Kopernik
Kopernik is a non-profit R&D lab using lean experimentation to identify, test, and scale clean energy, food security, and disaster response solutions for last-mile communities in Indonesia, Japan, and other emerging markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kopernik does
Kopernik is a non-profit research and development organization founded in 2010 by Toshi Nakamura (ex-McKinsey, ex-UN) and Ewa Wojkowska (ex-UN, ex-World Bank) that operates as an "R&D lab for social and environmental challenges." The organization applies a lean experimentation methodology—combining human-centered design thinking with rapid field testing and data collection—to identify unmet needs, test potential solutions, and amplify impact in last-mile communities: underserved populations in remote locations lacking access to basic services. Primary operations are in Indonesia, with legal entities in the United States (Kopernik Solutions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) at 228 Park Ave S #73293, New York, NY 10003), Indonesia (Yayasan Kopernik, headquartered in Ubud, Bali; and PT Kopernik), and Japan (Kopernik Japan, Minato-ku, Tokyo). Program activity also extends to Zambia, India, and Uganda. Since inception the organization has distributed more than 65,000 units of clean energy technologies (solar lights, solar home systems, clean cookstoves, water filters) reaching over 320,000 people.
The intellectual core is a documented lean experimentation methodology. Built on this methodology are the Technology Distribution Program (last-mile distribution of clean energy products), the Wonder Women Initiative (training Indonesian women as micro-social entrepreneurs selling clean energy technologies—over 20,000 technologies sold by 244+ agents in Eastern Indonesia over three years), and the Last Mile Consulting practice (advisory services to private, public, and research sector clients). The Solutions Lab has developed and field-tested additional solutions including accessible aquaponic systems for elderly users in Gunungkidul, Tripikon wastewater treatment for floating houses, and natural dye techniques for traditional weavers. The Next CEO Program spins off successful experiments as independent entities—Yayasan Rumbia, Perfect Fit, and Magi Farm (2021) are three examples. Disaster response operations distribute shelter, hygiene, kitchen, school, and reconstruction kits (Lombok 2018 with Embassy of France, Diageo, and Signify Foundation; Central Sulawesi 2018 reaching 4,907 people via ICCO Cooperation and Yayasan Penabulu; COVID-19 face shields). Pulau Plastik is an edutainment media series on plastic pollution.
Funding derives from individual donations (monthly recurring programs at US$50, US$100, or US$200), foundation and corporate grants (David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Citi Foundation, World Bank, Signify Foundation, Diageo), government grants (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Embassy of France in Indonesia), and Last Mile Consulting fees. The largest single disclosed capital event is the US$1.5 million 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize, which made Kopernik the first Indonesian recipient. Distribution goes through direct field implementation, partner sub-grants, and the Wonder Women micro-entrepreneur network; gtm_motion is community-led across civil society, government, academia, and private sector partners. Reported outcomes include a 300%+ sales lift during Wonder Women promotional campaigns and sales-based incentives returning US$5.8 per US$1 invested vs. US$2.6 for newspaper advertising.
Kopernik firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kopernik
- Legal name
- Kopernik Solutions, Inc. (d/b/a Kopernik), together with Yayasan Kopernik, Kopernik Japan and PT Kopernik
- Website
- https://kopernik.info
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kopernik is a non-profit R&D lab using lean experimentation to identify, test, and scale clean energy, food security, and disaster response solutions for last-mile communities in Indonesia, Japan, and other emerging markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kopernik industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development / Social Impact Non-Profit Services
- NAICS
- Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)
Keywords
Where Kopernik is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kopernik business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Donations made by individuals directly to projects or monthly giving programs ($50, $100 or $200 per month)
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Donations and funding from corporations, foundations, and institutional funding partners such as David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Citi Foundation, World Bank
- Government Grants: Grants and awards through government institutions
- Last Mile Consulting Services: Revenue generated from consulting services providing expertise on last mile distribution and development solutions
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Giving Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Project-Specific Donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kopernik product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kopernik is a non-profit R&D lab that operates a lean experimentation methodology to identify unmet needs, test potential solutions, and amplify impact for underserved last-mile communities. Its core offerings include the Technology Distribution Program for clean energy and water products (solar lights, solar home systems, clean cookstoves, water filters), Last Mile Consulting advisory services, the Wonder Women micro-entrepreneurship initiative, disaster emergency response, and the Next CEO spin-off program.
Product overview
Kopernik is an Indonesia-based research and development organization that operates as an R&D lab for social and environmental challenges. Rather than a single unified product, Kopernik offers a portfolio of programs and services built around its lean experimentation methodology: identifying unmet needs, testing potential solutions, and amplifying impact. The core offerings include Technology Distribution (connecting clean energy technologies with last mile communities), Last Mile Consulting (advisory services), and the Wonder Women Initiative (women micro-entrepreneurs). Kopernik tests various technology solutions through its Solutions Lab, including accessible aquaponic systems, wastewater treatment systems, and natural dye techniques. The organization has also spun off independent entities including Yayasan Rumbia and Perfect Fit. Emergency response programs provide shelter, hygiene, kitchen, school, and reconstruction kits during disasters. Kopernik also produces educational media content like the Pulau Plastik edutainment series on environmental issues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Technology Distribution Program Last-mile distribution service connecting clean energy and safe-water technologies with underserved communities; benefits low-income populations without access to electricity, clean water, or basic services.
- Last Mile Consulting Consulting service helping clients design, test, and implement social and environmental solutions for last-mile communities; targeted at NGOs, multilaterals, foundations, corporates, and government agencies.
- Wonder Women Initiative Micro-entrepreneurship program training Indonesian women to sell clean energy technologies in their communities; targets women in remote and underserved geographies.
- Next CEO Program Spin-off incubation program providing seed funding and one year of mentorship to support Kopernik team members launching independent entities from successful experiments.
- Lean Experimentation Approach Experimental R&D methodology combining risk taking, trial, error, and rapid data collection to identify effective poverty-reduction solutions; applied through Kopernik's programs and consulting engagements.
- Emergency Response Kits Disaster relief kits including shelter kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, school kits, reconstruction kits, and sleeping items distributed to communities affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Pulau Plastik Multi-platform edutainment media series leveraging popular culture to raise awareness of plastic pollution in Bali and promote better waste management practices among the public.
- Women-Led Small Business Training Capacity sharing and training service for women's groups in coastal fisheries communities on small business management, financial management, and product development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 65,000 clean energy technologies distributed, reaching 320,000+ people since 2010
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kopernik
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kopernik technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Kopernik partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, major and minor.
- Yayasan KopernikcoreIndonesia-based legal entity that manages operations and donations in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Bank: Bank Mandiri, KCP Ubud 14510, Account: 145-00-1804889-8.
- Kopernik SolutionscoreUS-based 501(c)(3) entity for American donors and international operations. Located at 228 Park Ave S #73293, New York, NY 10003. Enables tax-deductible donations for US taxpayers.
- Kopernik JapancoreJapanese entity for donations in Japanese Yen. Bank: Rakuten Bank, Head Office, Account: 2537292787, SWIFT: SMBCJPJT.
- University of MelbournestrategicGlobally recognized institution with expertise in education, research, and collaborative solutions for social and environmental change.
- Women's Earth Alliance (WEA)strategicInternational organization empowering women leaders in environmental sustainability and social change through resources, training, and networks. Partner in Ibu Inspirasi program.
- Japan Airlines Corporation (JAL)strategicLong-term partner since 2013. JAL Charity Miles program allows JMB members to donate miles (1 mile = ¥1) converted to cash for Kopernik projects. Supported Sulawesi earthquake-tsunami relief.
- IDEO.orgstrategicDesign organization focused on social impact. Collaborated with Kopernik on design lead projects.
- UNICEF IndonesiastrategicUN agency for children. Worked with Kopernik on risk reduction and emergency response initiatives.
- PurposestrategicSocial enterprise focused on environmental and social strategy. Had productive collaboration with Kopernik.
- ICCO CooperationmajorPartnered to support disaster-affected families in Central Sulawesi. Distributed school kits, kitchen kits, and facilitated disaster mitigation training reaching 4,907 people.
- Yayasan PenabulumajorIndonesia-based organization (since 2002) focused on civil society empowerment. Partner since 2018 for shelter kits, hygiene kits, and disaster risk reduction training.
- PT Selamat SempurnaminorBuilt 14 additional latrines for public facilities in Lombok earthquake response.
- Yayasan Rumah Energi IndonesiaminorPartner with funding from Care International Indonesia, delivered 1,000 hygiene kits focusing on women, girls, and children under five.
- Potato Head BalistrategicHosted Pulau Plastik (Plastic Island) launch event at Potato Head Beach Club for plastic-free Bali campaign.
- AkarumputstrategicCo-creator of Pulau Plastik edutainment series addressing plastic pollution in Bali.
- Columbia UniversitystrategicAcademic partner conducting in-depth impact assessments of selected projects.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)strategicAcademic partner conducting research impact assessments of development projects.
- Thunderbird School of ManagementstrategicAcademic partner for impact assessments and research collaboration.
- Keio UniversitystrategicJapanese university partner for impact assessments and research.
- IDE-JETROstrategicResearch institute partner for impact assessments.
- Yayasan RumbiaminorSpin-off entity from Kopernik project, demonstrating the spin-off model for scaling successful experiments.
- Perfect FitminorSpin-off company from Kopernik project, launched as independent entity.
- Magi FarmminorSpin-off inspired by Kopernik's black soldier fly experiment addressing food waste and circular animal feed systems. First participant in Next CEO Program.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kopernik competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BURN Manufacturing: BURN designs and manufactures efficient clean cookstoves and distributes them across East Africa, overlapping directly with Kopernik's clean cookstove distribution category and last-mile customer segment.
- d.light: d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes affordable solar lighting and clean energy products to off-grid households across Africa and Asia, targeting the same last mile customer base and clean-energy product categories (solar lights, home systems) as Kopernik.
- World Bicycle Relief: World Bicycle Relief designs and distributes rugged bicycles to last-mile communities in developing countries through locally-led distribution networks — sharing Kopernik's model of identifying unmet needs, distributing life-changing physical products, and partnering with local entrepreneurs and NGOs.
- Solar Sister: Solar Sister recruits and trains women entrepreneurs in Africa to distribute clean energy technologies (solar lanterns, clean cookstoves) in their communities — a near-exact analog of Kopernik's Wonder Women model in Eastern Indonesia.
- IDEO.org: IDEO.org is the nonprofit design arm of IDEO focused on human-centered design for social impact — a stated Kopernik partner applying the same human-centered design thinking to poverty and humanitarian challenges.
- Acumen: Acumen is a nonprofit impact investor that uses a patient-capital, lean experimentation approach to address poverty through social enterprise — closely mirroring Kopernik's R&D lab methodology for last mile solutions and their Last Mile Consulting advisory work.
- Sistema.bio: Sistema.bio manufactures and distributes biogas digesters to smallholder farmers in Mexico, East Africa, and Asia, sharing Kopernik's model of distributing life-improving clean technology to last-mile rural households through local entrepreneur networks.
Broad incumbents
- BRAC: BRAC is one of the world's largest NGOs, operating multi-sector programs in poverty alleviation, microfinance, education, and disaster response across Asia and Africa — comparable to Kopernik in mission but with orders-of-magnitude larger scale and a broader program portfolio.
- Ashoka: Ashoka is the world's largest network of leading social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows), operating as a much larger, established incumbent in the social-innovation and changemaker-development space where Kopernik's lean R&D and Next CEO programs operate.
- Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a large global humanitarian and development organization operating across more than 40 countries, combining disaster response, economic development, and consulting-style advisory — overlapping with Kopernik's disaster response and Last Mile Consulting work but at vastly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kopernik social profiles
Digital presenceKopernik compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kopernik financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kopernik leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Kopernik subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Kopernik funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kopernik 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 Kopernik
What does Kopernik do?
Kopernik is a non-profit R&D lab that operates a lean experimentation methodology to identify unmet needs, test potential solutions, and amplify impact for underserved last-mile communities. Its core offerings include the Technology Distribution Program for clean energy and water products (solar lights, solar home systems, clean cookstoves, water filters), Last Mile Consulting advisory services, the Wonder Women micro-entrepreneurship initiative, disaster emergency response, and the Next CEO spin-off program.
Is Kopernik a public or private company?
Kopernik is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kopernik founded?
Kopernik was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kopernik based?
Kopernik is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kopernik make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, government Grants and last Mile Consulting Services.
Who are Kopernik's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BURN Manufacturing, d.light, World Bicycle Relief, Solar Sister, IDEO.org, Acumen and Sistema.bio. Broad incumbents are BRAC, Ashoka and Mercy Corps.
Does Kopernik have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kopernik.
What industry is Kopernik in?
Kopernik's product category is International Development / Social Impact Non-Profit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAK, Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management, with a secondary code of EUAIANAH, Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA). Its NAICS code is 541618 and its SIC code is 8742.