This document describes SOLARA Systems, a company providing affordable solar energy products for households in West Africa. It outlines SOLARA's team and solar panel product, which produces 3x more energy than competitors and can access the large market of over 200 million people without reliable electricity via a "pay-as-you-go" model. SOLARA has tested their concept and seeks $1 million to distribute solar systems to 50,000 homes in Ghana as an initial step towards electrifying 50 million homes across West Africa.

1. SOLARA
Lighting the way for development
SOLARA Systems, Inc.
F10 Peace Avenue
Elmina, Ghana
+233 (54) 406 6672

2. Market Opportunity
• Population of W. Africa: 340 Million
• Population without access to electricity: 238 Million
• Access to existing unreliable electricity: 102 Million

3. Team SOLARA
• Walt Barber: Founder and CEO, SOLARA
Systems, Inc.
• Jack Persot: Solar Electricity Engineer, PhD.
• Nana Akrofi: Founder and CEO, AKROTRADE
• Mary Meyer: Founder and CEO, Osprey Spill
Control
• Henry Albers: CFO, SOLARA Systems, Inc.
• Steven Cole: CEO, Sustain Adinkra, Inc.

4. Product
• Reliable, affordable, efficient, sustainable.
• SOLARA’s one-home solar panel and meter provides
cheap, sustainable, reliable, low cost energy for
families and individuals in West Africa. Multiple
models available for varying needs.
• 3X energy output of comparable models
• Does not rely on existing unreliable energy grids
• Simple to install, easy to maintain, 20+ year lifespan.

5. Market Size
• Initial market: 100,000 homes in Ghana, West
Africa over next 5 years.
• Potential market: 50 million homes in West
Africa
•

6. Business Model
• Once installed, customers purchase “credit slips”
at low costs. Returns are made through long-term
micro-energy sales.
• “Pay-as-you-go” model for homeowners/renters
allows very low income populations to access
SOLARA products
• Partner with existing telecommunication
companies that control the mobile phone market;
MTN, Tigo, Glo, Vodafone, AirTel.
• Customers use a system already familiar and
accessible to pay for their power.

7. Competition
• OffGrid (Tanzania); raised 16 million in 2014
• 20 current companies ranging from larger scale
operation to very small scale.
• Operating predominantly in largest cities in Ghana,
various systems of distribution/marketing/sales
strategies. Most based on one-time purchase of solar
equipment for profit as business model.
• We access the far larger, poorer populations by
allowing free installation with a “pay-as-you-go”
system.
• *Slower ROI, highly sustainable and available, sets the
new standard for energy.*

8. Market Entry Strategy
• Large and qualified sales force, promote free
installation with free initial credit offering,
partner with existing telecom companies to
allow “pay-as-you-go” energy consumption
through their infrastructure that is accessible to
even the poorest individuals, discuss
community wide wholesale strategies with
local chiefs and leaders, partner with existing
organizations and companies dedicated to
spreading electricity to Africa’s poor.

9. Traction
• Founded The Ghanaway Foundation to build local
businesses and establish sustainable ventures.
Obtained grants to test product concept.
• Tested and implemented a number of working
model, proven product concept.
• Began a sustainable salt production business in
Ghana in 2014, revenues projected at 100K in
2015. Intricate understanding of culture and
business potential.

10. What We Need
• We are raising $1million in initial equity
capital to purchase solar equipment, train local
employees, and distribute 50,000 SOLARA
solar systems to homes in Central Region,
Ghana.
• $1 million will allow us to greatly expand our
current operations and test our product on a
commercially viable scale to gain traction for
future larger scale investments.