Solar Buddy
SolarBuddy is an international nonprofit charity that gifts solar-powered lighting and charging devices to children and families in energy-poor communities across five regions, funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships since 2016.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBrisbane, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solar Buddy does
SolarBuddy is a registered international charity founded in 2016 that addresses global energy poverty by gifting solar-powered lighting and charging devices to children and families in underserved communities. The organization operates regional programs across Australia, the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America & Caribbean, distributing a portfolio of four proprietary products: JuniorBuddy (a portable solar light for students), FamilyBuddy (a household solar solution), K.L.I.C.K. (a multi-device solar charger), and Bright Futures Bundle (a comprehensive solar solution package). All products are gifted at no cost to beneficiaries rather than sold.
The business model is donation-based, operating as a DGR Type 1 charity in Australia (ABN 56612567825) and a 501(c)(3) public charity in the USA (EIN 84-3937145), with affiliated entities in the Netherlands, California, and India. Revenue streams include individual donations, corporate partnerships, workplace giving programs, grants and foundation funding, 1% For The Planet membership contributions, and corporate volunteering fees through the SolarBuddy Switched On program. Distribution is executed through a network of local NGO partners including The Fig Tree Children (Sierra Leone), Cambodia Rural Students Trust, Karen Women Organization (Thailand-Myanmar border), and The Foundation of Lebanon Marschall (Grenada).
SolarBuddy maintains headquarters in Brisbane with offices in Tacoma, San Francisco, The Hague, and Ahmedabad, and is led by Founder & Chair Simon Doble. The organization holds Carbon Neutral certification (NetNada), is a UN Global Compact signatory, a 1% For The Planet partner, and an Energy Globe Award recipient. No disclosed revenue, headcount, or institutional funding has been identified in the source materials.
Solar Buddy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Buddy
- Legal name
- SolarBuddy.org Ltd
- Website
- https://solarbuddy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SolarBuddy is an international nonprofit charity that gifts solar-powered lighting and charging devices to children and families in energy-poor communities across five regions, funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships since 2016.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Buddy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Off-grid solar lighting for humanitarian aid
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where Solar Buddy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brisbane
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices5 records
Markets served
Solar Buddy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: SolarBuddy operates as a registered charity (DGR Type 1 in Australia, 501(c)(3) in USA) and raises funds through direct donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. All solar solutions are gifted to beneficiaries rather than sold.
- Corporate Partnerships and Workplace Giving: Engages corporations through workplace giving programs, Earth Day partnerships, and corporate volunteering experiences (SolarBuddy Switched On) where companies pay for employee team-building sessions.
- Corporate Volunteering Programs: Charges organizations for corporate volunteering days where employees assemble solar lights and learn about energy poverty, with proceeds supporting distribution programs.
- Grants and Foundation Funding: Receives grants and funding from institutional donors and foundations committed to sustainable development and energy access goals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Solar solutions are gifted at no cost to beneficiaries |
| Other | Other | Corporate Volunteering Day (SolarBuddy Switched On) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Solar Buddy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SolarBuddy designs, sources, and distributes solar-powered portable lighting devices — including the JuniorBuddy study lamp, the FamilyBuddy lantern, and the Bright Futures Bundle — to children and families living in energy-poor, off-grid communities. Products are gifted free of charge to beneficiaries, with the program funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, volunteering programs, and grants, and supported by the K.L.I.C.K. educational engagement program.
Product overview
SolarBuddy is a global impact organization committed to addressing energy poverty. It offers a portfolio of solar-powered devices and solutions distributed through regional programs. The product line includes JuniorBuddy (portable solar light for children), FamilyBuddy (household solar solution), K.L.I.C.K. (multi-device solar charger), and Bright Futures Bundle (comprehensive solar solution bundle). These products are distributed through regional programs covering Australia, Pacific, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa, replacing harmful energy sources to help children learn, families stay healthy, and communities thrive.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- JuniorBuddy: Solar-powered lighting solution for students to enable study after dark
- Bright Futures Bundle
- K.L.I.C.K.
- FamilyBuddy
Products and services
- JuniorBuddy
Quantifiable outcome
- Students can continue studying after dark with reliable solar lighting
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Solar Buddy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solar Buddy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Solar Buddy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- The Fig Tree ChildrencorePartnership with The Fig Tree Children in Sierra Leone for distribution of JuniorBuddy lights to students across the country. The partnership enables students to continue their studies with confidence beyond daylight hours, addressing the 64% electricity access gap.
- Cambodia Rural Students TrustcoreLocal partner organization with 10 student leaders navigating challenging terrain to deliver 2,000+ solar solutions to remote schools in Cambodia. The partnership includes educational workshops and Days for Girls menstrual kits.
- Karen Women OrganizationcoreOrganization on the Thailand-Myanmar border facilitating delivery of JuniorBuddy and StudentBuddy devices to Karen community members living along the border region.
- The Foundation of Lebanon MarschallcorePartner in Grenada working to distribute solar devices across 2 of Grenada's islands, supporting learning, safety and dignity through JuniorBuddy lights.
- Days for GirlssupportingPartner providing menstruation kits alongside SolarBuddy's solar distribution, supporting opportunities for learning, safety and dignity in remote communities.
- 1% For The PlanetsupportingGlobal partnership network where members commit 1% of sales to environmental causes, providing SolarBuddy with credibility and access to environmentally-conscious donor base.
- United Nations Global CompactsupportingSignatory participant in UN Global Compact supporting sustainable development goals, providing international credibility and alignment with global development frameworks.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solar Buddy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- d.light: Commercial pay-as-you-go solar lantern and home system provider serving off-grid households in Africa and Asia. Comparable product set (solar lanterns, phone charging) and target market, though operates via retail/paygo rather than charity model.
- SolarAid: UK-registered charity distributing solar lights to off-grid communities across Africa. Closest direct peer — same charity-gift distribution model, same target beneficiaries, same solar lantern product category.
- M-KOPA: Pay-as-you-go off-grid solar provider in East Africa offering solar home systems and lighting. Same target market (energy-poor households) and overlaps with SolarBuddy's geographic focus in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Solar Sister: Nonprofit using an entrepreneur-driven model to distribute solar products in sub-Saharan Africa. Highly comparable mission (energy access for off-grid communities) with a grassroots distribution approach similar in spirit to SolarBuddy's local partner model.
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Leading off-grid solar energy company selling lanterns and home solar systems across Africa and Asia via pay-as-you-go. Same target customer (energy-poor households) and similar core products to SolarBuddy's portfolio.
- Little Sun: Social enterprise / nonprofit producing portable solar lamps for off-grid households, founded by Olafur Eliasson. Same solar lamp product category and same energy-poverty mission.
Emerging players
- Barefoot College International: Nonprofit training rural women (including from SolarBuddy's target geographies) as solar engineers to deploy solar lighting in their communities. Adjacent mission and similar beneficiary populations.
- BURN Manufacturing: Kenya-based manufacturer of clean cookstoves and solar products for off-grid African households. Overlapping mission to replace polluting household energy sources, similar target population and geography.
- PowerGen Renewable Energy: East Africa-focused off-grid solar company (now part of ENGIE). Overlapping mission and target geography (Sub-Saharan Africa) with SolarBuddy's program footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Signify Foundation: Corporate foundation of Philips Lighting's successor, running solar lighting programs for off-grid communities globally. Larger, broader portfolio player operating in the same social impact solar lighting space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solar Buddy social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Buddy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Buddy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Solar Buddy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Buddy 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 Solar Buddy
What does Solar Buddy do?
SolarBuddy designs, sources, and distributes solar-powered portable lighting devices — including the JuniorBuddy study lamp, the FamilyBuddy lantern, and the Bright Futures Bundle — to children and families living in energy-poor, off-grid communities. Products are gifted free of charge to beneficiaries, with the program funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, volunteering programs, and grants, and supported by the K.L.I.C.K. educational engagement program.
Is Solar Buddy a public or private company?
Solar Buddy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Solar Buddy founded?
Solar Buddy was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solar Buddy based?
Solar Buddy is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Solar Buddy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Workplace Giving, corporate Volunteering Programs and grants and Foundation Funding.
Who are Solar Buddy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are d.light, SolarAid, M-KOPA, Solar Sister, Sun King (Greenlight Planet) and Little Sun. Emerging players are Barefoot College International, BURN Manufacturing and PowerGen Renewable Energy. Signify Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Solar Buddy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Buddy.
What industry is Solar Buddy in?
Solar Buddy's product category is Off-grid solar lighting for humanitarian aid. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro), with a secondary code of EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.