility to off-grid communities in emerging markets, primarily funded through government and development institution partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Liquidstar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Off-grid Distributed Energy and Edge Compute Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Electronic Computers (3571), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Edge Data Center Power & Energy Systems (UPS, Batteries, Microgrids) (HDABAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AI Datacenter Power, Cooling & Racks (liquid cooling, power delivery) (HDAAAAAH), Edge Thermal Management & Environmental Controls (Cooling, HVAC, Sensors) (HDABAOAH), Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF), Charging Systems & Swappable Battery Infrastructure Manufacturing (IMACAOAF)
Keywords
Where Liquidstar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Liquidstar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Battery Rentals: Rentable swappable batteries for home and business use, rented to off-grid households at daily rates (e.g., 50DJF per day in Djibouti).
- Water Sales: Atmospheric generated clean water sold to locals at discounted rates compared to bottled water (30-50DJF in Djibouti).
- Internet Access Fees: Internet connectivity provided via LEO Satellite (Starlink) to local communities, hosting internet for up to 1,200 individuals.
- AI/Edge Compute Services: Micro data center compute services for AI model training and inference, using digital workloads as anchor demand to subsidize local utility access.
- Proof-of-Work Mining: Proof of work mining on extra energy generated by Waypoints to provide additional revenue and demonstrate energy utilization optimization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Battery Rental - Daily Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Water Sales - Per Unit |
| Subscription | Monthly | Beta User Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Liquidstar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Liquidstar designs, manufactures, and deploys Waypoints — solar-powered, modular distributed AI/edge micro data centers that convert solar energy into compute, connectivity, water, mobility, and economic utility for off-grid frontier regions. Each Waypoint delivers rentable swappable batteries to ~80+ households, atmospheric water generation (~100 L/day), LEO satellite internet for up to ~1,200 individuals, and on-site AI/edge compute capacity, supplemented by EMOTO electric utility motorcycles and proof-of-work mining on surplus energy.
Product overview
Liquidstar offers Waypoints — a portfolio of rapidly deployable, modular micro data centers and infrastructure nodes that provide sustainable compute, water, electricity, internet, and mobility utilities to off-grid and frontier regions. The core product is the Waypoint micro data center, which uses solar and biogas for power, can train and run AI models at the edge, generates clean water via atmospheric water generation, and provides internet via LEO satellite. Supporting products and services include a swappable rental battery system for household electricity access, EMOTO electric mobility vehicles, and a local Power Ranger management system. The architecture converts excess energy, water, and internet into revenue streams sold to rural communities at discounted rates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Waypoint Micro Data Center Self-powered, rapidly deployable distributed AI/edge micro data center that converts solar energy into compute, connectivity, water, mobility, and economic utility. Each unit serves ~80+ households via rental batteries, produces up to 100 L/day of clean water, and hosts internet access for up to 1,200 individuals.
- Rental Battery Service Swappable battery rental service enabling off-grid electricity access for households and small businesses; batteries rented on a daily basis (e.g., 50DJF per day in Djibouti) and tracked via custom battery management and connectivity boards.
- Atmospheric Water Generation Service Clean drinking water produced from atmospheric humidity at the Waypoint, coupled with air-conditioning and immersion cooling; water sold to local communities at ~half the price of bottled water (30–50DJF per unit in Djibouti).
- LEO Satellite Internet Service Internet access delivered via Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity integrated with the Waypoint, enabling communications and digital services for off-grid communities lacking traditional internet infrastructure.
- AI / Edge Compute Service Distributed AI model training and inference executed on Waypoint micro data centers in off-grid locations, using surplus renewable energy to anchor demand and subsidize local utility access.
- EMOTO Electric Utility Mobility Solar-charged electric utility motorcycle for off-grid transportation, equipped with modular batteries that can be charged at the Waypoint; designed for harsh environments and used by Power Rangers and community members for local mobility.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80+ households per Waypoint can access electricity via rental batteries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Liquidstar
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Liquidstar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
Liquidstar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- USAIDcoreThe United States Agency for International Development awarded Liquidstar an unsolicited development grant for Djibouti in North Eastern Africa. Working with USAID and the Ministry of Energy, an initial full Waypoint is being deployed and monitored over a 2-year program to test full-scale implementation for folks with little or no energy access in rural areas. If successful, expansion throughout USAID's global network is planned.
- Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of DjibouticoreThe government ministry overseeing Djibouti's energy sector and natural resource management. Works closely with Électricité de Djibouti (EDD) to expand electricity access and develop renewable energy. Recommended pilot locations and collaborated on Waypoint deployment in Kalaf village.
- Indonesian Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and TransmigrationcoreGovernment ministry responsible for developing rural and disadvantaged areas in Indonesia. Collaborating with Liquidstar on opportunities to extend energy access to remote regions of Indonesia's 17,000 islands, with initial focus on Sumba Island.
- IDNextLeaderminorNon-Profit Organization that prepares support system for future leaders in Indonesia. Original concept partner for Indonesia Waypoint deployments.
- Munro CollegeminorBoarding school for boys in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. Partner for Liquidstar's first fully deployed Waypoint. Project has been tested but is currently paused.
- Vista Advisory PartnersminorBoutique financial advisory firm focused on managing start-ups and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria and West Africa. Collaborating with Liquidstar on Nigeria off-grid market opportunities.
- Viathan EngineeringminorPioneer integrated energy services solutions company in Nigeria specializing in captive and embedded power generation. Providing modular, last-mile, scalable power-as-a-service. Collaborating with Liquidstar on large-scale pilot locations.
- Sèmè CitycoreBenin's government-backed smart city project launched as part of 'Revealing Benin' development program. The only project of its kind in Africa, bringing together training institutions, R&D centers, and incubators. Selected Liquidstar to deploy Waypoint solution.
- ARESSminorBenin-based company specializing in installation and distribution of certified products and services. Activities include pico and SHS distribution, solar store management, training, and PPP investment monitoring. Local partner for Waypoint deployment.
- UNDP Cultiv@tecoreUNDP innovation initiative supported by Singapore Government curating multi-stakeholder coalitions for developing countries. Liquidstar selected to explore off-grid agricultural solutions in Kenya. Provides access to government bodies and global UNDP network.
- ActedminorHumanitarian organization partnered with UNDP for pending Lebanon Waypoint deployment.
- McKinseyminorCollaborating with Vista Advisory Partners on World Bank commissioned study of Nigeria's off-grid electrification over 10 years.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Liquidstar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Husk Power Systems: Husk operates solar-hybrid mini-grids and distributed energy systems in rural Africa and Asia, selling electricity to off-grid households and businesses. Highly comparable to Liquidstar's Waypoint model of providing electricity (via batteries), connectivity, and community-level services to frontier markets.
- M-KOPA: M-KOPA provides pay-as-you-go solar home systems and connected appliances to off-grid households across East Africa. Comparable to Liquidstar's rental battery model (50DJF/day in Djibouti) and its focus on daily/weekly payment cycles for off-grid energy access.
- Zola Electric: Zola Electric offers solar-plus-storage systems with pay-as-you-go financing for off-grid African households and businesses. Comparable to Liquidstar's integrated electricity-plus-services model targeting energy-poor frontier markets.
- d.light: d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes solar lanterns, home systems, and PAYG solar products across emerging markets. Comparable as a distributed off-grid energy provider serving low-income households with hardware-based utility access.
- BBOXX: BBOXX provides solar home systems and pay-as-you-go energy solutions in Africa and Asia, with proprietary remote monitoring and battery products. Comparable to Liquidstar in leveraging connected hardware and data systems to serve off-grid customers.
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Greenlight Planet / Sun King sells PAYG solar home systems and clean energy products to off-grid households in emerging markets. Comparable to Liquidstar's last-mile distribution of electricity to households in rural Africa and Asia.
- Okra Solar: Okra Solar builds mesh-grid solar systems that connect multiple households in off-grid communities, enabling shared energy access. Comparable to Liquidstar's community-level Waypoint model serving clusters of rural households.
- BoxPower: BoxPower provides containerized solar+storage microgrids for remote communities, disaster response, and industrial sites. Closely comparable to Liquidstar's modular, rapidly deployable Waypoint architecture combining solar, batteries, and integrated services.
- PowerGen Renewable Energy: PowerGen builds and operates solar mini-grids across East Africa, serving commercial and residential customers in frontier markets. Comparable to Liquidstar in providing community-scale electricity to underserved African geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Vapor IO: Vapor IO operates distributed edge data centers at the base of cell towers across the U.S. Comparable as a peer in the edge micro data center infrastructure category, though Liquidstar focuses on off-grid emerging markets while Vapor IO targets urban/telco edge.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Liquidstar social profiles
Digital presenceLiquidstar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Liquidstar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Liquidstar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Liquidstar 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 Liquidstar
What does Liquidstar do?
Liquidstar designs, manufactures, and deploys Waypoints — solar-powered, modular distributed AI/edge micro data centers that convert solar energy into compute, connectivity, water, mobility, and economic utility for off-grid frontier regions. Each Waypoint delivers rentable swappable batteries to ~80+ households, atmospheric water generation (~100 L/day), LEO satellite internet for up to ~1,200 individuals, and on-site AI/edge compute capacity, supplemented by EMOTO electric utility motorcycles and proof-of-work mining on surplus energy.
Is Liquidstar a public or private company?
Liquidstar is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Liquidstar founded?
Liquidstar was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Liquidstar based?
Liquidstar is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Liquidstar make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Battery Rentals are the primary driver. The others are water Sales, internet Access Fees, AI/Edge Compute Services and proof-of-Work Mining.
Who are Liquidstar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Husk Power Systems, M-KOPA, Zola Electric, d.light, BBOXX, Sun King (Greenlight Planet), Okra Solar, BoxPower and PowerGen Renewable Energy. Vapor IO is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Liquidstar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Liquidstar.
What industry is Liquidstar in?
Liquidstar's product category is Off-grid Distributed Energy and Edge Compute Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAOAG, Edge Data Center Power & Energy Systems (UPS, Batteries, Microgrids), with a secondary code of HDAAAAAH, AI Datacenter Power, Cooling & Racks (liquid cooling, power delivery). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 3576.