GAIA Impact Fund

Agros is an ag-tech company focused on promoting sustainable farming practices and enhancing the economic viability of agriculture. The company offers a range of carbon-reducing and income-boosting products and services, addressing challenges such as fuel dependency and soil degradation. Agros employs a unique ecosystem approach that combines various low-carbon technologies with affordable financing, insurance, advisory services, and market access. By doing so, it aims to improve the yields of horticulture farmers while also facilitating their transition to environmentally friendly practices. Agros is committed to doubling the income of millions of farmers and significantly reducing carbon emissions, targeting a reduction of 100 megatons annually.

Beacon Power Services, established in 2013 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, specializes in designing and implementing energy management solutions for commercial and industrial facilities. The company's core offering is its AI-enabled grid management platform, Adora, which provides real-time visibility into network performance for electric utilities, enabling them to anticipate outages, identify network losses, and distribute electricity more efficiently. Additionally, Adora empowers consumers with control over their energy infrastructure, facilitating invoicing, installations, and logistics. Beacon Power Services aims to enhance the quality and duration of electricity supplied in African cities by building smart grids and leveraging data to reduce inefficiencies in power distribution systems.

Ecoligo GmbH, founded in 2016 and based in Berlin, Germany, operates a crowd-investing platform that finances sustainable solar energy projects in emerging markets. The company provides low-cost solar energy solutions to local businesses while addressing the financing gap that often hinders the implementation of such projects. By leveraging contributions from environmentally conscious investors, Ecoligo enables businesses to install solar systems without upfront costs, allowing them to benefit from financial savings and sustainable growth. The solar-as-a-service model not only helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint but also contributes to the fight against climate change by generating economic and environmental returns. Ecoligo's approach fosters the development of clean energy infrastructure in fast-growing economies, promoting a more sustainable future.

Nuru is a company based in Goma, Nord-Kivu, Congo, focused on enhancing connectivity and providing affordable energy solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2015, Nuru specializes in solar energy and storage micro-grids. It made a significant impact in 2017 by deploying the country's first solar-based mini-grid and is currently working on constructing a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, which is set to become the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuru's mini-grids utilize solar photovoltaic technology combined with battery storage, allowing commercial and industrial users to access renewable energy effectively.

Agros is an ag-tech company focused on promoting sustainable farming practices and enhancing the economic viability of agriculture. The company offers a range of carbon-reducing and income-boosting products and services, addressing challenges such as fuel dependency and soil degradation. Agros employs a unique ecosystem approach that combines various low-carbon technologies with affordable financing, insurance, advisory services, and market access. By doing so, it aims to improve the yields of horticulture farmers while also facilitating their transition to environmentally friendly practices. Agros is committed to doubling the income of millions of farmers and significantly reducing carbon emissions, targeting a reduction of 100 megatons annually.

Candi is a solar company specializing in small-scale commercial and industrial rooftop solar battery solutions. It focuses on harnessing solar energy by offering installation and operational services for rooftop solar systems. Candi aims to deliver solar and storage services at reduced costs, helping businesses and individuals lower their energy expenses while also contributing to a decrease in carbon emissions. Through its innovative solutions, the company seeks to generate long-term value for its clients by promoting sustainable energy practices.

Candi is a solar company specializing in small-scale commercial and industrial rooftop solar battery solutions. It focuses on harnessing solar energy by offering installation and operational services for rooftop solar systems. Candi aims to deliver solar and storage services at reduced costs, helping businesses and individuals lower their energy expenses while also contributing to a decrease in carbon emissions. Through its innovative solutions, the company seeks to generate long-term value for its clients by promoting sustainable energy practices.

MyJouleBox is a company focused on providing solar energy solutions in Africa, specifically targeting off-grid areas. It develops a variety of solar technologies that cater to different customer needs, including solar home systems, self-consumption setups for semi-urban households, and large solar backup systems for commercial clients. By offering leased solar installations, MyJouleBox enables solar professionals to deliver affordable and sustainable energy options to their customers through a pay-as-you-go model. This approach not only enhances energy access but also supports the expansion of renewable energy usage across the region.

Innovex is a company focused on revolutionizing the distribution of off-grid solar energy systems and equipment through the use of digital tools. It specializes in designing, manufacturing, and installing these systems, incorporating embedded technology to enhance efficiency. Innovex's cloud-based IoT service allows for remote monitoring and management of energy systems, facilitating scalability for installers and distributors. By leveraging advanced technology, Innovex aims to simplify and improve the deployment of solar energy solutions, making them more accessible and effective for users in off-grid environments.

WATCHA, Inc. is a South Korean company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Seoul, specializing in online interactive media services. It initially gained popularity as a movie review application, becoming a favorite in Korea for its personalized recommendation technology. Users rate movies, allowing WATCHA to predict their preferences for unseen films. In addition to its review platform, WATCHA launched a subscription video-on-demand service called WATCHA PLAY in 2016, which offers a wide selection of movies and TV series accessible across various devices, including web browsers, mobile platforms, and smart TVs. The service is noted for its highly accurate content recommendations, with a significant portion of consumed content driven by these suggestions. WATCHA has also expanded its presence internationally, having launched in Japan in 2015.

Oolu Inc. is a solar energy company based in Dakar, Senegal, with an additional office in San Francisco, California. It specializes in the installation of solar home systems and provides technical support and maintenance services to households in West Africa. Oolu's offerings include solar systems equipped with adjustable lights and USB ports, powered by batteries that can hold a charge for up to six hours. The company aims to improve energy access for rural and peri-urban communities by implementing a monthly payment model that reduces financial barriers. This model not only allows customers to benefit from affordable and reliable energy but also includes maintenance, parts, and battery replacements within the service package. By fostering trust within local communities, Oolu seeks to expand its impact and become a leading provider of energy and financial services in the developing world.

PerMeal is an online food ordering platform that specializes in delivering a wide range of food products directly from domestic farmers. The company offers a diverse selection of items, including rice, grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, eggs, snacks, and various condiments. By providing meal kits and convenience foods, PerMeal aims to cater to various culinary preferences and dietary needs. Customers can conveniently order specialty foods and have them delivered to their doorstep, ensuring access to fresh and quality ingredients.

upOwa is a social business that develops, deploys, and maintains innovative solar home systems in off-grid African communities. These systems provide affordable access to clean electricity, replacing traditional sources like kerosene lamps. By doing so, upOwa enables significant social and economic improvements at the community level while maintaining financial profitability and promoting environmental sustainability.

Nuru is a company based in Goma, Nord-Kivu, Congo, focused on enhancing connectivity and providing affordable energy solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2015, Nuru specializes in solar energy and storage micro-grids. It made a significant impact in 2017 by deploying the country's first solar-based mini-grid and is currently working on constructing a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, which is set to become the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuru's mini-grids utilize solar photovoltaic technology combined with battery storage, allowing commercial and industrial users to access renewable energy effectively.

Canopy Power is a provider of optimized renewable energy microgrid solutions, focusing on serving customers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions that lack reliable access to mains electricity. The company specializes in designing, building, and financing microgrid systems that incorporate solar power, battery storage, and generators outfitted with smart inverters. By delivering these customized energy solutions, Canopy Power helps clients, including remote industries like mining, plantation operations, island resorts, and utility companies, to significantly reduce their reliance on diesel fuel. This not only results in substantial cost savings but also contributes to decreased pollution and lower carbon dioxide emissions, promoting a more sustainable energy future for communities and industries with limited electrical infrastructure.

Oolu Inc. is a solar energy company based in Dakar, Senegal, with an additional office in San Francisco, California. It specializes in the installation of solar home systems and provides technical support and maintenance services to households in West Africa. Oolu's offerings include solar systems equipped with adjustable lights and USB ports, powered by batteries that can hold a charge for up to six hours. The company aims to improve energy access for rural and peri-urban communities by implementing a monthly payment model that reduces financial barriers. This model not only allows customers to benefit from affordable and reliable energy but also includes maintenance, parts, and battery replacements within the service package. By fostering trust within local communities, Oolu seeks to expand its impact and become a leading provider of energy and financial services in the developing world.

Easy Solar is a prominent energy distribution company focused on providing solar solutions to off-grid communities in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company specializes in financing high-quality solar products, including solar lanterns and home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to conventional electricity sources. Easy Solar offers flexible payment plans, allowing customers to make an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, payable through cash or mobile money. Since its inception, the company has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries by leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets, thereby facilitating the transition to eco-friendly and affordable energy solutions.

upOwa is a social business that develops, deploys, and maintains innovative solar home systems in off-grid African communities. These systems provide affordable access to clean electricity, replacing traditional sources like kerosene lamps. By doing so, upOwa enables significant social and economic improvements at the community level while maintaining financial profitability and promoting environmental sustainability.

Solaris Offgrid is a company dedicated to addressing energy poverty in developing regions, particularly in rural Africa, where over one billion people lack access to clean and affordable electricity. It specializes in the development, manufacturing, and installation of solar energy systems that leverage smart technology and mobile payments. The company's flagship product, a pay-as-you-go solar home system, facilitates the provision of essential services such as LED lighting, communication, and media, while also offering opportunities for enterprise and access to finance. By empowering local entrepreneurs with the necessary hardware, software, and technical expertise, Solaris Offgrid fosters sustainable off-grid energy ventures that enable communities to build and maintain their own micro-energy businesses, ultimately creating a scalable model for real energy access.