SteamaCo Raises £640,000 in Seed Capital to Connect the Unconnected
London, United Kingdom (PRWEB UK) 17 May 2016 -- SteamaCo, the market leader in technology for managing off-grid renewable energy networks in emerging markets, announced today that it has completed a £640,000 seed capital round with the help of ClearlySo, Europe’s leading impact investment bank. SteamaCo, winner of the 2015 Ashden Gold Award, plans to use the funding to expand access to its smart metering and data analytics technology that enables distributed providers of electricity – from mini grid operators to agricultural irrigation businesses – to reach 1.3 billion people living beyond the grid.
To people living beyond the grid, utility services are a far off dream - the grid may take years to come, and most solar home systems offer only limited ability to power business activities such as water pumping, refrigeration and grain milling. SteamaCo’s universal smart meter enables any company to operate like a utility, collect cashless payments on a per unit basis and remotely operate machinery in developing markets.
“Not so long ago, Europe and the US worked out how to electrify the countryside. Today, Africa and Asia face a similar challenge. There’s a historic opportunity to get this right, and SteamaCo is a key enabler. We are delighted to be joined by a group of industry leading investors who understand our market and can support us on our mission,” said Harrison Leaf, SteamaCo’s co-founder and chief executive officer.
Andrew Reicher, one of the investors in SteamaCo and most experienced energy investors in Africa, commented: "We feel there is strong logic to utilising networked solutions such as mini grids to support demand clusters, particularly where a portion of this demand is made up of businesses requiring reliable power. Over the last few years, mini grids and productive end use applications, such as water pumps and mills have received less focus and policy support than we would have expected. The key to mini grids to play a bigger part in meeting the energy access challenge in Africa, is the smart and robust metering and control systems which are SteamaCo’s speciality. We hope our involvement will assist SteamaCo to successfully pursue its mission."
Further commenting, Tamsin Chislett, investment manager at ClearlySo: “We are extremely proud to have advised SteamaCo on their recent successful investment raise. SteamaCo's metering technology is critical for the growth of the renewable off-grid energy sector in emerging markets, and their innovation will give more people access to reliable, green, and affordable energy than ever before. This is a business that truly serves people and planet as well as profits - and is exactly the kind ClearlySo and our investor network seeks to support.”
Ends
Notes to editors
About SteamaCo
SteamaCo, winner of the 2015 Ashden Gold Award, offers advanced smart metering in frontier markets. SteamaCo meters electricity at 37 sites in six countries, serving 10,000 people across Africa and Asia, and 70% of Kenya’s off-grid microgrid market. SteamaCo’s innovative cloud-‐based remote metering and payments system automates utility operations and monetises energy use. With around 1.3 billion people globally lacking access to mains electricity, SteamaCo brings modern energy to those who have never had it.
About ClearlySo
ClearlySo is Europe’s leading impact investment bank, working exclusively with businesses and funds delivering positive social, ethical, and/or environmental impact as well as financial return.
Originally founded in 2008, ClearlySo has helped nearly 100 clients raise more than £108 million in impact investment from its extensive network of high-net-worth individual and institutional investors.
ClearlySo is headquartered in London.
Further Information
Harrison Leaf
SteamaCo Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
E: harrison(at)steama(dot)co
T: +447950523440
John Lloyd
ClearlySo Chief Marketing Officer
E: john.lloyd(at)clearlyso(dot)com
T: 0207 490 9529
M: 07484625038
John Lloyd, ClearlySo, http://www.clearlyso.com, +44 2074909529, [email protected]
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