In 2004, while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin, West Africa, Sam Goldman witnessed a heartbreaking incident that would change his life. His neighbor, an eleven-year-old boy, was badly burned after accidentally knocking over a kerosene lamp—the only available light source in their community. Sadly, this wasn’t an isolated case. At the time, 1.6 billion people lacked access to electricity. In response, Sam co-founded d.light in 2007 to change that.
His mission: to transform the lives of one billion people by 2030 by providing affordable, clean energy solutions to communities without reliable energy.
Impact So Far
When asked how he defines success, Sam shared:
- For business: “Set a bold goal and celebrate progress along the way.” At d.light, that meant reaching 100 million people by 2020 — a target they hit in January 2020 and celebrated at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- Personally: “It’s about enjoying what I do, spending time with family, making room for hobbies like mountain biking, squash, and reading—and driving global change on climate and inequality.”
In the past 18+ years, d.light has transformed:
- Transformed 195 million lives, including 91 million school-aged children
- Disbursed $628 million loans disbursed to the underbanked and created 14k local jobs
- Powered 32 million homes with solar energy
Learn more: d.light Social Impact and Let There d.light
3 Keys to Success
When asked what contributed to his success, Sam humbly credited luck and his parents—along with hard work. With some encouragement, he added:
- Passion & Commitment – deeply believing in the mission
- Communication – sharing that belief in a compelling way
- Team & Partnerships – building with people who complement and support you
Skyward: Tackling Climate Emissions by Preventing Wildfires
In 2024, Sam launched Skyward, a climate-tech company with an ambitious goal: to prevent lightning-caused megafires and reduce global emissions by 5%.
Recommended Read: Fire Weather: a true story from a Hotter World — a gripping narrative on the rising threat of wildfires.
What’s Challenging?
Unlike software, testing in climate-tech is expensive and high stakes—involving thunderstorms, aircraft, regulated airspace, and government partners. Sam notes:
“Everything requires high-fidelity prototypes, and testing is insanely expensive. My biggest hope is that all our prep helps us strike gold early—so we don’t burn through precious capital as the weeks go by in this seasonal learning environment.”
How You Can Help
If Sam’s journey inspires you, here are three ways to get involved:
- Investment in Climate Tech Interested in solutions to prevent lightning-caused wildfires and preserve our planet? Sam would love to connect.
- Wildfire and Emission Experts If you have expertise in wildfire management or climate science, contact Skyward to explore opportunities to collaborate.
- Join the Clean Energy Movement Support d.light by joining the team, purchasing life-changing products, or spreading the word to help brighten the future for hundreds of millions still living without reliable energy.
References
In 2004, 1people lacked access to electricity. By 2023, that number had dropped to about 750 million IEA.