WHAT WE DO

Oolu is one of the fastest growing off-grid solar companies in West Africa.

Our mission is to replace dirty and expensive lighting solutions with sustainable energy alternatives for the 150 million people living without electricity in West Africa. 

Our vision is to be a leading energy and financial services provider to millions of customers in the developing world.

Our model, developed with local communities, allows us to offer high-quality solar products on an affordable financing plan. We are proud of our after-sales commitment, with replacement parts under warranty and customer service representatives who speak the local languages of our customers.

In Wolof, a national language of Senegal, Oolu means ‘trust’. By building trust with the communities in which we work, we can grow together.

IN THE NEWS

OUR IMPACT

Oolu is a venture-backed company with a social mission. We build trust with our clients to have a lasting impact in our communities. Our impact focus is on energy access, education, access to information and job creation.

ENERGY ACCESS

Oolu’s solar home systems provide households with brighter, more efficient lights and in-home chargers at a small fraction of their standard monthly energy expenditure. We replace dim, low-quality flashlights and lamps with the best technology available. By doing so, we also eliminate the need for rural people to travel kilometers to nearby electrified villages to charge their phones. We believe everyone deserves affordable, reliable energy and that clean energy is the future.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Oolu provides needed quality products and related services which act as a stepping stone to accessing information and connecting people. The ability to charge phones easily and conveniently provides children and families access to the internet, a means to connect with family and friends, and even business and employment opportunities. This is just the beginning. Oolu is committed to connecting people with the fast-paced, ever-changing world around them.

EDUCATION

Everyone has a right to education and information. Lighting from Oolu’s distributed solar home systems allows children to study an average of one to two hours longer each night — the single most important advantage in the eyes of our clients.

JOB CREATION

The renewable energy sector is on the fast-track to becoming one of the largest employers in Africa. Oolu chooses excited and motivated local employees and trains them through the Oolu Training Academy. In a fast-paced and exciting start-up environment, Oolu offers a creative space for thinking outside the box and ensures opportunity to a talented local workforce.

FOUNDERS

Oolu was founded by Nilmi Senaratna and Daniel Rosa.

Nilmi was inspired after living and working in a rural region in Senegal in 2012. She saw children struggling with energy poverty, many of them studying under the light of a cell phone or with candles. In November 2014, Nilmi and Dan decided to solve the problem by creating Oolu. They bootstrapped initial capital and completed a small proof of concept, living in the village for 6 months to understand the needs of their clients. In 2015 they moved to Silicon Valley, lead Oolu through YCombinator, a Silicon Valley based business accelerator, and raised a seed round from investors. Later that year, with a small team, they completed their first pilot and officially launched the business in the West African region.

Oolu was one of the first firms to successfully scale PAYG solar technology in the West African market. To date, the company has grown from start-up to market leader in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso with operations in Nigeria and  pioneered policy change in the West African energy sector, promoting clean energy solutions and financial inclusion for all.

As Geoff Ralston, Partner at Y Combinator, said:

Oolu has grown impressively quickly in one of the most unpredictable and difficult markets in the world. Nilmi and Dan have proven that they are smart enough, tough enough, and resilient enough to succeed in a challenging and fast-paced emerging market.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Our Executive Team works to solve complex problems in one of the most challenging environments on the planet. The results are some of the best in the industry. Here’s a look at our executive team:

REGIONAL TEAM

Oolu has built one of the best distribution teams in all of Africa. We’ve attracted top management talent and provided hundreds of jobs in rural regions. Oolu prides itself on hiring over 90% West African staff. Here are our Regional Managers:

Our Investors