Trine

Trine operates as a crowdfunding platform with a focus on impact investing, specifically channeling capital to solar energy companies in emerging markets. Founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2015 by Sam Manaberi, Andreas Lehner, Christoffer Falsen, and Christian Genne, the company aims to resolve the financing gap that impedes the growth of solar energy solutions in these regions. The founders' backgrounds in solar finance, engineering, and technology converged to create the platform. Manaberi's experience at Bosch's solar division and Lehner's time in Kenya highlighted the critical role of finance in scaling off-grid solar energy.

The business model centers on offering a curated selection of debt-financed solar projects to a community of retail and institutional investors. Trine's clients are primarily solar companies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that require capital to install solar systems for a range of end-users, from individual households and schools to large businesses. Revenue is generated through a combination of an arranger fee on successfully funded loans and by splitting the interest rate of the loan with the investors. This model provides investors with a 'triple return': financial profit, social impact, and environmental benefits.

The service allows individuals to invest with a minimum of €25, making impact investing accessible. Investors use the platform to browse solar projects that have undergone a comprehensive risk assessment by Trine's investment team. This due diligence process evaluates the solar partner's financial performance, portfolio quality, and management team, assigning a risk rating to each project. Once a project is funded, the capital is disbursed to the solar company to deploy solar home systems or larger installations. As the solar company's customers repay for the energy, the loan is paid back to Trine, and investors receive their principal plus interest. Investors can monitor their portfolio's financial performance and its tangible impact—such as CO2 emissions avoided and the number of people provided with clean electricity—via a personal dashboard. As of early 2025, the platform had facilitated over €100 million in investments across more than 250 loans, providing electricity to over 3.1 million people.

Keywords: impact investing, crowdfunding, solar energy finance, fintech, emerging markets, debt financing, sustainable investment, peer-to-peer lending, clean energy, off-grid solar, green finance, social impact, renewable energy projects, project finance, Sweden, financial services, crowdlending, alternative finance