Sun glass

Name

Sun glass

Legal name

SONNENGLAS GmbH

Website

https://sonnenglas.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Lighting

NAICS

Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Retail (Path, Flood, Security, Deck) (CRAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Lighting & Landscape Lighting Retail (CRAIAIAJ), Outdoor Lighting & Power (Headlamps, Batteries, Solar) Retail (CRAMAAAG), Specialty & Task/Workstation Lighting (Inspection/task lights, cleanroom/food-grade, portable work lights) (IMAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Solar lanterns
• Modular solar lighting
• Fair trade lighting
• Off-grid lighting
• Handmade solar products

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Hardware Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of solar lanterns (Sun Jars), SOMO modules, Light Carafes, Adventure Mounts, and accessories through e-commerce storefront. One-time hardware purchases with optional spare parts.
2. B2B Corporate Gifts: Corporate gifting program offering personalized solar products with company branding for business events, employee incentives, and customer loyalty programs.
3. Reseller/Partner Channel: Partnership model where retailers and resellers purchase products at exclusive terms for resale, with product personalization capabilities and POS support materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sonnenglas designs, manufactures and sells handmade solar-powered lighting products built around a proprietary modular SOMO Gen6 solar module. The product range includes Sun Jar glass lanterns (1000ml Original and 250ml Mini), Light Carafes that combine drinking and lighting functions (C1, C2, M1, M2 variants), Adventure Mount outdoor accessories, Japanese Bamboo Lanterns, and Special Editions featuring African artisan collaborations. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via regional e-commerce sites, through authorized resellers, and as customized corporate gifts.

Product overview

Sonnenglas is a solar lighting company offering a modular ecosystem of handmade solar products primarily manufactured in a Fair Trade certified factory in Johannesburg, South Africa. The core product line centers on the SOMO and SOMO Mini solar modules (Generation 6) which serve as interchangeable power units for multiple container products. The main product families include: Sun Jar Original and Mini (glass jar solar lanterns in 1000ml and 250ml sizes), Light Carafe series (M1/M2 at 750ml and C1/C2 at 1000ml combining drinking and lighting functions), and Adventure Mount accessories for outdoor use. Special editions feature collaborations with African artisans. The company also offers Japanese Bamboo Lanterns crafted in Japan using traditional Suruga bamboo techniques integrated with SOMO technology. B2B services include corporate gifting programs with customization and a reseller partnership network. The ecosystem is designed for sustainability through modular replaceable components, with products also rechargeable via USB-C.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOMO: Modular solar light system - the technological heart of all Sonnenglas products. Available in Gen6 for Sun Jars, Light Carafes, and Adventure Mounts.
• Sun Jar
• Light Carafe
• Adventure Mount

Products and services

• SOMO Gen6 The main solar lighting module and technological heart of the Sonnenglas ecosystem. Features 6 LEDs arranged in a circle, USB-C charging, up to 100 hours of light on full charge, stepless dimming, and intelligent day/night automated switch. World's first solar light to carry the German Blue Angel eco-label.
• SOMO Mini Gen6 Compact version of the SOMO solar module for smaller containers (250ml Sun Jars, 750ml Light Carafes). Includes all Gen6 features in a smaller form factor.
• Sun Jar Original The original 1000ml solar lantern that captures sunlight during the day and provides warm ambient light at night. Handmade in South Africa, includes SOMO Gen6 module.
• Sun Jar Mini Original Compact 250ml version of the Sun Jar with SOMO Mini Gen6 included. Same solar-powered functionality in a smaller size for intimate spaces.
• Japanese Bamboo Lantern Handcrafted bamboo lantern combining Japanese Suruga-take-sensuji-zaiku weaving tradition with integrated SOMO solar technology. Made at Miyabi Andon workshop in Shizuoka, Japan. Features space for flameless incense sticks or sachets.
• Light Carafe C1 (1000ml) 1000ml solar-powered carafe serving as both a drinking vessel and ambient light source. Includes SOMO Gen6 module. Available in clear or speckled glass variants.
• Light Carafe M1 (750ml) Smaller 750ml solar-powered carafe with SOMO Mini Gen6. Combines drinking and lighting functionality in a compact form.
• Adventure Mount Versatile clip-on adapter for SOMO Gen6 providing five mounting options: magnetic attachment, carrying strap, attachment straps, tripod thread (1/4 inch), and vertical standing. Weather-resistant design for outdoor activities.
• Special Editions Lanterns Limited collection of solar lanterns featuring collaborations with African artisans, including the Beadwork Edition with wire and bead art handles, and other artistic variations.
• Adventure Mount Mini Compact version of the Adventure Mount designed for SOMO Mini Gen6, providing the same five mounting and carrying options in a smaller form factor.
• Gift Sets Pre-curated combinations of Sonnenglas products sold as bundles at discounted prices, ideal for gifting occasions.
• Corporate Gifts Program B2B customizable solar lighting solutions for corporate gifting, events, and customer loyalty programs with branding and personalization options including company logos and messages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Factory workers earn more than double the local minimum wage
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Official member since 2026. Commitment to 10 principles of Fair Trade including fair compensation, safe working conditions, transparency, and environmental stewardship. Regular audits ensure compliance. Represents fundamental business philosophy alignment.
• Ngwenya GlassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with talented glassblowers in Eswatini who transform used bottles into stunning Light Carafes sustainably and under fair working conditions.
• Miyabi Andon WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese workshop in Shizuoka where skilled artisans handcraft bamboo lantern frames using traditional Suruga-take-sensuji-zaiku technique. Cross-continental collaboration combining Japanese craftsmanship with South African solar technology.
• Maxwell (Wire and Bead Art)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster of wire and bead art who creates colorful handles for Sonnenglas Beadwork Edition Artisan Collection. Local artisan collaboration supporting regional creativity.
• Victoria YardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative hub in Johannesburg where Sonnenglas factory is located. Collaboration with local organizations including Makers Valley, SayYouth, Timbuktu in the Valley, and Harambee. Community projects include workshops and introductory internships.
• SEND NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of the SEND network which advocates for social innovations and sustainable economic models. Collaboration with other fair trade pioneers.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial affiliation partnership through Amazon Affiliation program for product marketing and sales tracking.
• People's Pantry (Johannesburg)minorOthersLocal community organization. Sonnenglas donated 200 solar lanterns to the People's Pantry in their neighborhood at Christmas, bringing light and hope to local communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• BioLite: BioLite develops off-grid energy and lighting products (SolarHome, NanoGrid) with a strong emerging-markets and outdoor-use mission, sharing Sonnenglas's solar-lighting-for-impact positioning though with broader cookstove / energy categories.
• Barebones: Barebones designs premium outdoor lifestyle and lighting products (lanterns, edison-style lights) for the garden and adventure markets. It overlaps with Sonnenglas on decorative, durable outdoor lighting for the conscious consumer.
• Fatboy (brand): Fatboy offers designer, lifestyle-driven lighting and home objects — including outdoor lighting — at premium prices. It competes with Sonnenglas at the design-led, decorative-lighting end of the garden/outdoor segment.

Regional players

• Snow Peak: Snow Peak is a Japanese premium outdoor lifestyle brand with a meaningful lighting and lantern line. It overlaps with Sonnenglas's Japanese Bamboo Lantern and Adventure Mount use cases for design-conscious outdoor consumers, primarily in Asia.

Direct peers

• LuminAID: LuminAID makes inflatable solar lanterns for outdoor, emergency, and humanitarian use. It is the closest direct peer to Sonnenglas, competing in solar-powered personal lighting distributed through specialty retail and humanitarian channels.
• MPOWERD (Luci): MPOWERD's Luci brand produces inflatable, USB-rechargeable solar lanterns targeting outdoor, festival, and emergency segments. Like Sonnenglas, it sells consumer-grade solar lanterns through D2C and retail with a mission-driven brand story.

Broad incumbents

• Signify (Philips Hue): Signify, owner of Philips Hue, is the dominant smart-lighting incumbent selling decorative and connected home lighting globally. It represents the broader professionalized lighting industry Sonnenglas participates in at the home/garden intersection.
• Goal Zero: Goal Zero (an NRG brand) is a large incumbent in portable solar power and lighting for camping and emergency preparedness. It competes with Sonnenglas in the consumer outdoor/emergency solar-lighting aisle with a broader product portfolio.
• IKEA (Solar Lighting line): IKEA sells an in-house solar lighting line (e.g., light chains, lanterns) at very low price points, setting the mass-market price benchmark in outdoor solar lighting that Sonnenglas differentiates above.
• Anker (AnkerMake / Eufy solar products): Anker is a major consumer electronics brand that distributes solar-powered lights, chargers, and accessories globally through Amazon and D2C, providing direct competitive overlap with Sonnenglas's consumer solar product range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sonnenglas
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonnenglas
• Instagraminstagram.com/sonnenglas
• Pinterestpinterest.com/sonnenglas
• Xx.com/sonnenglas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonnenglas

Compliance5 records

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 Sun glass