What is the name of your organization?
Solarshield
What is the name of your solution?
Solarshield
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
SolarShield: AI-powered, solar-driven pest control that protects crops, pollinators, and farmers without using chemicals.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kisumu County, Kenya
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Kenya
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
We are addressing the devastating impact of pest infestation on crop yields in Kenya and other low-income agricultural communities. In Kenya alone, pests destroy up to 40% of annual crop production, significantly affecting farmer income, food security, and national GDP. The primary control method chemical pesticides poses severe risks: they contaminate soil and water, kill beneficial insects like pollinators, and contribute to human health issues. Globally, over 2.5 billion smallholder farmers face similar threats, often lacking access to safe, effective, and affordable pest control. The overuse of chemicals has also led to resistant pest strains and declining biodiversity. SolarShield addresses these interconnected problems ineffective pest control, environmental harm, and lack of data by providing a sustainable, intelligent solution that can be scaled across regions where agriculture is a lifeline.
What is your solution?
SolarShield is a smart, solar-powered pest control device that uses AI, LIDAR, and electric arc technology to detect, identify, and eliminate pests with over 95% accuracy without using chemicals. The system includes a mounted or drone-compatible unit equipped with high-resolution cameras, sensors, and an AI processor trained to distinguish harmful insects (like rhino beetles or aphids) from beneficial ones (like bees). Once detected, pests are instantly neutralized via a safe, high-voltage electric arc. The system also syncs with the Shield App, which gives farmers real-time data on pest activity, crop risks, and performance analytics. The entire system is solar-powered with battery support, making it ideal for off-grid farms. SolarShield has been successfully piloted and is now ready to scale.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution primarily serves smallholder and mid-sized farmers in Kenya and other Sub-Saharan African countries who rely on agriculture for income and food. These farmers often lack access to affordable, safe pest control options and suffer disproportionately from yield losses due to infestation. Women who make up nearly 50% of the agricultural labor force are especially impacted, as they tend to be more engaged in subsistence farming. By using SolarShield, farmers will see increased yields, lower costs, and improved health outcomes by eliminating exposure to harmful chemicals. The solution also preserves pollinator populations and improves soil health, which are critical to long-term food sustainability. In the long run, this technology empowers farmers with data, increases their resilience to crop failure, and helps lift communities out of poverty by making farming more profitable and sustainable.
