Solarworx

What Solarworx does

SolarWorX GmbH, founded in Berlin in December 2017 by Felix Boldt (CEO), Jakob Schily (CTO/Geschäftsführer), and Franz Josef Buschmeier (CFO), develops modular DC solar home systems and microgrid solutions for off-grid households and small businesses, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. The company's core technology is the Solego 80/160 platform — lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) base units of 80Wh and 160Wh that accept two 50W solar panels and can be physically stacked to extend capacity up to a 1,000W maximum load per user — paired with the MESH DC Microgrid, a hardware-agnostic 60V DC bus that interconnects 2 to 100 households/SMEs to share PV power at an approximate connection cost of $150 per household. All systems are Pay-As-You-Go ready with pre-integration to Angaza, Solaris, Paygee, and PaygOps, and the company also sells a PayGo Switch for retrofitting existing non-PayGo SHS and a Victron-branded PayGo dongle for VE.Direct devices.

Solarworx sells hardware (core Solego units, productive-use bundles for barber shops, kiosks, poultry farms, water pumping, and DC appliances/accessories) through a network of local distribution partners across Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, supported by a German-engineered brand and remote monitoring tools for distributors. Pricing is quote-based B2B to distributors with mobile-money installment options at the end-customer level; no public pricing is disclosed. The company raised a Series A in March 2021 (led by Canadian Solar, joined by EIT InnoEnergy and DEG) and in 2024 entered Germany via a Solarkiosk partnership for residential solar, with German profits earmarked to finance African operations. Reported headcount is 1–10 employees, and the company has no disclosed revenue, no subsequent funding rounds, and no AI/ML capabilities publicly described.

Name

Solarworx

Legal name

SolarWorX GmbH

Website

https://solarworx.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SolarWorX GmbH develops modular DC solar home systems (Solego 80/160) and PayGo-enabled MESH DC microgrids for off-grid households and rural entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa, distributing through local channel partners from its Berlin headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-grid solar home systems

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Battery Manufacturing (33591), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid Microgrids (Solar+Storage+Gen, Multi-Resource) (EUACALAH), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE)

Keywords

• Off-grid solar systems
• Modular solar home systems
• DC microgrid solutions
• Pay-as-you-go solar
• Rural electrification hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Home System Hardware Sales: Sale of modular solar home systems (Solego 80/160) and battery pack extensions to distributors and end customers. Systems are sold in various configurations with different battery capacities and accessories. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Productive Use Bundles: Sale of bundled solutions for specific use cases including Lighting Kit, Home Kit, Barber Shop Kit, Fridge Kit, Water Pumping Kit, and accessories. These bundles include the core Solego unit plus relevant DC appliances for specific applications.
3. PayGo Technology Integration: Revenue from PayGo smart switches and Victron PayGo dongles that enable retrofitting existing non-PayGo solar systems. Also revenue from integrations with PayGo platforms enabling mobile money payments.
4. MESH Grid Solutions: Sale of DC microgrid infrastructure components for community energy sharing. Connection cost of approximately $150 per household enables scalable village electrification.
5. Distributor Support Services: Support services provided to local distribution partners including sales & marketing support, pricing optimization, and last-mile process optimization. While mentioned as included services, this may also represent a service revenue component.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Solarworx designs, manufactures, and sells modular DC solar home systems built around the Solego 80/160 LiFePO4 battery unit, which can be stacked to deliver up to 1000W per user. The portfolio includes productive-use bundles (Lighting, Home, Barber Shop, Fridge, Water Pumping kits), the MESH DC Microgrid enabling community energy sharing between 2–100 households, and PayGo-enabling hardware (PayGo Smart Switch, Victron Dongle) that integrates with all major Pay-As-You-Go platforms for mobile-money installment payments.

Product overview

Solarworx offers a modular solar home system product line centered around the Solego platform, which includes the core Solego 80/160 base unit available in 80Wh and 160Wh configurations with stacking capability up to 1000W. The portfolio expands through specialized productive-use bundles (Barber Shop Kit, Fridge Kit, Water Pumping Kit, Home Kit, Lighting Kit) that combine the core unit with relevant DC appliances for specific business and household applications. The MESH DC Microgrid enables interconnection of individual systems for community-wide energy sharing. Supporting products include the PAYGO SWITCH for retrofitting non-Paygo systems and the Victron Dongle for Victron device integration. Accessory products include solar-compatible TVs, radios, fans, security lights, hair cutters, laptop chargers, angle grinders, and refrigerators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solego: Modular solar home and business solution available in 80Wh and 160Wh sizes, with stacking capability for extended power needs.
• MESH DC Microgrid
• PAYGO SWITCH

Products and services

• Solego 80/160 Modular DC solar home and business solution available in two sizes (80Wh and 160Wh) using LiFePO4 batteries. Supports two 50W solar panel inputs and provides 5V/USB, 12V/DC jack, and 12V/XT90 (125W max) outputs. Multiple units can be stacked to scale capacity up to 1000W maximum load per user. Sold to distributors and end customers in sub-Saharan Africa.
• MESH DC Microgrid Innovative DC microgrid solution that interconnects single solar home systems via a 60V DC grid architecture, enabling energy sharing between 2 to 100 households and SMEs. Hardware-agnostic — compatible with Solego and other 12V solar battery systems. Prosumer connections can have approximately 1kW PVp and 2.4kWh batteries. Connection cost is approximately $150 per household.
• PAYGO SWITCH Pay-As-You-Go smart switch designed for retrofitting existing non-PayGo solar home systems (SHS) to enable PayGo functionality. Allows customers to pay for solar systems in instalments via mobile money. Deployed at scale by FRES — 5,500+ switches installed across Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea Bissau as of August 2022.
• Victron Dongle Paygo-enabling hardware dongle co-developed with Victron Energy that connects to Victron devices equipped with a VE.Direct interface, converting them into Paygo-enabled systems. Features easy installation, current monitoring without current limitation, and optional remote monitoring.
• Solego Lighting Kit Solar lighting bundle that combines the Solego core unit with DC lighting accessories, providing reliable power for lighting during day and night for off-grid households.
• Solego Home Kit Solar power bundle providing grid-like power for households and shops, combining the Solego core unit with multiple DC appliances to enable simultaneous operation.
• Solego Barber Shop Kit Productive-use bundle designed for hair salons, combining the Solego core unit with lighting, phone charging, and a solar-compatible hair cutter for off-grid barber shop operations.
• Solego Fridge Kit Productive-use bundle combining the Solego core unit with a 100L solar fridge offering up to 12 hours of autonomy, ideal for kiosks providing chilled beverages, phone charging, and other applications during day and night.
• Solego Water Pumping Kit Water pumping bundle combining the Solego core unit with a 12V submersible pump capable of delivering up to 3000 liters per day with a 160Wh battery system. Designed for households, poultry farms, and small field irrigation.
• Distributor Support Services Professional services offered to local distribution partners including sales and marketing support, client-need identification, pricing optimization, and last-mile distribution process optimization. Provided alongside hardware sales to channel partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Connection costs reduced to ~$150 per household for MESH microgrid (vs. thousands for traditional minigrid or utility connection)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Victron EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationSolarworx collaborated with Victron Energy to develop the PayGo & Monitoring Dongle that converts Victron devices equipped with VE.Direct interface into PayGo systems. This hardware enables easy connection, current monitoring, and optional remote monitoring capabilities for Victron-powered solar systems.
• PaygOps (Solaris Offgrid)coreTechnology or IntegrationPaygOps software platform enables credit provision to bottom-of-pyramid customers for essential products like solar home systems. All Solarworx PayGo contracts are managed through PaygOps, which provides software infrastructure to manage contracts, payments, and communication for local retailers. The PaygOps Offline Mobile App allows field agents to collect data even in remote areas without internet connection.
• dena (Deutsche Energie-Agentur) - RES ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Energy Agency supports German renewable energy companies enter new markets through the RES Programme. Projects in Cameroon, Zambia, and South Africa are supported under this initiative, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action within the German Energy Solutions Initiative. dena provides comprehensive information dissemination, marketing, and training programmes.
• INENSUS GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolarworx CEO Felix Boldt appeared on INENSUS's 'The Mini-Grid Business' podcast to discuss DC MESH grids. INENSUS is a consultancy with nearly two decades of experience working with over 100 mini-grid companies across Africa and Asia.
• OKRA SolarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint panel participants with Solarworx CEO Felix Boldt on the 'The Mini-Grid Business' podcast discussing advantages and challenges of DC MESH grids compared to AC minigrids and standalone solar systems.
• Solkamtech SARLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal installation company in North Cameroon that installs and maintains Solarworx MESH microgrids. The company, led by environmental engineer Serge Bukam, provides SHS distribution, PV rooftop installations, and AC/DC Grid projects in the Maroua region.
• GOGLAminorOthersGlobal association for the off-grid solar energy industry that organizes the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo. Solarworx participates in GOGLA events as an exhibitor and industry participant.
• Kukhanya Energy Services (Pty.) Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth African solar off-grid distributor working with Solarworx on electrification of rural, peri-urban, and underserved areas. Partner in the dena RES South Africa project.
• Foundation Rural Energy Services (FRES)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch not-for-profit foundation providing solar energy under energy-as-a-service model in rural Africa. FRES retrofitted 5,500+ non-PayGo systems with Solarworx PayGo smart switches across Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea Bissau. Currently serves 20,000+ customers and 100,000 beneficiaries.
• SolarkioskminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for expanding solar services to Germany with new residential solar installation projects. The partnership is consistent with companies' commitment to sustainable energy and profits generated in Germany finance ongoing initiatives in Africa.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BBOXX: UK-headquartered PayGo solar provider with large deployment in East Africa. Closely comparable product (modular solar home system with mobile-money PayGo) and distribution model to Solarworx.
• Oolu Solar: West African PayGo solar distributor serving Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Niger with solar home systems on mobile-money installments. Direct competitor in Solarworx's Cameroon-adjacent markets.
• Zola Electric: Off-grid solar provider offering SHS and larger solar-plus-storage systems across sub-Saharan Africa with PayGo. Comparable to Solarworx on modular hardware and PayGo financing in overlapping geographies (Tanzania, Nigeria, etc.).
• M-KOPA: Kenya-based PayGo solar home system provider serving off-grid households across East Africa. Highly comparable to Solarworx's Solego + PayGo model, including mobile-money installments and growing productive-use offerings.
• d.light: Global off-grid solar company selling solar home systems and PayGo-enabled lanterns across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Direct competitor in modular SHS hardware and PayGo distribution through local partners.
• Sun King (Greenlight Planet): One of the largest off-grid solar distributors globally, with PayGo-enabled lanterns and SHS across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Overlaps directly with Solarworx's SHS + PayGo + productive-use bundles proposition.

Emerging players

• PowerGen Renewable Energy: East African mini-grid developer building community-scale solar+storage systems. Comparable as a distributed energy access provider, though oriented toward AC minigrids rather than Solarworx's DC mesh.
• Husk Power Systems: Operator of solar hybrid mini-grids in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable as a community-level energy access player adjacent to Solarworx's MESH DC microgrid deployments.
• OKRA Solar: Australia-headquartered provider of mesh-style DC solar home systems designed for community energy sharing in off-grid areas. Closest direct technology analogue to Solarworx's MESH DC microgrid approach.

Broad incumbents

• ENGIE (incl. Fenix International): Global utilities and energy services group whose Fenix International subsidiary pioneered PayGo solar in Uganda. Larger, multi-product incumbent in the same off-grid electrification space as Solarworx.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SolarworxEnergy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRMzXXpglmD_yEcfMVrIMsA
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/solarworx-ug
• Instagraminstagram.com/solar.worx

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 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 Solarworx