Malawi’s Yellow and Zambia’s RDG Collective Secure Financing from Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach Initiative

Yellow and RDG Collective, both off-grid solar distributors, have secured financing from Acumen’s USD 250 M Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) initiative. Yellow received USD 2 M, while RDG Collective in Zambia secured USD 1.25 M.

The financing, which the companies will repay, will enable them to expand their inventory of solar home systems, bringing energy access to underserved rural populations in Malawi and Zambia.

Founded in 2017 by Mike Heyink and Maya Stewart, Yellow distributes solar home systems and mobile phones to underserved populations.

The investment in RDG Collective is expected to provide energy access to 66,000 people and reduce at least 7,000 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2eq).