Empower Me

What Empower Me does

Empower Me is a Vancouver-based equity-oriented energy efficiency education program operating as a division of Kambo Energy Group, a BIPOC-led, certified minority-owned social enterprise. Founded in 2012, it trains and deploys community members as Energy Mentors who deliver multilingual workshops, one-to-one coaching, home assessments, and Energy Saving Kits to newcomer, immigrant, senior, renter, and low-income households across the Pacific Northwest. Services are offered in over nine languages including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, French, Somali, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tagalog.

The organization does not operate a software platform; its core technology consists of physical Energy Saving Kits (temperature cards, LED night lights, sink aerators), in-person and online workshops, and a marketing website. Service delivery is entirely human-led through the Energy Mentor workforce, with no proprietary AI, automation, or digital delivery infrastructure disclosed in the source data.

Empower Me's revenue model is a managed-services/grant-funded structure: services are free to participants and costs are covered by long-term partnerships with utilities (FortisBC since 2012, BC Hydro since 2018, EPCOR since 2020, Seattle City Light) and government programs (CleanBC). Geographic reach spans British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Washington State, and the program reports having reached more than three million British Columbians since launch. Operations sit within the Kambo Energy Group corporate structure alongside sister programs Community Power and HUP, with the company currently led by Karim and Yasmin Abraham following co-founders Areef and Yasmin Abraham.

Name

Empower Me

Legal name

Empower Me

Website

https://empowerme.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empower Me is a Vancouver-based energy efficiency education program that trains multilingual community members as Energy Mentors to deliver in-language workshops, coaching, and home safety education to newcomer, immigrant, senior, and low-income households across the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Efficiency Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ)

Keywords

• Energy efficiency education
• Multilingual community outreach
• Home safety workshops
• Energy conservation programs
• Utility rebate assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government and Utility Funding: Empower Me is funded through partnerships with government programs (CleanBC) and utility companies (FortisBC, BC Hydro, EPCOR). The program is free for participants, with costs covered by these partner organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Empower Me delivers free, multilingual energy conservation education, in-language coaching, and home upgrade services to diverse, multilingual, and hard-to-reach communities. Programs are delivered through Energy Mentors recruited from the same neighborhoods served and are funded by utility companies and government programs. Participants gain practical knowledge on energy savings, bill reading, EV education, home safety, and rebate applications, with lower-income households also offered home energy assessments and upgrades.

Product overview

Empower Me is an equity-based energy efficiency education program that operates as a division of Kambo Energy Group. The company offers a portfolio of services centered around multilingual community education: Multilingual Workshops (including Energy Savings, EVs 101, Being Safe at Home, Rebates 101, and targeted workshops for Renters and Seniors), In-Language Coaching for personalized one-to-one support, and Community Engagement at local events. The core delivery mechanism is through Energy Mentors—community members hired and trained to deliver education in multiple languages. Supporting offerings include an Energy Saving Kit provided to participants and the Home Upgrades Program that helps lower-income households access energy retrofit rebates. The company also maintains a companion resource site at energychampion.org for general energy saving information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Energy Champion: A sister program providing energy saving tips, tricks, and workshops accessible at energychampion.org

Products and services

• Multilingual Workshops
• In-Language Coaching
• Community Engagement
• Home Upgrades Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Heating costs reduced by 50% for program participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CleanBCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 September 2020CleanBC is a founding partner of Empower Me. The British Columbia government's climate action program has supported Empower Me since its inception to deliver energy savings education and support to multilingual and multicultural communities in BC.
• EPCORcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 February 2020EPCOR partnered with Empower Me to launch Alberta's first energy efficiency program designed specifically for, and delivered by, diverse communities. Focuses on helping diverse Albertan communities understand utility bills and services.
• BC HydrocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018BC Hydro is a participating sponsor of Empower Me since 2018. Helps extend reach to diverse communities in British Columbia.
• FortisBCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012FortisBC is a founding partner and has been with Empower Me since its inception in 2012. Supports the program in helping diverse communities access energy efficiency information and rebates.
• Seattle City LightcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeattle City Light has partnered with Empower Me to enhance engagement with Environmental Justice (EJ) communities throughout Seattle. The partnership helps tailor programs and outreach to address unique needs and perspectives of Seattle's EJ communities.
• DIVERSEcitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIVERSEcity in Surrey, BC established a relationship with Empower Me to deliver workshops to low-level English students in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) classes. Farsi-speaking Energy Mentor Ghazal delivered workshops to help newcomers improve their English skills while learning about energy efficiency.
• Kambo Energy GroupcoreOthersEmpower Me is a division of Kambo Energy Group, a BIPOC-led, certified minority-owned social enterprise. Kambo provides organizational infrastructure, funding management, and coordination for Empower Me operations across Canada and the US.
• Guru Nanak Sikh GurdwaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, BC was the original community partner for the 2012 pilot program that launched Empower Me. The Gurdwara's leadership granted permission and community access for the initial energy efficiency education pilot.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CLEAResult: Large energy efficiency program design and implementation firm working with utilities across North America. Comparable as a delivery partner for utility efficiency programs, though much broader in scope and not equity-focused.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): Clean energy think tank working on equitable energy transition strategy with utilities, governments, and communities. Operates upstream of Empower Me (research and advisory) but shares the equity-in-climate lens.
• Franklin Energy: National energy efficiency services provider implementing utility-funded programs across the U.S. and Canada. Operates in the same partner-funded program delivery space but at a much larger scale and with a broader client base.

Direct peers

• BlocPower: BlocPower delivers clean energy retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income and environmental justice communities. Most comparable to Empower Me in mission, target population, and utility/government partnership model.
• Slipstream: Wisconsin-based nonprofit designing and delivering energy efficiency programs for utilities and communities, with a focus on equitable access. Comparable as a program-delivery partner to utilities and government agencies.
• GRID Alternatives: GRID Alternatives installs solar and clean energy systems for low-income and underserved communities, working closely with utility partners and workforce development programs. Shares Empower Me's equity-centered delivery model and partner-funded economics.
• Elevate Energy: Chicago-based nonprofit delivering energy efficiency programs and retrofits for low-income and BIPOC communities. Comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and utility/government partnership revenue model.

Regional players

• LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program): Virginia-based nonprofit delivering energy efficiency education and programs in partnership with utilities and local government. Comparable delivery model but operates in a different geography (U.S. Mid-Atlantic).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/empowermeab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-me-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Empower Me