Lytefire

What Lytefire does

Lytefire (legally Solar Fire Concentration Oy, formerly known as GoSol) is a Finnish impact company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tampere, Finland, with manufacturing operations in Nairobi, Kenya. The company designs and manufactures mirror-based solar thermal concentration equipment that focuses direct sunlight onto a focal point to reach temperatures up to 300°C, producing 3.5 kW of thermal energy without electricity, fuel, batteries, or rare earth metals. Its core products are the Lytefire PRO Solar Oven (capable of baking 30-45 kg of bread daily) and the Lytefire PRO Community Solar Cooker (equipped with an insulated 40-liter pot for cooking meals for 20 people), supported by optional accessories and DIY construction guides.

The technology combines high-precision CNC-manufactured mirror holders with low-tech local materials, including widely available glass mirrors, enabling a mid-tech manufacturing approach that can be replicated with simple straight parts. Lytefire holds patents on this solar concentration technology and protects its intellectual property through a Commercial and Artisan licensing model that already supports local production in France, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

The company generates revenue through hardware unit sales (pickup in Nairobi or international shipping), commercial and artisan licensing fees, DIY construction guide sales, training programs (Solar Bakery Training and Tech ToT), and crowdfunding bundles via Ulule. Lytefire primarily serves international humanitarian NGOs and development organizations (World Vision, Plan International, Don Bosco, SELF, UNDP, Remar International) that deploy the technology to create sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable populations, as well as a growing base of solar artisan entrepreneurs, bakeries, schools, and food processors across 25 countries on four continents. The company is led by co-founders Eva Wissenz (Managing Director) and Urs Riggenbach (Head of Operations and Board Chair), with a small team of 1-10 employees following a 2021 governance restructuring.

Name

Lytefire

Legal name

Solar Fire Concentration Oy

Website

https://lytefire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lytefire is a Finnish social impact company that designs and manufactures mirror-based solar ovens and cookers reaching 300°C without fuel, selling hardware, licensing local production, and providing training to humanitarian NGOs and artisan entrepreneurs across 25 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Thermal Cooking Equipment

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Solar thermal cookers
• Solar oven manufacturing
• Renewable cooking equipment
• Humanitarian solar hardware
• DIY solar concentrators

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampere

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Oven and Cooker Sales: Sale of manufactured Lytefire PRO Solar Oven and PRO Community Solar Cooker products. Units are produced in Kenya and shipped or picked up in Nairobi. Optional accessories include baguettes trays, roasting trays, folding tables, cabinets, and drying racks.
2. Licensing Fees: Commercial and Artisan licenses allow local production and commercialization in different markets. Licensees benefit from Lytefire brand, IP, supporting materials, and sales leads while handling manufacturing, sales, transport, and installation locally.
3. Construction Guides and DIY Plans: Sale of Do-It-Yourself construction guides enabling users to build their own solar concentrators with locally available materials. Guides available for Community Cooker and Oven models.
4. Training and Education Services: Solar bakery training and Tech ToT (Training of Trainers) programs. Educational services support humanitarian projects and entrepreneur capacity building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lytefire manufactures and sells solar thermal concentration equipment — the Lytefire PRO Solar Oven and Lytefire PRO Community Solar Cooker — that use mirror arrays to focus direct sunlight, reaching up to 300°C and producing 3,500 Watts of thermal power without electricity, fuel, batteries, or rare earth metals. The company complements hardware sales with DIY construction guides, commercial and artisan licensing for local manufacturing, and training services (Solar Bakery Training and Tech ToT programs) primarily for humanitarian NGOs, artisan entrepreneurs, schools, and refugee camps in 25 countries.

Product overview

Lytefire offers a focused portfolio of solar thermal products based on mirror-based solar concentration technology. The main offerings are the Lytefire PRO Solar Oven (for professional baking and roasting with up to 45kg daily bread production) and the Lytefire PRO Community Solar Cooker (for larger-scale communal cooking with 40-liter pots). Both products use direct sunlight concentration to reach 300°C without electricity, fuel, or batteries. The company also provides DIY construction guides, training programs (Solar Bakery Training and Tech ToT), and licensing options for local manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lytefire PRO Solar Oven A professional solar oven (1.82m × 5.2m × 1.71m) using mirrored concentrators to reach temperatures up to 300°C for baking, roasting, and cooking using only direct sunlight. Includes solar concentrator, oven, full mirror set with 12 replacements, thermometer, 2 baking trays, 3 baking grids, and an integrated charcoal burner for hybrid operation during cloudy weather. Produces 30-45kg of bread daily, up to 500 buns, 250 buns/cookies, or 230 baguettes. Designed for solar bakeries, food processors, humanitarian projects, and small commercial kitchens.
• Lytefire PRO Community Solar Cooker A community-scale solar cooker equipped with an insulated 40-liter stainless steel cooking pot that can cook for 20 people, producing 3,500 Watts of thermal energy and reaching up to 300°C. Includes solar concentrator, cooker with upward reflector, full mirror set with 12 replacements, documents in English and French, 1-year warranty on manufacturing defects, and remote installation assistance up to 3 hours. No pre-heating time required. Designed for school canteens, SMEs, NGOs, farms, hotels, and camping applications.
• Commercial License — Lytefire Local Manufacturing A multi-year license granting companies the right to manufacture (in-house, outsourced locally, or by ordering from existing manufacturers) and commercialize Lytefire products in their country. Licensees receive the Lytefire brand, IP, supporting materials, and sales leads. License terms and benefits are provided upon contact. Currently active in France, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
• Artisan License — Individual Fabricator Rights A multi-year license for experienced fabricators with workshop capability to produce and sell Lytefire products in their local market based on DIY plans, meeting Lytefire quality standards.
• DIY Construction Guides Do-It-Yourself construction guides available for sale for both the Community Cooker and Oven models, enabling users to build their own solar concentrators with locally available materials. Sold as one-time perpetual licenses, including versions bundled in the crowdfunding Full Package with entrepreneur interviews and additional knowledge materials.
• Solar Bakery Training and Tech ToT Programs Professional training services including Solar Bakery Training and Tech ToT (Training of Trainers) programs that educate entrepreneurs, NGO staff, and community members on how to operate Lytefire equipment and build solar artisan micro-enterprises. Supports humanitarian projects and entrepreneur capacity building across multiple countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-45 kg of bread produced daily per oven
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ADSCAL (Senegal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Association in Senegal with four solar ovens installed in village of Agnam Lidoubé. Three ovens equipping existing bakeries, one for women baking biscuits and cakes.
• Elevate Africa MozambiqueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Local association in Mozambique installed Lytefire Oven in 2024. Plan to start solar powered bakery supporting youth center by reducing energy costs and creating sustainable jobs. Supported by Swiss association Wungana Mozambique.
• UNDP (Angola)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with United Nations Development Program starting three exciting projects in Africa. New cooperation in Angola announced.
• NEA Energie (Madagascar)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Renewable energy company in Madagascar installing solar systems. RSE projects for 2023 installed two solar ovens in isolated villages. First solar bread baking successful.
• SELF (Solar Electric Light Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022US-based NGO financing solar cooking projects. Partnership with Rape Hurts Foundation to empower victims of rape in Uganda 2022-2023. SELF provides funding while Lytefire provides technology and training.
• STEM Synergy (Ethiopia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership since 2021 empowering first entrepreneurs in Ethiopia to run bakeries on clean solar energy instead of firewood. Ongoing cooperation for solar thermal adoption in Ethiopia.
• Education FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Platform of Finnish National Agency for Education and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Selected Lytefire as one of top solutions for canteens of Global South since 2021.
• Don Bosco (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Salesian institution partnership for solar entrepreneurship in refugee settlements. Projects in Embu vocational school 2022 and Kakuma refugee camp region. Don Bosco Jugendhilfe Weltweit as dedicated project partner empowering youth.
• Remar InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019NGO for marginalized people assistance and development. Partnership in Burkina Faso (2019-2020) creating bakery training center for women from Kossodo. Also implemented in Haiti 2020 and Niger 2022. Focus on women entrepreneurship and social cohesion.
• CarbonCycle (Philippines)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Filipino recycling and renewable energy startup. Tackling climate change by introducing Lytefire to three communities from which they buy bio-waste for fertilizer production. Focus on sustainable livelihoods.
• Plan International (Finland and Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SmartUp Factory program cooperation in Uganda starting 2018. First trainings for Plan in Uganda with Lytefire units and educational trainings. Second project with 11 solar ovens in Uganda 2021-2022. Women and youth empowerment through solar baking entrepreneurship.
• Forest Trends (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018US-based NGO partnership in Brazilian Amazon. Empowering indigenous Yawanawa and Surui people with sustainable solar technology through Communities Initiative.
• SOS Energie Burkina FasominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Local association in Burkina Faso led by Vincent Nikiema. Followed Lytefire work for a decade. Facilitated multiple projects with women's groups including Lougsi and Goghin villages.
• Global Resources Alliance (Tanzania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with Wärtsilä sponsorship for three new pilots in Tanzania's Mara region. Alpha women's group and Tujijenge group projects for solar baking and fish processing.
• World Vision FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Long-term partnership for humanitarian projects in East Africa. First cooperation started in Kenya 2016 with Weconomy program. Multiple projects implementing solar bakeries and training entrepreneurs. Continued in 2017 and 2025 with additional installations in Kenya.
• SF Green Resources (Nigeria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Nigerian company founded by Abiodun Alabi and Funsho Folabi. Exploring solar bakery and cooking units for schools and dehydrating processes for farmers in Benue and Plateau states.
• SunFire Solutions (South Africa)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Solar solutions company in South Africa led by Crosby Menzies. Demonstrated Lytefire Stove to students and entrepreneurs. Next step to equip schools for feeding students.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GoSun: US-based company manufacturing solar cookers and ovens (GoSun Sport, GoSun Stove, GoSun Fusion) using evacuated vacuum tube technology. Directly comparable as a commercial solar cooking equipment maker serving outdoor, humanitarian, and off-grid consumer markets.
• Sun Ovens International: US manufacturer of solar box cookers (Sun Oven, All American Sun Oven) targeting household, humanitarian, and missionary use globally. Comparable as a long-established solar oven brand with similar end-user segments and humanitarian distribution channels.
• One Earth Designs (SolSource): Maker of the SolSource parabolic solar concentrator cooker, designed for both household and community-scale cooking. Direct competitor in parabolic solar thermal cooking with overlapping target applications (baking, boiling, roasting) and geographies.

Others

• d.light: Solar energy company providing lanterns, solar home systems, and pay-as-you-go financing across Africa and Asia. Operates in overlapping off-grid and humanitarian customer segments but focuses on lighting and small electronics rather than productive-use thermal energy.

Broad incumbents

• MIWE: German manufacturer of industrial and commercial baking ovens serving bakeries, food retail, and food service globally. Overlaps with Lytefire's commercial bakery use case but uses conventional electric/gas heating rather than solar thermal.
• Solar Cookers International: Non-profit organization promoting solar cooking worldwide through education, advocacy, and capacity building. Comparable as a sector-shaping incumbent focused on solar cooking adoption, though operating via non-profit models rather than commercial manufacturing.

Emerging players

• BURN Manufacturing: East African manufacturer of clean cookstoves and cookware addressing fuel cost, deforestation, and indoor air pollution. Adjacent competitor in clean cooking for Sub-Saharan African households and small businesses, though using biomass-efficient stoves instead of solar thermal.
• Wakati: Belgian social enterprise developing solar-powered food preservation and cold-storage solutions for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Comparable as a solar-driven food processing solution targeting similar humanitarian and off-grid markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xmastodon.social/@lytefire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lytefire
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lytefire.solar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lytefire
• Instagraminstagram.com/lytefire_solar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Lytefire