F5.5G Leap-forward Development of Broadband in Africa The Africa Broadband Forum 2024 (BBAF 2024) was successfully held in Cape Town, South Africa recently, under…
Sun Exchange secures $3m investment, closes $4m round
SA blockchain-based solar panel micro-leasing marketplace Sun Exchange has raised a $3-million (R50-million) 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 R67-million ($4-million) Series-A funding round, Sun Exchange said in a statement today.
The startup, which was founded by Abe Cambridge (pictured above) 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 latest investment marks the close of Sun Exchange’s $4m Series-A funding round
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 R4.2-million crowdfunding campaign last year (see this story).
The blockchain-based solar panel micro-leasing marketplace raised over R4.2-million through the campaign which concluded in 30 November last year (see this story).
Read more: Uprise.Africa to refund all investors in R4.2m Sun Exchange crowdfunding campaign
Read more: The Sun Exchange extends Uprise.Africa crowdfunding campaign to 30 November
Read more: Sun Exchange looking to raise R7m through crowdfunding platform Uprise.Africa
Read more: Sun Exchange looking to raise $3m in round led by US digital asset investment fund Alphabit
Read more: Sun Exchange closes ICO with $1m raised, just 20% of target
Read more: SA startup The Sun Exchange announces $500k investment from Alphabit [Updated]
Read more: Sun Exchange, Powerhive to provide energy access for 175 000 Kenyans
Read more: The Sun Exchange in $25m ICO to allow investors to earn income off solar projects
Read more: SA startups Vizibiliti Insight, The Sun Exchange celebrating after VivaTech win
Read more: SA blockchain startup The Sun Exchange raises $1.6m to help fund planned ICO
Read more: Solar startup The Sun Exchange uses Bitcoin to fund green energy
Read more: The Sun Exchange gets gong at Finance Africa Conference
Read more: The Sun Exchange wins at African FinTech Awards
Featured image: Sun Exchange CEO and founder Abe Cambridge (Supplied)
