History
ToughStuff was founded by Adriaan Mol and Andrew Tanswell in June 2008 as a social enterprise providing affordable solar-powered products for people who do not have access to electricity. By replacing expensive and environmentally damaging alternatives, ToughStuff products help to enhance the environment, improve health and generate micro-enterprise employment.
ToughStuff International was incorporated in Mauritius in October 2008 as the parent company and main trading entity. This was followed closely by the incorporation of ToughStuff Madagascar in November 2008 out of the need to support the growth in operations in this territory.
In just under a year ToughStuff raised a significant first round of funding, developed a range of market ready products, established supply chains and strategic partnerships in several regions in Africa. ToughStuff also won the prestigious Globa
l Social Business Incubator 2009 Award and was seen as an outstanding social enterprise opportunity by its peers.
ToughStuff products launched into the Madagascan and East African markets in July 2009 and 125,000 units were sold in the first 2 months with additional sample and pilot programmes coming online in several new territories.
Also in April of 2009, the Company received a strong validation of its ‘Business-in-a-Box’ micro-enterprise initiative, with the decision by the Daey Ouwens Fund to award ToughStuff a significant subsidy to support its efforts in driving village entreprepreneurship in Madagascar.
In July 2009 ToughStuff UK was incorporated to support the global growth of the business, and the following year ToughStuff was the recipient of the Tech Award and the Energy and Environment Award for ‘Renewables Innovation’. It also won the esteemed Ashden Award in 2011 for sustainable energy.eneurship in Madagascar.
As of 2012 ToughStuff now comprises a large team of people operating in offices in several African countries, UK and Hong Kong. It continues to innovate its product and distribution strategies as it strives to achieve its vision to provide energy access to all those living off-grid.
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