SunBox

What SunBox does

SunBox is a Gaza-based for-profit social enterprise founded in November 2017 by CEO Majd Mashharawi that designs, installs, and maintains solar energy systems for underserved communities in the Gaza Strip. The company's product portfolio spans 500W portable devices, 3kW residential systems for 3-5 person households, neighborhood-scale installations serving 10-20 residents, and large-scale solar systems powering desalination plants, educational facilities, medical equipment, and street lighting infrastructure. SunBox follows a six-step society-centered design process (Co-Study, Land & Expand, Assist, Cross-Subsidize, Test, Optimize) in which local engineers conduct community assessments, spatial analysis for optimal system positioning, and iterative optimization based on customer feedback.

The company makes money through a mix of annual-billed subscriptions (tiered at $24/mo for small homes, $50/mo for large families, $100/mo for neighborhood installations), custom-quoted large-scale project contracts with international development agencies, hardware sales, and professional installation/maintenance services. The core commercial innovation is a cross-subsidization model in which revenue and supply-chain relationships from NGO-led large-scale projects (e.g., 20 desalination plant renovations producing 15,000 L/day, partnerships with Action Against Hunger, PCRF, Rebuilding Alliance, and MA'AN Development Center) are used to negotiate better pricing and subsidize smaller residential units.

As of the source data, SunBox had deployed 600,000+ Watts reaching 300 families, generated 50,000+ green hours, avoided 190 kg of CO2 annually, and employed 35 people including 3 female engineers in a region with approximately 70% unemployment. The company raised over $55K via a July 2018 LaunchGood crowdfunding campaign and $20K in June 2021 from International Finance Corporation and Village Capital, and has received the Emirates Energy Award (October 2017), MIT Pan Arab Competition second runner-up (April 2018), and Mohammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Confidence (September 2019).

Name

SunBox

Legal name

SunBox

Website

https://sunbox.ps

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SunBox is a Gaza-based social enterprise founded in 2017 that designs, installs, and maintains solar energy systems for underserved families, schools, medical patients, and community infrastructure, using a cross-subsidization model funded by NGO large-scale projects to deliver affordable subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Solar Installation

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC)

Keywords

• Solar energy systems
• Residential solar installation
• Community solar solutions
• Off-grid solar power
• Solar desalination systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar System Hardware Sales: Sale and installation of solar energy systems ranging from 500W portable devices to 3kW home systems to large-scale neighborhood installations.
2. Subscription Pricing: Monthly subscription model ($24-100/mo billed annually) for ongoing energy access, allowing families to pay incrementally for solar systems.
3. Professional Services: Installation, maintenance, and monitoring services for solar systems in homes, schools, medical facilities, and community infrastructure.
4. Crowdfunding: Raised over $55k through LaunchGood crowdfunding campaign in July 2018 to provide subsidies on solar shipments for families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SunBox designs, imports, installs, and maintains affordable solar energy systems for underserved families, schools, medical facilities, and community infrastructure in Gaza. Product lines scale from portable 500W devices to 3 kW residential systems to large-scale solar arrays powering desalination plants and street lighting. The company operates a cross-subsidization model that leverages relationships with international development agencies to make household systems affordable.

Product overview

SunBox is a Gaza-based social enterprise offering solar energy systems to bring renewable power to powerless communities. The product portfolio consists of scalable solar solutions ranging from small home systems (3kW for families of 3-5) to neighborhood installations (10-20 residents) and large-scale projects for infrastructure. The company uses a cross-subsidization model, enabling affordable units for underserved communities through revenue from larger projects. Core offerings include residential solar systems, solar street lighting, medical equipment power systems, and solar installations for water/desalination plants and educational facilities. SunBox follows a community-centered design process involving co-study, land and expand, assist, cross-subsidize, test, and optimize phases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Home Solar System (3 kW) Affordable 3 kW solar power system designed for small families in Gaza (typically 3-5 people), providing clean electricity for lights, fans, and basic household appliances. Offered at a $24/month subscription billed annually.
• Large-Family Solar System Subscription-tier residential solar system aimed at empowering a large family with more substantial energy access, priced at $50/month billed annually.
• Neighborhood Solar Street Lighting Solar-powered street lighting installations for communities serving 10-20 residents per street, enabling safer nighttime driving, walking, and community socialization. Subscription priced at $100/month billed annually.
• Large-Scale Solar Projects Comprehensive solar energy solutions for water treatment and desalination plants, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, and community infrastructure, deployed in partnership with international development agencies and NGOs. Custom-quoted, multi-year contracts.
• Medical Equipment Solar Systems Dedicated solar power systems for homes with disabled or medically dependent individuals, supporting 24/7 operation of equipment such as dialysis machines, nebulizers, and electric mattresses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000+ Watts deployed to 300 families in two years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LaunchGoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunchGood is a crowdfunding platform used by SunBox to raise over $55,000 in July 2018, which enabled subsidies for solar shipments to families in Gaza. This crowdfunding partnership was pivotal for community adoption.
• International Development AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunBox works with multiple international development agencies on large-scale projects in water, health, and infrastructure sectors. These partnerships enable cross-subsidization of smaller household units through negotiated pricing.
• PCRF (Palestine Red Crescent Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization visible in SunBox's partner ecosystem, contributing to humanitarian solar projects across Gaza.
• Rebuilding AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on rebuilding efforts in conflict-affected areas, collaborating on solar installations.
• MA'AN Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalestinian development organization visible in SunBox's partner network, supporting community development initiatives.
• Action Against HungerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization fighting hunger, partnered with SunBox on solar projects for water and community facilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• d.light: Designs and distributes affordable solar lanterns and home systems across Africa and Asia. Comparable product portfolio (small solar home systems, lanterns) and emerging-market last-mile distribution model.
• Zola Electric: Off-grid solar and storage provider serving households and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable on distributed solar + battery offerings for under-electrified communities.
• M-KOPA Solar: Pay-as-you-go solar home systems for off-grid households in East Africa. Closely comparable business model — recurring micro-payments for distributed solar hardware serving low-income customers — and a leading reference point for SunBox's subscription approach.
• Fenix International (Engie): Pay-as-you-go solar home systems provider in Uganda and East Africa, now part of Engie. Highly comparable on the PAYG solar + mobile payments model serving off-grid households.
• Greenlight Planet (Sun King): Manufactures and distributes affordable solar lighting and home energy products to off-grid households in emerging markets. Comparable hardware-plus-finance offering targeting similar bottom-of-pyramid segments.
• BBOXX: Provides pay-as-you-go solar home systems and clean energy solutions in off-grid communities globally. Closely aligned on subscription financing model and underserved-customer focus.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation major with a significant solar/electrification portfolio. Comparable on the underlying solar electrical infrastructure category but at vastly different scale and breadth.
• Tesla Energy: Large-scale solar PV and energy storage provider (SolarCity legacy). Operates in the same broader solar generation category but does not serve SunBox's micro-customer base in fragile states.

Emerging players

• Solar Sister: Women-led direct-sales distribution of solar lanterns and clean energy products in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable on community-led distribution and gender-inclusive employment angle.

Regional players

• Noor Solar (Palestinian solar initiative): Regional peer operating in adjacent Palestinian territories on distributed solar access. Comparable geography and customer profile, though specific overlap with SunBox's Gaza focus is partial.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SunBoxPs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/majd-mashharawi-193258109
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunboxps

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 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 SunBox