What is the name of your organization?
Owanga
What is the name of your solution?
Portable Energy Solutions
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Powering businesses, homes, and communities with portable, modular battery solutions across Africa and beyond.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Delaware, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
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?
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), millions of people lack access to reliable electricity, severely limiting economic productivity, education, and healthcare. Over 75 million people in the DRC live without electricity, making it one of the least electrified nations in the world. Even in urban centers like Kinshasa, frequent power cuts last up to 12 hours per day, leaving homes and businesses in the dark.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, this crisis affects more than 600 million people who either lack grid access entirely or experience constant blackouts. In Nigeria alone, power shortages cost the economy over $30 billion annually, and businesses collectively spend $22 billion per year on backup diesel generators. These generators are expensive to operate, with costs reaching up to $4 per day per household, further straining families where the average daily income is less than $2 per day.
Beyond affordability, the overreliance on diesel and petrol generators contributes to severe air pollution and carbon emissions, worsening climate change and public health issues. Without access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy storage, millions remain disconnected from modern technology, economic opportunities, and essential services
What is your solution?
Owanga provides an affordable, portable battery pack that offers reliable electricity for homes and small businesses in areas with frequent blackouts or no grid access. The unit is designed to power phones, lights, laptops, fans, and small appliances for extended hours, depending on usage.
With solar charging, the device can run continuously for 24 hours. On a full charge, it can power a lights, fans for up to 45 hours, a laptop for over 10 hours, or a TV for several hours. It operates as a plug-and-play system, requiring no technical setup, making it easy to use in any environment.
Each unit costs $250, significantly reducing energy expenses compared to diesel generators, which cost $3 to $4 per day in fuel and maintenance. Small businesses, such as street vendors and shop owners, can save over $1,000 per year, allowing them to reinvest in their business and increase monthly income by 15-25%, depending on their energy needs.
The battery integrates solar compatibility, built-in inverters, and smart power management to ensure efficient energy use. This provides a cost-effective, clean alternative to unreliable grid power, helping users stay connected and productive.
Product Demo:https://youtube.com/shorts/xJs1U5OEOKU
https://youtube.com/shorts/KpipWHUoXmQ
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Owanga’s battery packs serve families and business owners who struggle with unreliable power every day. When blackouts hit, parents can’t keep the lights on, students are forced to study by candlelight, and food spoils without refrigeration. Small businesses—tailors, barbers, shopkeepers—lose income because they can’t power essential equipment.
Many rely on expensive, polluting generators, spending up to $4 per day on fuel—often more than they earn. For a barber or tailor, every power outage means lost customers and fewer sales. For street vendors, darkness means closing early, cutting their income in half.
We give them affordable power source that helps them stay open longer, work more efficiently, and save money on energy costs. Families can keep their homes powered, and businesses can grow without worrying about blackouts. By reducing reliance on generators, people keep more of their income, increasing their financial stability and improving their quality of life.