LEDsafari
LEDsafari SA is a Lausanne-based ed-tech company that sells DIY solar LED lamp kits and HelioLearn online certification courses in four languages to schools, NGOs, businesses, and individuals across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LEDsafari does
LEDsafari SA is a privately held Swiss ed-tech company headquartered in Lausanne that develops DIY solar LED lamp kits paired with a multilingual e-learning platform (HelioLearn) to teach sustainable energy technology. Founded in 2011, the company combines simplified hardware (a 0.5W solar panel, Li-ion battery, LED, and color-coded connectors designed for assembly without prior technical knowledge) with online certification programs ranging from a Basic Lamp Making Course (15 CHF) through Certified Lamp Maker (30-50 CHF) to Certified Trainer (60 CHF). Product line extensions include a Plug & Play Solar Kit, Sensor Solar Lamp, Solar Mobile Phone Charger, and Origami Solar House, all priced between 15 and 50 CHF. The lamp structures use recycled materials and the platform delivers animated video instruction in English, French, German, and Spanish.
The company generates revenue through a hybrid model combining direct-to-consumer hardware sales via its online shop with tiered online training and certification fees, plus direct organizational sales for bulk purchases by schools, NGOs, and corporate customers. Go-to-market is product-led and community-led: a self-serve e-commerce channel is supplemented by partner-driven workshops and event-based delivery through schools, NGOs, and certified trainers. Customer segments span schools and universities, NGOs and non-profits, businesses seeking sustainability-themed team-building, and individual consumers. Operationally LEDsafari has trained over 30,000 students across 350 institutes in at least ten countries spanning Europe, East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, though current headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.
LEDsafari has built strategic relationships with Philips Lighting Foundation (2017), RES4AFRICA Foundation (2018, Micro-Grid Academy), Swiss Re Foundation ('Lights of Learning'), WWF Switzerland, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Change Award winner, 2015, €100,000). Founder Govinda Upadhyay was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016. The company participated in the Climate-KIC Accelerator (2014) and MassChallenge (2017). Capital structure appears bootstrapped plus non-dilutive grant funding; no venture capital rounds are disclosed in the available data.
LEDsafari firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LEDsafari
- Legal name
- LEDsafari SA
- Website
- https://ledsafari.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LEDsafari SA is a Lausanne-based ed-tech company that sells DIY solar LED lamp kits and HelioLearn online certification courses in four languages to schools, NGOs, businesses, and individuals across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LEDsafari industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Education Kits
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage) (EDAOABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)
Keywords
Where LEDsafari is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
LEDsafari business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar Kit Sales: Sale of physical solar lamp kits including Basic Solar kit (20 CHF), Plug & Play kit (27 CHF), Sensor Solar Lamp kit (21 CHF), and Solar Mobile Phone Charger (25 CHF). One-time product revenue.
- Online Training & Certification: E-learning platform access with tiered certification programs: Basic Lamp Making (15 CHF), Certified Lamp Maker (30-50 CHF), and Certified Trainer (50-60 CHF). Recurring revenue from training programs.
- Sensor & Specialty Kits: Sale of specialized sensor kits (IR distance sensor, magnetic sensor) and accessory products (Origami Solar House).
- Organizational Bulk Orders: Special pricing for organizations including schools, universities, and NGOs purchasing kits in bulk for educational programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Solar kit - Simple Solar Lamp |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Lamp Making Course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Certified Lamp Maker |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Certified Trainer Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plug & Play Solar kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sensor Solar Lamp kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Solar Mobile Phone Charger |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HelioLearn Online Training Access |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | NGO/School Special Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
LEDsafari product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LEDsafari designs and sells DIY solar LED lamp kits (Basic Solar Kit, Plug & Play Kit, Sensor Solar Lamp, Solar Mobile Phone Charger) combined with the HelioLearn online training platform offering tiered certification programs (Basic Lamp Making, Certified Lamp Maker, Certified Trainer). The company also delivers in-person workshops to schools, NGOs, and businesses for clean energy STEM education. Kits are priced 20–27 CHF and training courses 15–60 CHF, with special bulk pricing for organizations.
Product overview
LEDsafari offers a modular solar education system centered on DIY solar LED lamp kits combined with online learning platforms. The core product portfolio includes Basic Solar Kit and Plug & Play Solar Kit (pre-fabricated kits with solar panel, LED, switch, and Li-ion battery), augmented by Sensor Solar Lamp and Solar Mobile Phone Charger for specialized applications. All kits are complemented by the HelioLearn Online Training platform offering animated video instruction in multiple languages. The training progression includes Basic Lamp Making Course (entry-level), Certified Lamp Maker (intermediate with live videos), and Certified Trainer Program (advanced for educators and NGO trainers). Add-on sensor kits (IR Distance and Magnetic/Hall Sensor) expand functionality. The company provides approximately 30,000 students trained across 350 institutes with 100,000 people impacted globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HelioLearn: Online training platform with animated videos, jungle-themed content, slides and live videos teaching solar lamp making. Available in English, French, German and Spanish.
Products and services
- Basic Solar Kit A DIY solar LED lamp kit containing solar panel, LED, switch, and Li-ion battery; 4 hours of solar charging provides 10–15 hours of light. Priced at 20 CHF and aimed at students and individuals for educational build projects.
- Plug & Play Solar Kit A pre-fabricated solar kit with color-coded connectors allowing circuit assembly in seconds, containing solar panel, switch, LED, and Li-ion battery. Priced at 27 CHF for users who want quick assembly without soldering.
- Automatic Solar Lamp Kit (Sensor Solar Lamp) A solar lamp kit with automatic sensor that switches on when the sun goes down. Priced at 21 CHF and suited for garden lamp applications.
- Solar Mobile Phone Charger A DIY solar phone charger kit that allows users to build their own solar-powered phone charging device. Priced at 25 CHF.
- Origami Solar House An origami-style cardboard house structure for solar lamp assembly, combining sustainable design with solar technology education.
- HelioLearn Online Training Access Access to the LEDsafari e-learning platform with high-quality animated videos featuring jungle theme, slides, and live demonstrations, available in English, French, German, and Spanish. Priced at 20 CHF.
- Basic Lamp Making Course (Online Training) Online training with stepwise animated instructions, precautions, and design tips for making a solar lamp. Time required 3–5 hours. Priced at 15 CHF. Recommended for individuals.
- Certified Lamp Maker Advanced training including basic lamp making plus live videos explaining component functions and specifications; requires assessment and photo of completed lamp. Priced at 30 CHF online or 50 CHF in shop. Time required 5–6 hours. Recommended for design teachers.
- Certified Trainer Program Comprehensive trainer certification covering Ohm's law, power and energy, battery charge/discharge, and short circuits; enables holders to conduct their own training sessions and organize complete lamp-making projects. Priced at 60 CHF. Time required 10–15 hours. Recommended for physics teachers and NGO trainers.
- Entrepreneurship Programs (Education Program Delivery) Organized on-site and partner-led workshops for schools, universities, NGOs, and businesses covering solar LED lamp construction, clean energy education, and entrepreneurship. Includes Education Programs, Social Campaigns, and Recreational Workshops with partner organizations globally.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000 students trained through LEDsafari programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LEDsafari
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LEDsafari technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
LEDsafari partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- RES4AFRICA FoundationcoreMemorandum of Understanding signed for Micro-Grid Academy e-learning platform collaboration. Focus on developing solar training content for African markets.
- Philips Lighting FoundationcoreStrategic partnership announced October 2017 for collaboration on solar lighting and education initiatives. Philips Lighting Foundation supports clean energy access programs worldwide.
- Swiss Re FoundationcorePartnership featured as 'Lights of Learning' initiative. Swiss Re Foundation supports climate action and clean energy education programs.
- WWF SwitzerlandmajorCollaboration on multiple workshops including team building events and training programs in Uganda (2014). WWF Switzerland funds and organizes solar education initiatives.
- YESE UgandamajorPartner for DIY School Solar Enterprise challenge in Kampala, Uganda (August 2014). Organized training for 20 high school students with WWF Switzerland funding.
- CAPSAY KenyamajorLocal partner for training in Nairobi, Embu and Mombasa (August 2013). 100 people trained through this partnership.
- ICK Rwanda and Rwanda EnsemblemajorPartnership with ICK University in Rwanda for training programs (August 2014). Currently working with cooperatives in Muhanga region to establish solar technology businesses.
- Swissnex IndiaminorTEDx Bangalore workshop collaboration (October 2015) for solar lamp making workshop.
- KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyminorTraining conducted at KTH in Stockholm (October 2014) with plans to open a LEDsafari center.
- Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows, IndiamajorCollaboration for Umang summer school training (May 2015) in naxalite-infested villages of Kanker district, Chattisgarh, India.
- ForbesminorFeatured in Forbes coverage including Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition for founder Govinda Upadhyay.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LEDsafari competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Azuri Technologies: Pay-as-you-go solar home solutions for off-grid households in Africa; comparable in off-grid solar product offering and East African geographic focus.
- BBOXX: Solar energy solutions provider in emerging markets offering pay-as-you-go home systems; comparable in developing-market solar lighting focus though via financing rather than education.
- d.light: Solar lantern and energy access company serving off-grid households in developing countries; competes with LEDsafari in the same pay-as-you-go solar lamp market across Africa and Asia.
- M-KOPA: Pay-as-you-go solar energy provider in East Africa offering solar home systems and lanterns; directly comparable to LEDsafari in target customer and product category, though larger scale.
- Fosera: Manufacturer of solar lanterns and PicoPV systems for off-grid populations; comparable low-cost solar lamp hardware targeting energy access markets.
- Little Sun: Solar-powered lamp company by Olafur Eliasson focused on energy access in off-grid communities; similar mission-aligned positioning and comparable solar lamp product offering.
- SolarAid: Non-profit tackling energy poverty through solar light distribution in Africa; directly comparable in mission and target beneficiary base, though primarily a distribution NGO rather than ed-tech.
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Global leader in solar lanterns and home energy systems for off-grid consumers; comparable in product (solar lamps) and developing-market focus, though operates at substantially larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- Khan Academy: Large-scale ed-tech platform offering free educational content globally; comparable in online learning platform model and multilingual content, though not focused on vocational/solar education.
Others
- Climate-KIC: Climate innovation accelerator that supported LEDsafari (2014); comparable as an ecosystem enabler in climate/clean-energy education and entrepreneurship, though not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LEDsafari social profiles
Digital presenceLEDsafari financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LEDsafari leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
LEDsafari funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LEDsafari 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 LEDsafari
What does LEDsafari do?
LEDsafari designs and sells DIY solar LED lamp kits (Basic Solar Kit, Plug & Play Kit, Sensor Solar Lamp, Solar Mobile Phone Charger) combined with the HelioLearn online training platform offering tiered certification programs (Basic Lamp Making, Certified Lamp Maker, Certified Trainer). The company also delivers in-person workshops to schools, NGOs, and businesses for clean energy STEM education. Kits are priced 20–27 CHF and training courses 15–60 CHF, with special bulk pricing for organizations.
Is LEDsafari a public or private company?
LEDsafari is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LEDsafari founded?
LEDsafari was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LEDsafari based?
LEDsafari is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does LEDsafari make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Solar Kit Sales are the primary driver. The others are online Training & Certification, sensor & Specialty Kits and organizational Bulk Orders.
Who are LEDsafari's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Azuri Technologies, BBOXX, d.light, M-KOPA, Fosera, Little Sun, SolarAid and Sun King (Greenlight Planet). Khan Academy is listed as a broad incumbent. Climate-KIC is listed as an others.
Does LEDsafari have an API?
No public API is recorded for LEDsafari.
What industry is LEDsafari in?
LEDsafari's product category is Solar Education Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOABAI, Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage), with a secondary code of EUAMABAO, Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS). Its NAICS code is 3351 and its SIC code is 3640.