Waka waka: Entrepreneurship and energy

Sustainability is high on the agenda of many organisation these days, it is a hip and relevant issue. But how does it become more than a bullet point in a business plan? How can you make a sustainable impact as an organisation? Can you make business out of sustainable energy? What initiatives are there to support upcoming economies? Do these energy initiatives succeed in the same way throughout the Western world? And what does it take to become a successful entrepreneur in sustainable energy?

In this lecture, Maurits Groen, the CEO and a co-founder of Waka-Waka company, will share an inspirational story behind his successful project, and reflect on his experiences as a sustainable entrepreneur. He will discuss how he has incorporated sustainability and social responsibility into a successful business idea, and illustrate the ways in which his company helps various organisations to further develop their vision and strategy in the field of sustainability. Using his company as an example, Maurits Groen will discuss the need for developing essential products that are sustainable, but also available and affordable for consumers in the third world. He is best known as the founder of Waka-Waka, a company that produces and distributes high-quality solar LED lights for families that earn less than $2 per day. 

Maurits Groen is CEO and co-founder of Waka-Waka, a company producing efficient solar LED lights and chargers with the aim of creating sustainable impact in developing countries. For over thirty years he has been active as a consultant on sustainability policy and communication strategy, connecting people and organisations in order to work towards sustainable solutions. In 2015 Maurits Groen was awarded the title of ‘Most sustainable person of the year’ (number 1 in the Trouw Sustainable Top 100 in The Netherlands).