MK Advisors

What MK Advisors does

MK Advisors, LLC is a woman-owned small business advisory firm founded in 2015 by Michelle 'MK' Klassen Merrigan, headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan (with a secondary Brighton, Michigan office). The firm advises government agencies, militaries, cities, NGOs, and corporations on sustainable and resilient power solutions, climate change adaptation, carbon capture, and energy access for under-resourced communities. Its primary operational theaters are Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands, with secondary US defense and federal contracting work.

The firm's core offering is consulting and advisory services, augmented by three proprietary methodology assets — the Financial Matrix (financial partner and creative-financing assessment), the Partnership Matrix (multi-mode partner evaluation across bottom-up, top-down, and flattened engagement models), and the Technology Matrix (a green online platform providing small local developers in Sub-Saharan Africa with vetted supply-chain access). It also incubates and holds operating subsidiaries including Mana Pacific, a benefit corporation targeting renewable energy access for 4,000,000+ Pacific Island households across 22 territories, and historically The Mana Boutique (divested to The Nhan To Foundation in March 2024). All entities roll up under Mana Group Holdings, LLC, established in late 2021.

Commercially, MK Advisors operates a sales-led, project-based consulting motion anchored by the $39M, five-year USAID AmpUp contract (Advancing Modern Power through Utility Partnerships, October 2021), in which MKA is the only woman-led small business in a consortium with Arizona State University, US Energy Association, NRECA, and Segura Consulting. Revenue is complemented by targeted development services agreements (e.g., $1.3M with Ho'ahu Energy Cooperative, August 2021), event-driven partnership development at venues like the UN General Assembly, COP26, Pacific Islands Forum, and IWEC conferences, and referral-based partnership inquiries via its 'Get Involved' channel. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, not publicly disclosed.

Name

MK Advisors

Legal name

MK Advisors, LLC

Website

https://mkadvisors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MK Advisors is a woman-owned advisory firm that designs and delivers sustainable energy, climate, and resilience solutions for government agencies, militaries, cities, and NGOs across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy and Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)

Keywords

• Clean energy consulting
• Sustainable infrastructure advisory
• Energy resilience solutions
• Utility performance management
• Climate adaptation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: MK Advisors provides consulting services to government agencies, militaries, cities, and NGOs on energy resilience, climate solutions, and sustainable infrastructure. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements, strategic advisory work, and program development services.
2. USAID and Development Contracts: The company holds a $39M USAID AmpUp contract as the only woman-led small business in a consortium including Arizona State University, United States Energy Association, NRECA, and Segura Consulting. This five-year program introduces an innovative performance improvement model for USAID-assisted utilities.
3. Incubated Ventures: MK Advisors incubates and develops ventures such as Mana Pacific and The Mana Boutique. Revenue may be generated through equity stakes, success fees, or operational support services for these incubated entities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MK Advisors is a woman-owned consulting and advisory firm that provides project-based advisory services on sustainable power solutions, climate change, carbon capture, and equitable energy access for under-resourced communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, and indigenous regions. Its work is delivered through three proprietary Matrix tools (Financial, Partnership, Technology), program support for the $39M USAID AmpUp utility partnership contract, and incubation of social impact ventures such as Mana Pacific.

Product overview

MK Advisors is a woman-owned consulting advisory group offering a portfolio of professional services, tools, and incubated entities focused on climate solutions, energy resilience, and community empowerment. Core offerings include advisory consulting services and three proprietary assessment tools: the Financial Matrix (financial partner assessment algorithm), the Partnership Matrix (partner evaluation algorithm), and the Technology Matrix (supply chain access platform for clean energy developers). The company incubates and partners with related entities including Mana Pacific (Pacific Island energy resiliency benefit corporation) and The Mana Boutique (South African artisan commerce platform). Additional offerings include the USAID AmpUp program support, One Woman One System empowerment initiative, and the Successful Women Business Owners Collective. The portfolio is connected through a focus on female empowerment (#theFemaleEffect), knowledge transfer, and sustainable infrastructure development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mana Microgrid: Equitable, community-owned power systems model developed by MK Advisors for clean energy deployment.
• Financial Matrix
• Partnership Matrix
• Technology Matrix

Products and services

• MK Advisors Advisory Services Project-based consulting and advisory services for government agencies, militaries, cities, NGOs, and corporations focused on sustainable and resilient power solutions, climate change, carbon capture, and energy access for underserved communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, and indigenous regions.
• Financial Matrix Algorithm-driven assessment of potential financial partners and creative financing structures to ready energy and infrastructure projects for private finance, with focus on combating predatory lending through education and contract review.
• Partnership Matrix Algorithm to assess potential partners of any size, approach and model — including bottom-up, top-down, and flattened modes — across policymakers, NGOs, businesses, and other societal stakeholders. MK Advisors evaluates approximately 10 partners per month, typically selecting 2–4.
• Technology Matrix Online platform serving global partners by providing small, local developers and installers with access to vetted clean technology supply chains, functioning as a one-stop technology information platform for community development and resilience projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• USAID AmpUp Program Support Program delivery within the $39M five-year USAID AmpUp contract alongside Arizona State University, USEA, NRECA, and Segura Consulting, introducing a performance improvement model for USAID-assisted utilities in partner nations through peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and collaborative structures.
• Mana Pacific Social impact benefit corporation developing, financing, and de-risking scalable island resiliency projects in Hawaii and 22 Pacific Island Territories and Countries, targeting affordable, dependable, and renewable energy access for over 4 million Pacific Island households.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130,000 people provided with meals through Nelson Mandela Foundation partnership
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Nelson Mandela FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2022MK Advisors expanded their strategic partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation in support of the 2022 UN General Assembly. The partnership aligns with Nelson Mandela's legacy of freedom and equality, with MK Advisors focusing on amplifying female voices through project development work and incubations. The Foundation was established in 1999 when Nelson Mandela stepped down as President of South Africa.
• Africa Power InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2022Formal partnership established after years of fellowship. Africa Power Initiative aims to provide clean, competitive, and high-quality energy options for sustainable development and community empowerment across Africa. The partnership will focus on projects in Uganda and Ethiopia with anticipated expansion to Liberia and Morocco.
• Environmental Media Association (EMA)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2020Global strategic partnership allowing EMA to assist in expansion of MK Advisors' presence in South Africa and Pacific Islands. The collaboration leverages EMA's entertainment industry network to promote sustainable change and zero-net technologies.
• Norwich University / Center for Global Resilience & SecuritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMKA partnered with Norwich University to craft creative, innovative, and sustainable solutions for building resilient communities through interdisciplinary research and design collaboration in a new energy track. MK Merrigan serves as Senior Research Fellow at CGRS.
• Arizona State University (ASU) LEAPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to rapidly develop projects, expand standardization and best practices, and co-create scalable, sustainable and resilient solutions. ASU is also a partner in the $39M USAID AmpUp consortium.
• United States Energy Association (USEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the $39M USAID AmpUp five-year contract for Advancing Modern Power through Utility Partnerships. USEA brings expertise in energy sector development and utility partnerships.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the $39M USAID AmpUp five-year contract. NRECA brings expertise in rural electric cooperative development and implementation.
• Segura ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in the $39M USAID AmpUp five-year contract, providing consulting services for utility performance improvement programs.
• Ho'ahu Energy CooperativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned a $1.3M development services agreement in August 2021. Mana Pacific was described by Ho'ahu Energy Cooperative President as 'Creative, flexible, culturally aligned and courageous.'
• Blue Planet AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MOU in September 2021 at NYC Climate Action Week to work on accelerating renewable energy adoption in Pacific Island Countries and Territories through enabling policy legislation, private sector renewable energy project development, and social impact efforts.
• Nhan To FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquisition of The Mana Boutique by The Nhan To Foundation completed in March 2024. The Nhan To Foundation (funded by Oakrocket.com) supports women and minority-owned businesses through donations, partnerships, and community outreach.
• Women in DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization, connects with defense industry network for military energy resilience initiatives.
• United States ArmymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for energy resilience and installation power solutions. MK Advisors has worked with US Army on operational energy, microgrids, and resilient infrastructure projects.
• Mana PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial impact company and benefit corporation incubated by MK Advisors since 2019 to develop, finance, and de-risk scalable island resiliency projects in Hawaii and 22 Pacific Island Territories and Countries. Goal: 4,000,000+ Pacific Island households with renewable energy access.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DAI: International development consultancy with significant USAID energy and infrastructure portfolio across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific. Directly comparable consulting model, donor funding mix, and target client (governments and utilities seeking capacity building).
• Chemonics International: One of the largest USAID prime contractors focused on international development, economic growth, and energy programs. Comparable because MK Advisors competes for similar USAID-funded energy/utilities awards and operates across many of the same Sub-Saharan geographies.
• RTI International: Nonprofit research and consulting institute delivering donor-funded energy access and climate resilience work globally. Comparable consulting model, USAID funding mix, and focus on emerging-market utility modernization.
• Abt Associates: Research and program implementation firm with substantial USAID/development work in energy, environment, and health. Comparable as a woman/minity-owned-leaning prime contractor chasing multi-year USAID IDIQ and task-order awards.
• Winrock International: Nonprofit focused on sustainable energy, climate, and women's empowerment in developing countries. Comparable as a mission-driven development consultancy that pairs clean-energy advisory with female-entrepreneurship programming similar to MK Advisors' #theFemaleEffect.

Emerging players

• BBOXX: Solar energy company providing off-grid power systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable emerging player targeting energy access in underserved communities with distributed clean-energy solutions, similar to MK Advisors' microgrid and SSA scope.
• d.light: Pay-as-you-go solar provider serving off-grid households in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Comparable as an emerging clean-energy player operating in overlapping low-income electrification markets that MK Advisors advises around.
• PowerGen Renewable Energy: Africa-focused renewable energy company developing mini-grids and clean-energy access. Comparable emerging player operating in the same Sub-Saharan African geographies and addressing the same community-energy-access pain points.

Broad incumbents

• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm with a large energy and environment practice that executes USAID and donor-funded clean-energy and water programs. Comparable because both advise public-sector clients on energy resilience, climate, and infrastructure.
• ICF International: Large advisory and digital services firm with a strong energy and climate practice supporting utilities and federal agencies. Comparable in advising utilities on modernization, resilience, and program execution for public-sector clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/advisors_mk
• Facebookfacebook.com/MKAdvisorsOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lkm-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 MK Advisors