# Solar Energy Startups This Solar Startup Offers Solar Power Services and Accepts Mobile Payments By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2016-04-29 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-startup References: [techcrunch](http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/28/solar-startup-m-kopa-leapfrogs-africas-electricity-grid/) & [m-kopa](http://www.m-kopa.com/) M-Kopa is an extremely innovative new solar startup that is offering households across East Africa solar panel-derived energy that they can then go about paying for quickly and conveniently using a handy smartphone app. Users can simply start by putting in a $35 deposit, and are then granted a period of one year to pay for the package itself via convenient [mobile money transfers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eastman-auto-power) that can be as low as half a cent. Not only does this allow customers to easily start taking advantage of bountiful solar panel-derived energy, but it also makes payments uncomplicated and easy to track. Ultimately, M-Kopa is an extraordinarily innovative solar startup because it both offers [eco-friendly and sustainable energy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/state-of-Gujarat) to East African homes whilst also taking advantage of modern mobile payment solutions, marking it out as a company that is blazing a trail in terms of both energy service providing and payment acceptance. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Mobile Payment Solutions:** The use of mobile payment solutions is disrupting the energy industry, providing convenient and easy-to-track payment options for solar power services. - **Solar Panel-derived Energy:** The growing trend of solar panel-derived energy is disrupting the traditional energy industry, offering eco-friendly and sustainable power sources. - **Innovative Energy Service Providers:** Innovative startups like M-Kopa are disrupting the industry by combining solar energy services with modern payment solutions, revolutionizing the way energy is accessed and paid for. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry is being disrupted by the growing adoption of solar panel-derived energy and innovative payment solutions. - **Mobile Payment Services:** The mobile payment services industry is experiencing disruption through partnerships with solar startups, enabling convenient payment options for renewable energy services. - **Energy Service Providers:** Traditional energy service providers are facing disruption from innovative startups that offer eco-friendly energy solutions coupled with modern payment acceptance methods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Photovoltaic Plant Investment Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/photovoltaic-investment-app.md) - [Solar Energy Technology Websites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-energy-technology.md) - [Efficient Scalable Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perovskia-solar.md) - [Energy Savings App](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunny-by-uncharted.md) - [Solar Tribal Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Chhattisgarh.md) - [Origami Travel Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-panel-origami-technology.md) - [Autonomous Solar Energy Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pbx-200.md) - [Balcony-Friendly Solar Power Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anker-solar-bank-2-e1600-pro.md) - [Smart Home Energy Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-home-energy.md)