BioLite Energy has an impressive mission: bring energy everywhere. To date, over 1 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have light and electricity thanks to BioLite Energy. In order to bring their innovative products to emerging markets at a price point that the local residents can afford, the company uses its revenues from their outdoor recreation users to help offset the costs for developing nations.
In their own words: “Energy sits at the center of our lives, keeping us safe, productive, and comfortable. Energy improves health, combats climate change, enables communication and education, generates income, and empowers women. Creating access for a growing world population has become one of the biggest opportunities of our time.
Nearly half the planet lacks clean, affordable household energy, cooking meals on smoky open fires and having little or no electricity in their homes. At BioLite, we engage in two distinct customer segments: off-grid households in emerging markets and outdoor recreation users seeking fuel-independent cooking and charging. Using a unique business model called Parallel Innovation, our team develops core energy technologies that are applicable to both markets. We then design products unique to our outdoor and emerging markets customers.” (https://www.bioliteenergy.com/pages/mission)
BioLite has seen tremendous success in their mission to bring energy to the developing world because the products they have developed for outdoor recreation users are truly remarkable. In this episode, Jon interviews Jonathan Cedar, founder of BioLite Energy, and through Jonathan’s fascinating story, you’ll learn:
· How to identify consumer needs in your innovation process
· How to build traction in the early days as the world catches up to new technology
· How to use innovation to truly change the world
Check out their website to learn more, www.bioliteenergy.com. For a limited time, listeners to the Harvest Growth Podcast can receive a 15% discount on any purchase from their website by using the promo code “harvest” at checkout.