# The Sun Exchange

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/the-sun-exchange

- Industry: Renewable Energy
- Headquarters: Cape Town, South Africa
- Website: www.thesunexchange.com
- Total disclosed funding: $2.1M
- Latest round: Seed (Oct 11, 2018)
- Investors on record: 6

## About

The Sun Exchange Inc. is a platform that enables crowdsourced investment in solar energy projects, primarily targeting emerging markets like South Africa. It facilitates the purchase and rental of solar cells to promote renewable energy.Founded in 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa, The Sun Exchange Inc. operates a unique platform that allows users to invest in solar energy systems. The company has engaged in 7 deals, with the latest being a Venture Debt round in September 2021, where it raised USD 2.5 mn from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners. The total amount raised by the company to date is USD 50.00 mn. The CEO is Saul Wainwright and the company was founded by Abraham Cambridge.The Sun Exchange specializes in providing innovative solar energy solutions that enable individuals and businesses to invest in solar projects across emerging markets. Its core offering, a crowdfunding platform, allows users to purchase solar cells and rent them to organizations in need of renewable energy. Utilizing blockchain technology, the platform ensures secure transactions, addressing energy access challenges in markets like South Africa and other African regions.The revenue model of The Sun Exchange is based on a transaction structure that connects investors with solar projects. Investors receive rental payments when businesses utilize the solar energy generated from their investments. The model supports recurring revenue through long-term contracts associated with solar projects, focusing on tiered investment opportunities based on project scope and scale, while fostering investment in renewable energy to yield financial returns for investors.Following a successful fundraising round in September 2021, The Sun Exchange Inc. plans to utilize the USD 2.5 mn in venture debt funding to continue scaling its crowd-based solar leasing platform. The focus will be on facilitating solar power for small-to-medium organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa. This strategic initiative aims to expand the company’s reach in the renewable energy sector and address critical energy needs in the region.

## Funding rounds

- Seed, Oct 11, 2018, $0.5M — Alphabit
- Seed, Oct 19, 2017, $1.6M — Powerhouse Ventures, Techstars, Boost VC, Network Society Ventures, Kalon Venture Partners
- Seed, Nov 1, 2016 — Boost VC

## Investors

- Boost VC (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/boost-vc) — Seed
- Powerhouse Ventures — Seed
- Techstars (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/techstars) — Seed
- Network Society Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/network-society-ventures) — Seed
- Kalon Venture Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/kalon-venture-partners) — Seed
- Alphabit (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/alphabit) — Seed