Daystar Power co-founders and managing directors of the Nigerian solar energy firm were recently honored as High Impact Entrepreneurs by Endeavor Network at the 93rd International Selection Panel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The two founders of Daystar Power, Christian Wessels and Jasper Graf von Hardenberg are the only selected entrepreneurs from Nigeria. They were part of 23 high-impact entrepreneurs from 11 markets at the ceremoney that took place on February 12 at the 93rd International Selection Panel (ISP) in Riyadh.
Christian Wessels and Jasper Graf von Hardenberg founded the solar energy company Daystar Power in Lagos in 2017 and have since installed more than 170 solar systems for schools, hospitals, banks, factories and other facilities in West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Togo with a total capacity of 8 MW. The firm has saved more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide.
Christian Wessels had already been named Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2012.
According to Christian Wessels, founder and CEO of Daystar Power: “A lack of electricity is the central obstacle to growth for the whole of West Africa. The chronically underserved regions here have so far been dependent on the operation of diesel generators, which is expensive, unreliable and environmentally harmful. We have set ourselves the task of equipping West Africa with sustainable solar energy, thereby creating the necessary basis for further investment. I see Endeavor’s award as both a confirmation of our efforts and an incentive.”
Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, founder and CEO of Daystar Power, says: “We have been committed to managing the company according to leading international standards since Daystar Power was founded in 2017. These include adherence to European social standards in Africa, the advancement of women and continuous training and education of employees. Since the founding of the company, we have created more than 100 jobs at various locations in Nigeria and Ghana and the majority of our managers are women. In this way, we are already exercising a leadership role that has now been rewarded by Endeavor.”
Endeavor is active in more than 35 markets and works with entrepreneurs in emerging growth markets whose companies are growing rapidly and exerting a positive influence on society. Over the past two decades, Endeavor has screened more than 50,000 entrepreneurs in selection processes that examine their business model, social sustainability and development potential.
Christian Wessels and Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, co-founders of Daystar Power join over 2,000 Endeavor Entrepreneurs scaling transformational companies in more than 35 growth and underserved markets globally.
Daystar Power specializes in the generation of solar energy, with a focus on medium and small-scale solar systems (20kWp to 5 MWp). The plants are either sold or made available to customers in a service fee model. The user benefits from cost savings against payment of a monthly fee, from ensuring a stable power supply, emission-free energy production and the efficient energy management. Unlike many other international solar companies, Daystar Power has established local technical units that provide a high level of service.
