Innovation

As part of our AIM2Flourish 2.0 engagement, MPOWERD asked our team to explore ways to scale sales in the European, African, or Southeast Asian markets. In our market research, we identified several unique competitor portable or solar lights. We also found two companies, M-KOPA and Off Grid Electric, who finance products through mobile payments that allow users to purchase their products in small installments. In addition, buy-one-get-one (BOGO) models increasingly shift production and distribution to emerging markets where companies want to play. Similarly, another BOGO model focus resources instead of goods towards emerging markets or entrepreneur training opportunities.

There are partnership opportunities that we identified for MPOWERD. SolarAid, through its enterprise SunnyMoney, is a distribution channel that targets communities in Africa that aligns with MPOWERD's mission of providing a clean alternative to lighting. Similarly, Frontier Markets targets difficult-to-reach populations through an efficient distribution channel.

Inspiration

Having experienced success in the United States, both in the retail space and surrounding their mission of empowering as many people as possible, MPOWERD wishes to continue expanding to the international marketplace and exploring how they fit into the lighting space in developed regions, as well as emerging markets.

"We’re still aiming to understand the international marketplace and where it’s headed," said Seungah Jeong, MPOWERD's CEO. "Developed regions, like Europe, are places we can look for trends and market information. Emerging markets like Asia and Africa are regions we look to for growth opportunities."

Overall impact

The potential for this impact is huge. We also suggest MPOWERD explore the advantages of operating as a certified social enterprise in the U.S. and in Europe. Currently, MPOWERD is a certified B-corp, however, there are opportunities to increase their impact by aligning themselves with other businesses with similar values of economic growth and social entrepreneurship. Social enterprise legal experts can help explain and navigate a variety of legal forms which are used in different jurisdictions.

Business benefit

MPOWERD's Luci Light allowed them to experience steady growth in the United States, which has positioned them to consider an expansion into international markets. Their success also improves their position to start thinking more creatively on other dimensions of their business: marketing, supply chain, distribution, strategic partnerships, and retail opportunities.

Social and environmental benefit

Through their Give Luci program, MPOWERD has positively impacted society by donating their Luci Lights to regions without access to electricity, allowing communities the ability to study, work, and create during more hours of the day. Additionally, their Give Luci program also donates lights to regions who have experienced natural disasters and no longer have access to electricity.

Through various partnerships with non-profit organizations, they have distributed their lights in a meaningful way, empowering community members to invest in their neighborhoods and skill-development.

From an environmental perspective, MPOWERD's benefits are clear. By building their product around solar power, they are positioning themselves to bring sustainable energy and educate populations that may not have had access or been aware of it in the past.

Interview

Seungah Jeong, CEO