M-KOPA Solar - Technology and Partnership for Sustainable Finance

M-KOPA Solar - Technology and Partnership for Sustainable Finance
Case Code: SUST025
Case Length: 14 Pages
Period: 2001-2016
Pub Date: 2016
Teaching Note: Available		 Price: Rs.500
Organization: M-KOPA Kenya Limited
Industry: Energy Sector
Countries: Kenya
Themes: Sustainable Finance Models, Sustainability
M-KOPA Solar - Technology and Partnership for Sustainable Finance
Abstract Case Intro 1 Case Intro 2 Excerpts

Abstract

M-KOPA Kenya Limited (M-KOPA), a Nairobi-based start-up, offers M-KOPA Solar which is an energy solution that leverages on ground-breaking innovative technologies and a unique financing and operational model and is targeted at the poor and the bottom of the pyramid segment. The start-up, which has a potential of global scale, is adding thousands of new homes each week and has reached over 100,000 homes within 2 years of commercial launch.

M-KOPA Solar, which is offered on a PAY-AS-YOU-GO (PAYG) model, would not have been possible without the company's partnership with some well-known firms, each a leader in its own field. This unique partnership brought solar innovation, mobile technology, and asset financing under one roof to solve the real world problems of millions of poor people, impacting their lives and improving their social and economic conditions.

Issues

The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:

  • Learn the unique business model and process innovation of M-KOPA Solar to offer cost-effective green electricity under a sustainable finance model to the rural poor in Kenya
  • Debate the need for and flexibility of asset financing under the PAYG model which is key to the growth and sustainability of M-KOPA Solar
  • Understand the issues and challenges involved in developing and testing and commercializing an idea
  • Analyze the role played by collaboration and partnership in offering a solution to the bottom of the pyramid segment
  • Explore the social and environment impact of M-KOPA
  • Analyze M-KOPA's factors of success and the need for business models that leverage on ground-breaking innovative and emerging technologies

Contents

Keywords

M-KOPA, PAY-AS-YOU-GO (PAYG) Model, M-PESA, Safaricom, Single Point Partners, Eseye Limited, D.light Energy Private Limited, Machine to Machine (M2M) Technology, M-KOPAnet

Buy this case study (Please select any one of the payment options)

Custom Search