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Mosebe Enterprise was featured on Times Live’s Innovate Africa segment, where host Kieno Kammies sat down with founders Vincent Mosebe and Leandro Antonio to explore how a backyard innovation became a growing clean-energy movement.
The interview highlighted the journey behind the Tsepho V3 and the company’s mission to provide safe, affordable electricity to communities living completely off the grid.
Growing up in underserved communities in Cape Town, the founders experienced energy poverty firsthand.
Unstable connections, paraffin lamps, candles — and the devastating shack fires that often follow — were part of daily life. A personal fire incident in 2020 became the turning point that pushed Vincent to research the root causes of recurring fires in informal settlements.
What he found was simple but urgent:
Lack of access to safe, reliable electricity.
Instead of waiting for change, they decided to build it.
The first unit was not designed to compete with large inverter brands. It was built to replace candles.
Using refurbished lithium-ion cells sourced from discarded laptop and e-bike batteries, the team:
What began as a light source evolved into something much greater.
As community needs became clearer, the team:
During the interview, the founders explained how sustainability is built into the business model:
This approach not only protects the environment — it makes clean energy financially accessible.
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the interview came when the team shared that:
As Vincent shared:
“There will never be a perfect moment to start. You can’t learn to drive sitting in a parked car.”
The feature also explored Mosebe Enterprise’s future vision:
Each device, they explained, is not just hardware — it represents a household gaining access to opportunity.
When asked what advice they would give to aspiring entrepreneurs, the founders shared two key principles:
1. Start before you’re ready.
Perfect conditions never arrive. Progress comes through action.
2. Value for Value.
Create real impact, and value will return in unexpected ways.
Leandro described their approach as aligned with the Japanese concept of Kaizen — continuous 1% improvement.
The full Times Live Innovate Africa feature is available below:
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTfeEA7Fd0
The Times Live feature positioned Mosebe Enterprise as more than a startup — but as a proof point that local innovation, driven by lived experience, can address some of Africa’s toughest challenges.
From backyard manufacturing to national recognition, the journey continues — one device, one household, one community at a time.
