BioLite x MPOWERD
Things just got a lot brighter around here.
BioLite and MPOWERD are now a single organization, driven by a shared mission to deliver reliable energy outside and off-grid, all over the world.
As our teams come together over the next several months to build a shared path forward, we wanted to share a few quick updates on what you can expect from this news right now:
- Amazing Products on MPOWERD.com and BioLiteEnergy.com: you can still shop the full lineup of LUCI inflatable solar lanterns, solar string lights, and more on the MPOWERD website and you can still shop camping stoves, rechargeable lights, smokeless firepits, power banks, and more at the BioLite Shop. We’ll let you know when that changes.
- Top Tier Customer Service: Whether you purchase a LUCI lantern or a BioLite CampStove, a singular Customer Support team will be here to help you. Messages will come from a BioLite Energy email address for both brands.
- Expanded Impact: One of the many reasons we are so excited to have MPOWERD on board is the vast network of humanitarian and nonprofit partners they have built over the last decade. From disaster relief to special fundraisers to funded programs, we are so thrilled to engage in a new area of impact for BioLite and help customers like you understand the direct role you play in these efforts. Together, BioLite and MPOWERD have collectively reached over 13.1 million people with safe energy – and we’re just getting started.
Thank you for your support and for helping us make this new chapter an exciting one – we can’t wait to share what comes next.
- The BioLite Team
PS - like details? Check out our full press release below
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BioLite Acquires MPOWERD
Acquisition turbocharges solar lighting portfolio and social impact initiatives
Brooklyn, NY (June 20 2024) – BioLite, an innovator in off-grid energy products, is proud to announce the acquisition of MPOWERD, a solar lighting and charging company most well known for its beloved LUCI line of inflatable solar lanterns.
“We are thrilled to join forces with MPOWERD and create the most impactful energy brand in the outdoor industry,” says BioLite CEO Jonathan Cedar, “from a passionate community of outdoor enthusiasts to a global network of nonprofit and humanitarian partners, MPOWERD brings both world-class lighting products and a deep sense of mission, making it the perfect addition to the BioLite family as we embark on our next chapter of growth.”
For the past decade, BioLite has expanded from a flagship thermoelectric camping stove to a full suite of off-grid energy solutions for cooking, charging, and lighting. BioLite’s omnichannel strategy enables retail partners and end customers alike to have a direct impact on the mission side of the business, with a portion of every purchase reinvested into BioLite’s energy access work across sub-Saharan Africa.
To date, BioLite has reached over 8.1 million people living off-grid in Africa with affordable home energy. MPOWERD employs a similar model, having reached over 5 million individuals, mostly in humanitarian settings, with its durable, easy-to-use lanterns. Now under one roof, BioLite will be able to maximize impact by leveraging the collective expertise of both market and humanitarian-driven partnerships.
Co-Founded in 2012 as a B Corp and Benefit Corporation by John Salzinger, MPOWERD enables consumers to act as a vehicle for positive social and environmental change, simply by purchasing the same products MPOWERD provides to those in underserved communities and emergency response situations. MPOWERD CEO Seungah Jeong, along with members of the sales and marketing departments, will join the BioLite team. Jeong will be appointed the role of General Manager for all outdoor markets, bringing her expertise to the entire BioLite portfolio. In 2025 the MPOWERD name will phase out with the future-facing product line appearing under a single BioLite brand, including LUCI inflatable solar lanterns.
“We couldn’t be more excited to join BioLite in our shared mission to deliver Energy for All,” says Jeong. “Energy sits at the center of our lives, from lighting up a campsite to running a local business. With our combined strengths, we will become the most scaled social enterprise in the outdoor industry, supercharging our ability to reach millions more families living beyond the grid with essential energy access.”
About BioLite
BioLite is a social enterprise that develops, manufacturers, and markets advanced energy products for off-grid communities around the world. The company creates breakthrough cooking, charging, and lighting solutions for both outdoor enthusiasts as well as rural families living in energy poverty. It has been the recipient of numerous recognitions including the Smithsonian National Design Award, BusinessWeek's Most Promising Social Enterprise, Fast Company's Innovation By Design Awards. Headquartered in New York and Nairobi, the company was founded in 2009 by Jonathan Cedar and Alec Drummond. BioLite is proudly a Climate Neutral Certified, as well as members of the Global Off Grid Lighting Association and the Outdoor Industry Association. Discover more about BioLite at BioLiteGlobal.com
