Mussa Ayanle

A visionary entrepreneur revolutionizing rural electrification in Ethiopia through solar energy innovation.

Mussa Ayanle is the founder and CEO of SolarNow, a company dedicated to bringing affordable solar power solutions to underserved rural communities in Ethiopia and East Africa. Since launching in 2015, SolarNow has become a transformative force in energy access, installing over 50,000 solar systems by 2023. Mussa's work addresses two critical issues: the 65% of Ethiopia's population lacking electricity access and the environmental impact of fossil fuel dependency.

His innovative 'pay-as-you-go' financing model allows families earning as little as $2/day to access solar home systems through mobile payments. This approach has enabled unprecedented scalability - installations grew from 500 in 2017 to 12,000 in 2020 alone. By partnering with local distributors like Ethiopian Energy Authority, Mussa has created a sustainable business ecosystem that employs over 800 people in technical and sales roles.

In 2022, Mussa pioneered Africa's first solar-powered cold storage solution for farmers, extending perishable food shelf life from 2 days to 2 weeks. This innovation directly increased farmers' incomes by 30-40%, transforming entire village economies. His work was recognized with the 2023 Ashden Award for Clean Energy, joining previous recipients like Elon Musk and renewable energy pioneers.

Mussa's vision extends beyond business - he co-founded the African Solar Alliance in 2021 to share best practices across 15 countries. Through his TEDx talk (Solar Power for Everyone), he's inspired global audiences to rethink energy access. With Ethiopia's 2030 electrification goal in sight, Mussa continues to prove that solar technology can be both a profit driver and a poverty alleviation tool.