Jiro-Ve

What Jiro-Ve does

Jiro-Ve is a Madagascar-based for-profit social enterprise incorporated in 2014 that delivers renewable energy as a service to off-grid rural households earning less than $2 per day. Members receive fully recharged solar lamps and mobile powerbanks delivered to their doorsteps daily at a price point (MGA 250/day) positioned at less than half the cost of candles, displacing kerosene and candle use across communities where only ~20% of Madagascar's population has electricity access. Customers include 16,000 active members and 119,999 total beneficiaries across 11 regions, served through 168 locally owned franchisees who collectively operate a decentralized network of solar charging stations.

The company's core technology stack comprises the proprietary PowerPack product line (including the Verasol-certified PowerPack 10 — a mobile powerbank that drives a 210 lumen lantern for ~5 hours or charges a phone), alongside decentralised solar charging stations equipped with pay-as-you-go smart chargers that remotely track recharged units and customer activity. The hardware is purpose-built for outdoor usage patterns common in rural Madagascar and is certified for resale as a managed energy service. A complementary School Electrification Program electrifies 79 schools serving 6,000 students through NGO consortium partnerships.

Revenue is generated through a franchise-driven model: Jiro-Ve supplies equipment, training, and continuous operational support to franchisees, who in turn rent lights and powerbanks to community members. Hardware sales (PowerPack products), ongoing franchise support, and education-sector installations round out the revenue mix. The company completed its first institutional capital raises in 2021 (Off-Grid Market Development Fund, $500,000) and 2022 (I&P/Miarakap and Catholic Relief Services), with explicit scaling targets of 250 franchisees, 40,000 customers, and 230,000 beneficiaries within five years.

Name

Jiro-Ve

Legal name

Jiro-Ve

Website

https://jirove.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jiro-Ve is a Madagascar-based renewable energy company that delivers solar lighting and mobile power to low-income rural households through a decentralized franchise network of 168 local entrepreneurs serving 16,000 members across 11 regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-grid solar energy services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Microgrids & Shared Distributed Generation (EUACALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE), Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control) (EUAMAIAI)

Keywords

• Solar energy services
• Pay-as-you-go energy
• Off-grid solar lighting
• Clean energy distribution
• Franchise energy network

Headquarters

HQ city

Ivato

HQ country

Madagascar

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Energy as a Service - Rental Model: Members receive fully recharged clean energy products delivered to their doorstep every day. Franchisees rent lights and power banks to community members, earning stable income while Jiro-Ve provides equipment, training, and support. Members pay less than half of what they spent on candles.
2. PowerPack Product Sales: Sale of proprietary PowerPack products including PowerPack 10 powerbanks. Products certified by Verasol for quality assurance.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jiro-Ve provides renewable energy as a service through a decentralized network of micro-franchisees in Madagascar. Members receive fully recharged clean energy products — LED solar lamps and PowerPack mobile powerbanks — delivered to their doorsteps daily for less than half the cost of candles. The service is enabled by proprietary PowerPack hardware, pay-as-you-go smart chargers, and decentralized solar charging stations that can be remotely monitored for last-mile distribution automation.

Product overview

Jiro-Ve provides renewable energy as a service through a network of micro-franchisees in Madagascar. The company's core product portfolio centers on the PowerPack line (including the Verasol-certified PowerPack 10), solar lights, and decentralized solar charging stations with 'pay as you go' smart charger technology. These mobile powerbanks and charging stations enable energy delivery to underserved communities who rent fully recharged products for less than half the cost of candles. The company also operates a School Electrification Program that extends clean energy access to educational institutions and student households.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PowerPack Mobile Powerbanks (including PowerPack 10) A line of mobile powerbanks designed for energy-as-a-service delivery to rural Malagasy households. The flagship PowerPack 10 powers a 210 lumen lantern for about 5 hours or recharges a phone, and is Verasol certified. The range includes two capacities and is purpose-built for users who spend most of their time outside, powering lights, charging phones, and running radios.
• Solar LED Lamps Rechargeable LED solar lamps that provide cleaner, safer, and brighter lighting for rural Malagasy households. Available as a daily rental through the franchise network, delivered fully recharged to members' homes.
• Decentralized Solar Charging Stations with Pay-As-You-Go Smart Chargers Network of decentralized solar charging stations tailored to each geographic location and market demand, equipped with proprietary pay-as-you-go enabled smart chargers that digitize the charging process, track recharged products, and can be controlled and monitored remotely for last-mile distribution automation.
• School Electrification Program Program delivered in partnership with local and international NGOs to electrify rural schools in Madagascar. Solar systems power classrooms (screens for educational videos and proper lighting), and the same systems recharge solar lanterns that students take home for homework. Part of generated revenue is reinvested into the school association.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Miller Center for Business Ethics at Santa Clara UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2023Miller Center hosted Jiro-Ve at their booth during the 10th anniversary Sankalp forum in Nairobi, providing exposure and networking opportunities with partners and investors.
• Mitsiry Programme (USAID Madagascar & Miarakap)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2022Jiro-Ve is among the first beneficiary companies of the Mitsiry programme co-created by USAID Madagascar and Miarakap. The partnership provides support for Jiro-Ve's innovative micro-franchise model to deliver affordable, clean and healthy lighting to vulnerable communities. Jiro-Ve also plans to launch an eco-responsible cooking system through Mitsiry.
• Solar United Consortium (Money for Madagascar, Feedback Madagascar, SEED, SolarAid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool program carried out in collaboration with 4 NGOs through the Solar United consortium. Together they create a model addressing all basic needs of schools while providing long-term sustainability with revenue re-investing into schools. Solar United Madagascar launched 'Bibliothèque de Lumière' program installing solar lamp libraries in rural communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• d.light: d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes affordable solar lanterns, solar home systems, and PAYG-enabled energy products across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It is one of the largest direct PAYG solar peers to Jiro-Ve and operates in similar sub-$2/day customer segments with comparable lantern/powerbank offerings.
• M-KOPA: M-KOPA is a leading PAYG solar home system provider in East Africa serving off-grid households with solar lighting, phone charging, and increasingly productive-use appliances. It directly competes with Jiro-Ve for similar low-income East African customers and uses comparable smart-meter/PAYG technology.
• Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Sun King sells PAYG and cash solar lanterns, home systems, and clean cookstoves to off-grid households across Africa and Asia. It competes directly with Jiro-Ve in the entry-level PAYG lantern and powerbank category and has comparable pay-as-you-go distribution infrastructure.
• BBOXX: BBOXX is a UK-headquartered PAYG solar provider operating across multiple African markets, offering solar home systems with smart metering and remote monitoring. Its technology platform and last-mile distribution model closely mirror Jiro-Ve's PAYG smart-charger approach.
• Zola Electric: Zola Electric (formerly Off Grid Electric) provides PAYG solar home systems across Tanzania, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. It targets similar off-grid, low-income households with smart-metered distributed solar solutions, making it a close comparable to Jiro-Ve's PAYG lantern/powerbank business.
• Fenix International (ENGIE): Fenix International, now part of ENGIE, provides PAYG solar home systems across Uganda and other East African markets. It serves the same sub-$2/day customer segment with comparable PAYG-enabled distributed solar products, including lighting and powerbank-style offerings.
• Azuri Technologies: Azuri Technologies provides PAYG solar home systems across East and West Africa, including lanterns, TVs, and fans. Its product set, customer segment, and PAYG distribution model align closely with Jiro-Ve's franchise-based last-mile delivery approach.

Emerging players

• SolarAid: SolarAid is an international NGO operating in Madagascar and other African markets, distributing low-cost solar lights and partnering with social enterprises. As a member of Jiro-Ve's Solar United Consortium partner network, it is a comparable mission-aligned player in Madagascar's off-grid solar market.

Regional players

• SolarNow: SolarNow sells and finances PAYG solar home systems and appliances in Uganda, with a comparable pay-as-you-go business model. While geographically focused on Uganda rather than Madagascar, its product range and target customer closely mirror Jiro-Ve's offerings.
• BrightLife Africa: BrightLife Africa provides PAYG solar products to off-grid households in Uganda, including lanterns and clean cookstoves, with a customer base and pricing model similar to Jiro-Ve's. Comparable operating geography in East Africa makes it a relevant regional analogue.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jirove
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jiro-ve
• Xx.com/rikstamhuis

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Jiro-Ve