We launched Solar Life to capture and share the stories of those seeking adventure and empowering others. They come from our ambassadors, employees and, most importantly, you. Whether you’re at base camp for months, camping in your backyard, or serving your community these stories are for you. We hope they inspire, empower, and help you live a Solar Life of your own.
Explore the Solar Life
BLOG: Read the latest Goal Zero announcements from the field
AMBASSADORS: Follow the updates from the Goal Zero team
SHARE THE SUN: Keep up on our efforts to help others live the Solar Life
]]>In 2007, Goal Zero founder Robert Workman was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his non-profit TIFIE Humanitarian (www.tifie.org) trying to create jobs and businesses to help families become self-sufficient. He realized one of the biggest hurdles for the Congolese people was having reliable power and light, so he started working on a solution. By 2008, the first Goal Zero product the GoBe (now known as the Escape 150) was designed, created, and taken to the Congo to provide a brighter future for the people there.
Traveling between Congo and the US, Robert realized this portable power solution could change lives everywhere, not just in 3rd world countries. A team of engineers and product developers came together to design and engineer a line of reliable portable solar power products including solar panels and battery packs. And soon after, Goal Zero was born.
Since then, TIFE and Goal Zero have worked hand in hand bringing light and power to villages around the world – from Congo to Indonesia, to Haiti and the Rockaways.
Our humanitarian-heavy hearts continue to find ways we can give people power and peace of mind. When Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast we didn’t hesitate. We packed up a diesel freight trailer and hit the road. People from all over the world wanted to help as well. So we created a platform that allowed them to, we called it "You Buy One, We Give one". In less than 2 weeks we raised over $500,000.00 for people on the East Coast, living without power after Hurricane Sandy.
Goal Zero isn't just a company, it's a business created by people who live life to its fullest, with a shared vision inspired by the passion for adventure, respect for the planet, and a humanitarian heart. We're a company that equips families and individuals seeking to improve the outdoor experience with the most innovative portable power products on the market. Field-proven in some of the most remote places on earth, we are working to continually deliver smart, innovative power solutions that will change the way you adventure.
"You Buy One, We Give One" was the beginning of something huge! We're excited to continue banding GZ nation together to Share the Sun with the world. Stay tuned next Tuesday to learn more about how we're growing our humanitarian efforts.
]]>1) We care about people and their human experience. It wasn't about making money or being on top, it was about giving people what they needed. Our founder Robert Workman has always reminded us "when you do good, you get good" and that's how we like to work.
2 ) We’re going to take risks in a new industry. When we started, portable power wasn't really an industry yet. It was a huge risk to open doors that had never even been approached.
3) We'll push the limits of what we knew already knew and experienced. We knew what people needed, and asked ourselves- how can we take one step further and create a new solution. We're developing solutions for needs people didn't even know they had.
Zero Apathy, Zero Regrets, Zero Boundaries became our mission statement.
Goal Zero became our name. Stick around for more throwback Thursday posts as we look back on the good ol' days.
]]>Did you know Goal Zero started from entrepreneurial efforts in Congo? Our founder, Robert Workman, helped local entrepreneurs in Congo and Swaziland start a construction, water purification, brick making, farming businesses, and even a portable salon through Tifie Humanitarian. And what is the common need for all of the above to be successful? Reliable and safe power and light – Goal Zero products were created out of a humanitarian heart and became a business we never expected.
The 1st trial in Swaziland was given to one of our promising entrepreneurs, a young man by the name of Bheki. His business model: a cell phone charging booth at his spaza shop. A spaza shop is an incredibly rudimentary roadside stand where very basic snacks and confectionaries are sold.
In the first month, Bheki charged 43 cell phones at a rate of 5 Emalangeni per charge (roughly $0.71/charge). He made roughly E215 ($30 USD). A nice boost to his profits and potentially good enough to payback the cost of the solar unit about a year, but not the stellar results we’d hoped for.
Enter the second month. With his strong entrepreneurial mind and portable power to execute his idea, Bheki took it upon himself to ditch the cell phone charging model and use the $30 extra profit to buy a pair of hair clippers, which he powered using the Escape 150. By the end of the month he had made E800 ($114 USD) cutting hair, and thanks to the Escape 150 solar kit he is the only mobile salon, well probably in all of Swaziland.
Its stories like these that remind us where we came from and why we are who we are today. Like our founder Robert workman always says, "when you do good, you get good." simple as that.
]]>When we started working in the village of Bwe back in 2007, it was a bleak. Rounded bellies, unsafe roads, pitch-black nights and kerosene fires. We worked with a promising group of villagers who wanted a better life. After many months of planning, trips, and unintended consequences, there were many success stories that came from the area.
It’s pretty unbelievable, the difference that has been made by the people of Bwe. It’s exciting to know that this change can be made anywhere by anyone with a passion for a brighter future. These experiences inspire. Learn how you can be a part of change www.goalzero.com/sharethesun
]]>Here are some ways we’ve heard it described: The Penguin looking thing, kind of looks like a bowling pin, Thermos, Escape, iso The Pod, The Goal0 (go-Low). Originally called the GoBe, which literally means Go Be whatever you want to be. It was then renamed the Scout 150, then the Escape 150 battery pack and we've now replaced it with a new and improved big brother the Yeti 150. We’ve come a long way since the GoBe and have now transformed that into Goal Zero: Zero Apathy, Zero Regrets, Zero Boundaries.
]]>Eric embodies everything Goal Zero is about. Zero boundaries, zero regrets, and zero apathy. He takes risks, he goes big, and he does it all with purpose.
Eric was headed to the North Pole as part of his “saving the poles” campaign when we hooked him up with gear 2 years ago. Ever since then, he has been a part of the growing Goal Zero family.
He has even contributed to our product development department. In order to charge some of his equipment, he needed a 12V source of power. Our engineers went to work with him to create the 12V female adapter. Now we can’t imagine our solar kits without that cord.
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