SA blockchain-based solar panel micro-leasing marketplace, Sun Exchange has raised a US$3M (ZAR 50M) investment from ARPF, a Mauritian private equity fund which is advised by London-based Arch Emerging Markets Partners.
The investment marks the close of a ZAR 67M (US$4M) Series-A funding round, Sun Exchange said in a statement today.
The startup, which was founded by Abe Cambridge in 2015, enables almost anyone, anywhere in the world, to buy remotely-located solar cells that power schools, businesses and other organisations in South Africa and other sunny emerging markets.
The Sun Exchange said it will use the funds to scale its solution and expand into new markets across Sub-Saharan Africa.
It wants to enable platform users to fund solar power for schools, clinics, farms, cell towers, water plants, businesses and other organisations across the continent.
It will also use the funds to bolster marketing activities and to make significant software enhancements to extend its platform capabilities and features.
Arch managing director William Barry said in the same statement that Sun Exchange is positioned to emerge as an enabling force in the imminent global energy and economic transformation.
“Arch is thrilled to partner with Sun Exchange on this journey to expand the success the company has already seen in South Africa throughout ARPF’s target markets in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
Sun Exchange says last year, the company more than doubled the size of its community, which now stands at more than 17 000 members from 162 countries.
Additionally, the Sun Exchange project portfolio nearly tripled in size, with the company now facilitating solar power for 31 schools, businesses and organisations across South Africa.
The latest announcement comes after SA equity crowdfunding platform Uprise.Africa took a decision to refund all 288 shareholders that took part in SA startup Sun Exchange‘s over ZAR 4.2M crowdfunding campaign last year.
The blockchain-based solar panel micro-leasing marketplace raised over ZAR 4.2M through the campaign which concluded in 30 November last year.
Source: Techpoint Africa
