Tech, Education, Impact & Ethics

When I worked with M-KOPA, I saw firsthand how technology can unlock opportunity for those traditionally left out of formal systems. M-KOPA’s pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar model was a leap forward—not just in product design, but in reimagining how low-income households access and pay for essential services.

At its core, M-KOPA is a financial inclusion story wrapped in a tech innovation engine. The company combined mobile money, IoT, and data analytics to build a platform that broke down barriers to energy access. By embedding simple but powerful tech into solar kits, M-KOPA allowed customers to pay incrementally—transforming what would be an impossible upfront cost into a manageable daily investment.

But what made it truly innovative wasn’t just the hardware. It was the platform mindset. The PAYG model created a data-rich relationship with customers, allowing M-KOPA to grow beyond solar and offer access to phones, loans, and digital services. For many, it was their first digital credit profile—a gateway into the broader economy.

As part of M-KOPA Labs, I helped shape the company’s market expansion strategy, including testing a licensing approach in new markets like Ghana and partnering with Vodafone in India to explore demand for PAYG in entirely new contexts. What we learned was clear: inclusive tech doesn’t scale by accident—it requires thoughtful adaptation, local partnerships, and regulatory alignment.

What continues to inspire me about M-KOPA is the model’s blend of tech efficiency and human impact. It’s a reminder that innovation isn’t just about what we build—but who we build it for.

As we consider the role of technology in shaping equitable futures, the lessons from M-KOPA remain deeply relevant: center users, design for inclusion, and unlock systems that empower.