When hosting TEDx Millriver: Innovation in 2012, I came across Jane Chen’s Embrace TED talk; it stayed with me and started my interest in learning and supporting social innovation/ enterprise. I read about Stanford’s Design for Extreme Affordability then Sam and d.light. I was fascinated by his story and mission…
Sam’s neighbor was badly burned in a kerosene accident in Benin, Africa where he was a Peace Corps volunteer. He decided to change that. After returning to US, Sam enrolled in Stanford’s Design for Extreme Affordability where he met his co-founder, Ned. They started d.light in 2006 to bring safe, clean, and affordable light and power to 2 billion of people who live under $2/ day.
If d.light’s first solar lantern, A1 that cost only $5 is incredible, its D30 Pay-Go system is genius. Not only the product (including a solar panel, mobile phone charger, solar lights, light switches, a torch and an FM radio) but also the payment solution (e.g. for Kenya: down payment $25, daily fee 40 cents, and rent to own model), no wonder D30 was fast adopted by customers across countries.
I’m thrilled to see that d.light has made more than 100 million people’s lives brighter in the past 12+ years. It also shows that we can do good and well at the same time. Thanks to and best wish to Sam and d.light team and partners to continue driving toward the goal to help transform 1 billion lives with sustainable product by 2030!