Bringing solar light bulbs to the world

Technology

Bringing solar light bulbs to the world

Close

Steve Katsaros perfected his design in June 2010, and four days later he had a patent in hand.

14 August,2011 06:10 pm

It started with such a simple concept: A solar light bulb that charges up during the day and lights the night when the sun sets. Inventor Steve Katsaros perfected his design in June 2010, and four days later he had a patent in hand. He knew it was a good product, but he didnt know what to do with it.It wasnt until after we created it that we asked ourselves, How do we market this, Katsaros says. And we learned that the largest market was the developing world. As Katsaros began researching markets in developing countries, he began to realize that his solar light bulb could potentially make a huge impact on the 1.4 billion people around the world who dont have access to an electrical grid. Many use fuel lamps that burn kerosene, which is costly, dirty and can also be unhealthy.He dubbed his company Nokero -- short for No Kerosene -- and set out to get his bulbs into as many hands a possible in the developing world. First, Katsaros had to answer a key question that would determine how he would have the strongest impact: should his company be nonprofit, or for-profit?