From a Campus Lab to a Global Energy Movement

When Patrick Walsh and Anish Thakkar met at the University of Illinois nearly two decades ago, they weren’t dreaming of becoming global entrepreneurs. Patrick was an engineering student working with Engineers Without Borders to bring power to Indian villages, while Anish was leading a cycling nonprofit supporting cancer patients in the U.S.

Their paths crossed in a small tech lab where Patrick was experimenting with LEDs and solar panels. Curious, Anish joined in — and a shared mission began to form.

“It was the first time I realised engineering could do more than design gadgets — it could change lives,” Anish recalls.

That moment gave birth to Sun King — a company built on the belief that everyone deserves affordable, reliable light.

Building a Company That Powers People

In 2007, the two friends officially launched Sun King, creating solar-powered lanterns designed for rural homes without access to electricity.

But one insight changed everything: even the best products wouldn’t matter if people couldn’t afford them.

So, they created a new model — the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) solar system — allowing families to pay small daily or weekly amounts through mobile money. Once payments were complete, customers owned their solar systems outright.

This innovation made solar power accessible to millions and turned Sun King into more than a product company — it became a financing and service ecosystem.

Today, Sun King has provided over $1.3 billion in solar loans, connecting 25 million households and adding 300,000 new users each month.

The First Big Break: One Bold Pitch

In the early days, raising money wasn’t easy. But one encounter changed their trajectory.

At his former company’s anniversary event, Anish spotted Dr. Prabha Sinha, co-founder of ZS Associates, and pitched him the idea in just one minute.

Sinha, who had grown up studying under kerosene lamps, understood the mission immediately — and became their first seed investor and lifelong mentor.

That early validation became the spark that propelled Sun King from concept to company.

Expanding Horizons: From India to Africa

After success in India, the founders turned their attention to Africa — where 600 million people still live without electricity.

Sun King began building one of the largest direct-to-consumer networks on the continent, employing local agents (known as Sun King Saathis) who delivered solar lamps door to door.

Today, Sun King operates in 11 African countries, has installed 195 MW of solar capacity, and powers homes and small businesses across the continent.

Financing Africa’s Clean Energy Revolution

Securing funding for climate tech in Africa has long been a challenge. But Sun King is rewriting the story.

The company has raised over $400 million in equity and $300 million in debt, including a groundbreaking $156 million local-currency securitisation in Kenya — the largest of its kind outside South Africa.

“It’s no longer just Western capital,” Patrick said. “African banks like Stanbic and Absa are now fueling Africa’s green transition.”

By financing directly in local currencies — shillings, kwacha, naira — Sun King is ensuring affordability and sustainability for millions of off-grid customers.

Made in Africa, for Africa

Sun King recently opened its first major manufacturing hub in Nairobi, Kenya, with the capacity to assemble 700,000 solar appliances annually — from televisions to smartphones designed for off-grid systems.

Next stop: Nigeria, where the company plans to set up a new assembly plant to produce solar kits and the appliances they power.

“We’re building the next generation of green jobs,” Anish said.
“Over 35,000 field agents, 3,000 employees — 99% of them African.”

Sun King’s local-first approach isn’t just creating light — it’s creating livelihoods.

Friendship at the Heart of a Global Mission

Through two decades of growth, both founders have remained grounded in the same friendship that started it all.

“He’s one of the most important people in my life,” Patrick said. “We’ve been through good times and brutal ones, but the mission has never changed — light every home that needs it.”

Their partnership has shaped Sun King’s humble, purpose-driven culture, where business success fuels social progress.

Lighting the Way Forward

From a cluttered university lab to lighting over 100 million lives, Patrick Walsh and Anish Thakkar have proven that innovation with heart can change the world.

Their mission remains the same — to make light affordable for every home — until no family is left in the dark.

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