Headline
Started by Stanford Business School graduates, Sam Goldman and Ned Tozun, San-Francisco based D. Light was established as a for-profit company in 2008. Its mission is to Enable households without reliable electricity to attain the same quality of life as those with electricity. We will begin by replacing every kerosene lantern with clean, safe and bright light. The idea for the company's solar-rechargeable lanterns was borne out a Stanford class, which focused on creating comprehensive solutions to poverty in the developing world. With its headquarters in San Francisco, regional offices in India and East Africa, and a manufacturing unit and international sales team in China, the company is growing quickly and sells its units across India, East Africa, and other developing countries. Its three product lines, the Kiran, Nova, and Solata, range in price from $10-$30 and have a variety of features including solar charging, durability for harsh environments, brightness settings, a battery meter, and multiple usage options. The company has seen strong demand where consumers have been educated about the effectiveness of its products and has to date, sold over 125,000 units. The importance of serving low-income households at the base of the pyramid is matched with the company?s emphasis on financial viability. To this end, D. Light has leveraged: 1) low-cost manufacturing opportunities in China to create a durable, high-quality product, and 2) rural entrepreneurs to help expand its distribution network. Through the use of D. Light's products, households have the option of working longer hours, thereby increasing productivity and income up to as much as 15-30% monthly. Similarly, the solar lanterns enable children to study better and longer. As a safer alternative, D. Light's lanterns also contribute to better air quality and a safer environment, both within homes and globally, as they do not release carbon emissions and are not a fire hazard. D. Light's business model attracted venture funders in 2008, which provided the company with $6 million in capital. Its investors include Nexus India Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Garage Technology Ventures, Mahindra & Mahindra, Acumen Fund, and Gray Matters Capital. \nD. Light's immediate to longer-term targets are to improve the quality of life of 10 million people by 2010, 50 million people by 2015, and 100 million people by 2020. Contact Info: CL House, T-95 Fourth Floor, Gautam Nagar New Delhi, 110049, India; Phone: +91 011 4315 6700; Website: http://www.dlightdesign.com/home_india.php.