Sanergy, Inc., which wastes not, secures $1.7 million

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Sanergy, Inc., a social enterprise that makes prefabricated concrete toilets that turn human waste into fertilizer, has raised $1.7 million to expand operations in Nairobi, where it is headquartered.

The brainchild of three MIT alumni, Sanergy manufactures “Fresh Life Toilets” at their facility in Kenya and sells them to local entrepreneurs. The startup also deals with waste removal, emptying the units daily and turning the waste into organic fertilizer. To date, Sanergy has sold 614 toilets in nine informal settlements near the capital city, Nairobi.

When someone purchases a Sanergy toilet they become a “franchise owner” and can charge their neighbors a few cents per use, a critical source of income for many Kenyans and a needed service in a country lacking widespread indoor plumbing.

 This most recent round of funding was led by Kenyan VC firm Novastar Venture; Acumen, a non-profit venture fund; and the Eleos Foundation, which makes philanthropic investments.

Source: Boston Globe (link opens in a new window)

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Health Care, Investing
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waste