BioLite designs and manufactures solar home systems (SHS), solar-powered appliances, portable lanterns and cookstoves, with products fully developed in-house. Its offerings are marketed as affordable, high-quality solutions for people with limited or no access to reliable energy and for unhealthy cooking environments. BioLite’s products are distributed in over 20 developing countries in Sub‑Saharan Africa, and the company reports growing demand driving rapid regional expansion. According to its 2021 impact report, BioLite has provided clean energy access to 3.6 million people, offset over 700,000 tonnes of CO2e and saved more than $175 million in end-user fuel costs. To support this growth, BioLite secured debt financing to cover increased working capital requirements. Stakeholders frame the expansion as part of a broader push to scale clean energy access, including a cited ambition to provide 20 million people with access to clean energy by 2025. BioLite produces off-grid energy hardware, including the BaseCamp stove and a new BaseLantern battery-powered light. The BaseLantern holds a charge for up to 54 hours and can charge other devices, while the stoves can produce both heat and electricity. The company uses Kickstarter to fund production and build a community, raising more than $400,000 in a week for the BaseLantern and more than $1 million for the BaseCamp stove in 2014. Beyond retail sales, BioLite supplies stripped-down versions of its products to the developing world and has distributed more than 15,000 stoves. Co-founder Jonathan Cedar described the mission as reinventing municipal utilities at a personal level so people can own lighting, power storage, charging and clean water solutions. BioLite plans to take that model across technologies such as lighting, power storage, charging, and clean water. BioLite develops, manufactures, and markets consumer energy products for off-grid communities around the world. Its products create cooking, charging, and lighting solutions for outdoor enthusiasts as well as rural families living in energy poverty. In March the company launched the BioLite NanoGrid, expanding its technology portfolio to include rechargeable LED lighting and power storage. Founded in 2009 and based in Brooklyn, NY, BioLite is known for turning cooking fires into electricity. The company raised $5m in growth capital consisting of equity, debt, and grants and will use the funds to accelerate expansion of its off-grid energy products.

Total raised

$10M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Debt Financing

Latest activity

Nov 2022