06 Oct 2024

Meet Mr Kedumetse Liphi (34), a chief engineer for Ked Liphi, an innovation-driven enterprise that specialises in electronic inventions and military technology.

Mr Liphi earns his keep through the company which holds a certificate of grant of utility model for his Chedza Solar Backpacks registered with Companies Intellectual Property Authority.

The company falls within the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) bracket and has found a niche in the green technology space through harnessing the abundant sunlight in Botswana.

Ked Liphi’s Chedza solar backpacks brand uses solar panels, batteries and lamps to give children a reliable and clean source of light for studying at night.

Mr Liphi said his intellectual property (IP) lay in the unique solar energy storing, design, functionality, and adaptability of the backpack, allowing it to address diverse energy needs.

He said his unique concept had been instrumental in attracting partnerships, including a collaboration with the US Army, which showed global recognition and value of his IP.

As a former soldier, Mr Liphi said the concept of Chedza Solar Backpacks was inspired by a rural background learner, who was spotted carrying books in a plastic bag, in a community which, like many other African societies, suffere lack of electricity.

Upon intense retrospection with the learner, Mr Liphi said his team was obliged to come up with a tailor-made sustainable solution that would not only carry books, but also provide light for evening studies. 

Mr Liphi viewed electricity shortage across a number of African settlements as a serious challenge that gave birth to a unique concept, that earned him a business which continued to grow into other lucrative markets internationally.

Africa, Botswana in particular, has abundant sunlight available throughout the year, which could give rise to a myriad of solar-powered businesses and prototypes that are capable of dominating local and international markets, Mr Liphi said.

He reckons his concept is timely and convenient in the market, especially with government’s decision to distribute tablets to learners in schools across the country and the availability of charging ports on Chedza solar backpacks to provide approximately 45 per cent of the needed lighting at night in remote areas with no electricity.

Notably, he said during a bright sunny day the backpacks could power charge all devices including tablets and cellphones up to 100 per cent and further store power to be used at night, thus bridging the digital divide usually experienced in rural areas across Africa.

The first prototype of Chedza solar backpacks, Mr Liphi said, opened opportunities for his business continuity and scaling up since he had to do several pitches to a number of organisations and funders for market access and capital to heighten production.

Remarkably, a pitch he did at a programme organised by Young Africa in partnership with the US Embassy saw his business rise up to forge strategic partnership with the US military.

US senior military officers who were present at the respective pitch got intrigued by the first prototype of backpacks and upon rigorous retrospection, compiled a report to their inventory unit, which recommended Ked Liphi as a potential partner for their procurement needs.

Within a month’s time, he said a deal was made with the US Army, where they received funding towards the production of samples for tailor-made military solar backpacks to be used by soldiers in the jungle.

These particular ones were augmented with a series of features as specified in their contract and could even power a television set, Mr Liphi explained.

He said his team of 15 experts, consisting of scientists and electronic engineers, was ever ready to meet all orders such as the one by the US Army.

These backpacks have not only earned him a business, but have also given his innovative capacity recognition across various international conferences in the green energy space, further positioning Botswana as a country dedicated to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2036.

Among various recognitions across the globe, this year, Ked Liphi through its Chedza solar backpacks innovation was enlisted among top 25 finalists for the WIPO Global Awards 2024, which celebrate World Changing Innovations in Health, Climate Tech, and Advanced Technology.

Moreover, Mr Liphi said President Dr Mgokgweetsi Masisi received a Gold Winner Award on behalf of Botswana and Ked Liphi at last year’s UNFCCC COP 28 for their concept, which embraced climate mitigation and adaptation technology.

Mr Liphi said last year this company registered the business in Uganda, in a bid to cast their net deeper and wider into the African markets.

Through partnership and support of UNDP, Mr Liphi said they attended an AU forum in Namibia, where he got mileage from interested fellow Africans. Ends