EarthEnable
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersJinja, Uganda
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What EarthEnable does
EarthEnable is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that wholly owns three for-profit operating subsidiaries in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya (EarthEnable Rwanda, EarthEnable Uganda, and EarthEnable Living Limited), selling affordable sustainable housing products to low-income rural families in East Africa. Its flagship offering is an earthen floor built in layers from locally sourced gravel, laterite, clay, and sand, sealed with a proprietary soybean oil-based drying oil varnish formulated by co-founder Rick Zuzow as a VOC-free, lower-cost alternative to imported linseed oil. The company has installed approximately 60,000 products serving roughly 300,000 individuals in its first decade, and has expanded its product line to include earthen plasters, earthen blocks, and an integrated full-house solution — all positioned at roughly 70-80% below the cost of concrete alternatives with 90% less embedded energy.
The business model combines direct field sales by Customer Sales Officers operating door-to-door in rural villages with a franchisee network of trained and certified local masons who install the products. Pricing is unit-based at approximately $4 per square meter (about $80 for a typical 20 sqm home), with installment and exploratory monthly payment options to broaden accessibility for poor rural households. Roughly 10% of customers receive free "innovation floors" for testing new installation techniques quarterly. The for-profit subsidiaries donate any profits back to the US nonprofit umbrella to fund expansion and R&D. EarthEnable has 600+ teammates, multiple offices across the three countries, and ten greenhouses supporting adjacent agricultural operations. The company is recognized with the 2025 Skoll Award for Social Innovation and is financially supported by Elevate.
EarthEnable firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EarthEnable
- Legal name
- EarthEnable, Incorporated
- Website
- https://earthenable.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EarthEnable industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Sustainable Housing Materials
- NAICS
- Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (327120), All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (32799)
- SIC
- Structural Clay Products (3250)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concrete, Cement & Aggregates Retail (Bagged Mix, Sand, Gravel) (CRAIAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Resilient Flooring (Vinyl/LVT/LVP, Linoleum, Rubber) (IMADAJAA)
Keywords
Where EarthEnable is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jinja
- HQ country
- Uganda
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices7 records
Markets served
EarthEnable business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Earthen Floor Sales: Sale of earthen floors to rural customers in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya at approximately $4 USD per square meter. Typical 20 sqm floor costs $80 USD. Customers pay out-of-pocket or through installment financing options.
- Earthen Building Products: Sale of earthen plasters and blocks alongside flagship floor product. Products sold through franchisee network of trained and certified local masons.
- For-Profit Subsidiary Operations: EarthEnable Rwanda, EarthEnable Uganda, and EarthEnable Living Limited (Kenya) operate as for-profit subsidiaries in East Africa. Any profits generated are donated to the nonprofit umbrella organization to fund startup costs in new markets and further R&D.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Earthen floor at ~$4 USD per square meter |
| Other | Monthly | Financing option (exploratory) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
EarthEnable product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EarthEnable designs, sells, and installs affordable earthen housing products — primarily earthen floors, plasters, and blocks — for low-income rural families in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Products are made from locally sourced natural materials (gravel, clay, sand, laterite) sealed with a proprietary soybean oil-based drying oil, providing a waterproof, durable, and healthier alternative to dirt and concrete floors at approximately $4 USD per square meter.
Product overview
EarthEnable offers a portfolio of earthen housing products focused on sustainable, affordable construction for rural families in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The core offerings include earthen floors (the flagship product), earthen plasters, and earthen blocks—all composed of natural materials (gravel, clay, sand, and laterite) sealed with the proprietary drying oil varnish. The company also offers a full house product integrating these components. The flagship earthen floor is priced at approximately $4 per square meter (about $80 for a typical 20 square meter home), is 70-80% cheaper than concrete, and has 90% less embedded energy. The proprietary soybean oil-based drying oil (an alternative to linseed oil) makes these products waterproof, strong, and polished while being free of volatile organic compounds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Earthen Floor
- Earthen Plasters
- Earthen Blocks
- Full House Product
- Earthen Floor Installation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces diarrhea by 50% and parasitic infections by 80% (compared to dirt floors)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use EarthEnable
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
EarthEnable technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EarthEnable partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EarthEnable competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Selavip International: International nonprofit that funds self-help housing for very poor families in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, historically including adobe and earthen construction. Comparable hybrid donor-funded model delivering affordable housing to low-income households.
- Build Change: Nonprofit that works in emerging markets to retrofit and build disaster-resilient affordable housing, partnering with local builders. Comparable in addressing low-income housing through localized construction ecosystems and field-based technical training.
- Auroville Earth Institute: India-based research and training institute focused on earthen architecture, compressed earth blocks, and cost-effective earthen construction. Highly comparable to EarthEnable in product (earthen floors, walls, blocks) and mission (affordable, sustainable building) though based in India rather than East Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Holcim: Global building materials leader with significant Africa footprint (including Bamburi Cement in Kenya and Hima Cement in Uganda, both in EarthEnable's operating geographies). Comparable as a building materials provider in the same markets but operates at vastly larger scale in conventional cement-based construction.
- CEMEX: Global building materials company producing cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete with presence in Africa. Comparable as a major building materials incumbent whose cement-based products are the direct alternative EarthEnable competes against on cost and embedded energy.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Large global nonprofit focused on affordable housing for low-income families, with active operations in East Africa. Broader in scope (new build, microfinance, advocacy) than EarthEnable but addresses the same core problem of inadequate rural housing.
Others
- Gram Vikas: Indian rural development nonprofit focused on water, sanitation, and housing in tribal and rural communities. Comparable in mission (improving rural living conditions for low-income households) and rural India parallels EarthEnable's rural East Africa model, though its housing scope is broader.
- UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for sustainable urbanization and adequate housing, with active programs in East Africa. Comparable as a convener, policy actor, and potential partner/funder influencing the affordable housing landscape in which EarthEnable operates.
Regional players
- Hima Cement: Major cement producer in Uganda (also part of the Holcim group). Operates in EarthEnable's Uganda market and represents the incumbent concrete alternative that earthen floors compete against on price and embedded energy.
- Bamburi Cement: Leading cement producer in Kenya (Holcim subsidiary), serving the very market where EarthEnable offers its earthen floor alternative. A regional competitor whose product represents the conventional (and more carbon-intensive) alternative EarthEnable's pricing and sustainability story is benchmarked against.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EarthEnable social profiles
Digital presenceEarthEnable financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EarthEnable leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
EarthEnable subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
EarthEnable funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EarthEnable 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 EarthEnable
What does EarthEnable do?
EarthEnable designs, sells, and installs affordable earthen housing products — primarily earthen floors, plasters, and blocks — for low-income rural families in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Products are made from locally sourced natural materials (gravel, clay, sand, laterite) sealed with a proprietary soybean oil-based drying oil, providing a waterproof, durable, and healthier alternative to dirt and concrete floors at approximately $4 USD per square meter.
Is EarthEnable a public or private company?
EarthEnable is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EarthEnable founded?
EarthEnable was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is EarthEnable based?
EarthEnable is headquartered in Jinja, Uganda, in the Africa region.
How does EarthEnable make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Earthen Floor Sales are the primary driver. The others are earthen Building Products and for-Profit Subsidiary Operations.
Who are EarthEnable's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Selavip International, Build Change and Auroville Earth Institute. Broad incumbents are Holcim, CEMEX and Habitat for Humanity International. Others are Gram Vikas and UN-Habitat. Regional players are Hima Cement and Bamburi Cement.
Does EarthEnable have an API?
No public API is recorded for EarthEnable.
What industry is EarthEnable in?
EarthEnable's product category is Affordable Sustainable Housing Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAEAG, Concrete, Cement & Aggregates Retail (Bagged Mix, Sand, Gravel), with a secondary code of IMADAJAA, Resilient Flooring (Vinyl/LVT/LVP, Linoleum, Rubber). Its NAICS code is 327120 and its SIC code is 3250.