For the vast majority of the 1.2 billion people living off-grid, access to reliable electricity brings about a whole new world of opportunities and experiences. But until now, power hasn’t been cheap.
Okra is a plug & play hardware + software solution that allows smart pay-as-you-go microgrids to be created by connecting existing off the shelf solar panels and batteries.
Okra mesh-grid design allows for grids to start small, with more panels and batteries able to be added to the grid to increase capacity as demand increases. Remote monitoring keeps grid operators informed so they can eliminate blackouts, adapt to variations in demand and identify exactly where and when the grid needs scaling. Each household is metered and charged using mobile payments, meaning families without bank accounts can easily access affordable power, for the first time.
Okra is a plug & play hardware + software solution that allows smart pay-as-you-go microgrids to be created by connecting existing off the shelf solar panels and batteries.
Okra mesh-grid design allows for grids to start small, with more panels and batteries able to be added to the grid to increase capacity as demand increases. Remote monitoring keeps grid operators informed so they can eliminate blackouts, adapt to variations in demand and identify exactly where and when the grid needs scaling. Each household is metered and charged using mobile payments, meaning families without bank accounts can easily access affordable power, for the first time.
Location: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney
Employees: 11-50
Founded date: 2016
Mentions in press and media 10
| Date | Title | Description |
| 05.09.2023 | Okra raises $12M as it brings solar power to grids in developing areas | It’s been fun watching Okra Solar’s journey over the last few years. I first encountered the firm on a trip to Shenzhen, before it won our 2019 Hardware Battlefield competition in that city. Today it’s announcing a $12 million Series A aime... |
| 23.06.2022 | Okra Solar closes AU $3m million in Pre-Series A round | Okra Solar, an Australian renewable energy deep-tech company, and previous winner of the TechCrunch Hardware Battlefield, has raised US $2.1 million to scale up their distribution of IoT-enabled Mesh-Grids in order to bring power to the 770... |
| 17.06.2022 | Combating climate change through cleantech in Cambodia | Cambodia is undergoing rapid economic development and mass urbanization. The country’s economy is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2023, according to the Asian Development Bank. This transformation comes at a heavy socioeconomic cost. A high dep... |
| 02.05.2022 | Okra Solar is bringing renewable energy to underserved markets | Okra Solar walked away with the trophy and a giant check at our 2019 Shenzhen Hardware Battlefield event. It’s a moment happily eternalized in a new press release announcing the renewable energy startup’s $2.1 million new round (it’s a nice... |
| 01.11.2021 | NIN-SIM linkage extension, School abductions in Nigeria, Airtel Africa’s H1 results | Share this article: Good day, Today I’m discussing: NCC’s grace period Intelligence by Techpoint insights on school abductions Airtel Africa’s H1 results Another NIN-SIM linkage deadline extension Can’t say I’m surprised: Nigeria’s federal ... |
| 29.10.2021 | Bolt’s EV option, aYo Holdings’ new business model, Facebook’s new name, Namibia’s crime-busting plans | Share this article: Hello. Today marks the 200th edition of Techpoint Digest, Techpoint Africa‘s week-daily newsletter. Thank you all for sticking around. As you might have noticed, Techpoint Digest is a week-daily roundup of happenings wit... |
| 28.10.2021 | Stitch’s Nigeria expansion, Africa’s military coups, RecoMed’s $1.5m funding, and Union45’s $3m seed | Share this article: Hi there, Today, I’m discussing: Stitch’s Nigeria expansion and $2m seed extension Africa’s military coups RecoMed’s $1.5 million funding Union54’s $3 million seed Before we dig in today’s newsletter, we’ve got an announ... |
| 26.10.2021 | Risevest accounts unfrozen, Vendease’s seed round, and Interswitch X OkHi’s partnership | Share this article: Good day, Today I’m discussing: Risevest’s unfrozen accounts Vendease’s seed round Digital address verification Risevest accounts unfrozen A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has unfrozen the accounts of fintech startu... |
| 25.10.2021 | eNaira launches today, What stuttering truly is, crypto thefts in 2020 | Share this article: Good day, Today I’m discussing: International Stuttering Awareness Day eNaira’s launch today Crypto thefts in 2020 eNaira launches at last Following a false start at the beginning of the month, The Nigerian government is... |
| 12.11.2019 | And the winner of Hardware Battlefield at TechCrunch Shenzhen 2019 is… Okra | We started the competition with 10 hardware startups vying to take home the Disrupt Hardware Battlefield cup at TechCrunch Shenzhen 2019. They all pitched their hearts out to our team of judges who deliberated at length and chose their four... |