Open business model

Here is our Solar Fire Open Humanitarian Business Model

Why a business?

The Solar Fire goal is to create cost-effective solar concentration. For this we have found a non-profit structure is not so adapted since non-profits are generally risk averse and development needs risk. Second, it is difficult to concentrate on developing the technique and making it more usable for users as a non-profit. Furthermore, by surviving as a business ourselves we show that the technology is viable and inspire others to do the same.

Our Principles

• Concentrate on the uses and applications of Solar Fire that are most needed for people, especially in poorer countries rich in sunlight, rather than on applications that maybe the most profitable, such as powering gadgets in affluent countries.
• Not striving to create a monopoly over the Solar Fire technology, but act as facilitators.
• Striving to develop the most accessible and ecological building methods.
• Striving to assist non-profit projects trying to bring the technology to those most in need.
• Keep the website open for others to present their projects and work.
• Striving not to create dependence on us.
• Try to publish as much in open source, though perhaps on a rolling schedule to give a chance for market pioneers to support the project in exchange for early access to material.
• Collaborators working with us in the Solar Fire Business can “spin off” to form a separate structures, under the condition that the spin off is smooth and coherent for Solar Fire users; a simple example is that operations in other languages may at some point be much more effective running independent structures, though hopefully in partnership with Solar Fire.
• Strive to cooperate with everyone developing the Solar Fire technology or related projects.
• Strive to form partnerships in the spirit of mutual benefit and respect.
• When possible for us we will also strive to finance non-profit actions for villages.

That being said …

We try to be as open as possible, but there must be a balance between time spent talking about what we’re doing or might do and time spent actually doing it.

It is impossible for us to fully assist all non-profits projects probono, but we will strive to do as much as possible and work together to find creative partnerships.