Trine

Trine is a Swedish financial technology company that operates a crowdfunding platform connecting investors with solar energy companies in emerging markets. Founded in 2015 by Sam Manaberi, Christian Genne, Christoffer Falsen, and Andreas Lehner, the company's mission is to provide a 'triple return on investment': financial profit for investors, social impact by increasing energy access, and environmental impact by reducing CO2 emissions.

The idea for Trine originated with Sam Manaberi, who, after a career in the solar industry in the US, questioned why vast populations lacked stable power despite the potential of solar energy. He teamed up with his co-founders in Gothenburg, Sweden, to create a platform that channels private capital from primarily European investors to solar businesses in regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The company is regulated by the Swedish Financial Services Authority (Finansinspektionen).

Trine's business model facilitates debt financing for solar companies, addressing a critical funding gap that traditional banks often do not fill. Investors, including both retail and institutional, can invest in loans to these solar companies with a minimum investment of just €25. These loans provide the necessary working capital for solar developers to install systems for a range of customers, from individual households with Solar Home Systems (SHS) to larger Commercial and Industrial (C&I) clients like schools, hospitals, and businesses. As the solar companies repay their loans, investors receive their capital back with interest, with returns historically ranging from 4.5% to 11%.

Initially focused on the SHS market, Trine has strategically shifted to also include the C&I solar sector and E-mobility projects, which often provide more stable, long-term revenue streams. The platform performs a comprehensive risk assessment for each project before it is listed and provides ongoing monitoring. Trine is backed by investors such as Gullspång, Chalmers Ventures, and has co-investment partnerships with entities like the Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa Foundation (CEI Africa) to amplify impact.

Keywords: solar financing, impact investing, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, fintech, renewable energy, emerging markets, debt financing, clean energy, sustainable investment, energy access, off-grid solar, social impact, environmental impact, Sweden, Gothenburg, C&I solar, Solar Home Systems, green investment, P2P lending, ESG, Africa solar, Asia solar, Latin America solar, triple bottom line