Why you should listen
The drought in Africa inspired registered Architect and Project Manager Charity Wanjiku to co-found Strauss Energy with her brother Tony Nyaga. Strauss Energy is a company producing patented solar tiles powering off-grid areas in rural Kenya, way before Tesla started taking orders in the U.S. and UK for its own solar tiles in 2017.
The unique value proposition of Charity’s company is that unlike traditional installations, its system comes with a special meter that can feed unused electricity back to the national grid, generating income for households.
With over a decade of experience working in the building, construction & energy industries, Charity focuses on entrepreneurial and transformative leadership. At Strauss, she is responsible for building partnerships, procuring renewable energy, and sales and development to support company growth.
In September 2017, Charity was nominated as “Business Woman of the Year” by the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) and was also awarded as one among six “African female tech entrepreneurs” by the World Economic Forum. She was also one among 40 most influential women in Kenya under the 2016 Business Daily “Top 40 Under 40”. She has also made it in The World’s Top 50 Women in Tech list of Forbes.
Charity is also a mentor to young women and women entrepreneurs who seek to take up challenging STEM careers.
Hear Charity speak at Worldwebforum 2020 about transformative leadership and providing disruptive and sustainable solutions in underprivileged communities.
About Strauss Energy
Established in 2007, Strauss Energy is a local firm comprising accomplished and enterprising innovators in the fields of engineering, energy and construction.
We provide a solution to the energy problem currently being experienced by businesses and households by providing renewable and cost-effective energy through BIPV technology, a revolutionary solar-powered roofing tile designed and made in Kenya.
It is tested and approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards. To fully realize the envisaged Vision 2030, Strauss is fast on the path of plugging the energy deficiency and plans to meet the needs of both public and private clients it serves.
Biography
Charity is a vibrant young entrepreneur with a keen interest in the renewable energy and construction spaces. She is co- founder of Strauss Energy Ltd., an award-winning energy enterprise that seeks to alleviate energy poverty in Kenya and Africa at large.
Ms. Charity is a TechWomen Fellow, registered architect, with an MSc. Project Management in Construction and certification from Babson College’s Centre for Women Entrepreneurs in Boston, USA. She indulges in the building and energy industry through reduction of poverty by affording everyone a solar powered roof that can also generate passive income for their home.
Strauss Energy’s Stima roofing tile is a Kenyan innovation that integrates solar cells into basic roofing material, roofing the home and powering it with clean, green energy at the same time.
In September 2017, Ms. Charity was nominated as “Business Woman of the Year” by the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) and was also awarded as one among six “African female tech entrepreneurs” by the World Economic Forum, in June 2017.
She was also one among 40 most influential women in Kenya under the 2016 Business Daily “Top40Under40”. Because she believes in making a difference in the world, Charity is a Rotarian and embarks on service-above-self projects. She guarantees no blackouts, reliable power, lower bills and green energy for all.
Not one to shy away from a good challenge, and to maintain a healthy balance in life, she enjoys the outdoors and a good hiking challenge is always welcome. Aside from that, Ms. Charity is a mentor to young women and women entrepreneurs who seek to take up challenging STEM careers that will aid in changing the society for the better.