SOGO Energy

SOGO Energy is a decentralized infrastructure company that invests in and partners with local energy ventures in emerging markets to provide affordable, clean energy and value-added services to rural communities. The company's business model focuses on addressing key challenges faced by local entrepreneurs, such as access to funding, technology, talent, and market information. SOGO Energy proceeds in three phases: investing in promising companies, building out an IT platform and support system for management and supply chain, and finally, creating a scalable playbook to foster more sustainable businesses.

The company was co-founded by CEO Jeffrey Char and CTO Annette Werth. Char is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and experience in corporate venture capital at Tokyo Electric Power Company. Werth is a PhD researcher specializing in decentralized microgrids. Their paths converged at a blockchain and energy conference, leading to the creation of SOGO Energy to support scalable energy businesses in developing regions.

SOGO Energy's initial offerings include "irrigation as a service" in Cambodia through its subsidiary, Pteah Baitong, which has established pilot solar-powered pumping stations. The company has also invested in and partnered with Equatorial Power in Africa, which operates solar minigrids and productive hubs in several countries, including Uganda and Rwanda. SOGO Energy has raised over SGD 3 million in equity financing to support its operations and expansion.

Keywords: renewable energy investment, emerging markets, decentralized utility, rural electrification, clean energy access, infrastructure as a service, solar irrigation, impact investing, sustainable development, energy ventures, project finance, microgrids, productive use of energy, energy access, Cambodia, Africa, asset financing, cleantech, agritech