Nearly 1 billion people still live without reliable electricity . Nedjip Tozun co-founded d.light to change that—starting with a $10 solar lantern and growing into one of the world’s most influential off-grid solar companies. Today, d.light has already impacted hundreds of millions of lives and aspires to reach 1 billion by 2030 , bringing affordable, clean energy to the people and places traditional grids overlook. In this conversation, Nedjip shares the spark that launched d.light, the toughest hurdles they faced, and the financial and leadership innovations that helped them scale globally. A masterclass in entrepreneurship, energy access, and climate impact . Expect to learn: 🔹 How toxic kerosen lanterns inspired a decade-long global solar campaign 🔹 Why rural trust was harder to build than the product itself 🔹 Why early failures were key to building rugged, low-cost solar products 🔹 How "Pay-Go" solar financing unlocked ownership and scale in Africa 🔹 What it takes to scale across 70+ countries without traditional marketing You’ll hear how Nedjip moved to China to manage manufacturing himself, and how d.light pioneered a business model that became a blueprint for the solar industry in rural development. If you’ve ever wondered how social impact and innovation collide—this is the episode for you. Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/ . Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America ! You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors . Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media . Subscribe to Valence , our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/ You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on: Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus
