Simusolar

The company

Simusolar supports fishers to secure livelihoods, adapt to weather changes and sustain fisheries management through IoT-enabled productivity and activity tracking equipment.

Problem

For artisanal fishers, rising water temperatures in Lake Victoria are leading to a lower catch of a small fish critical to the local economy. Volatile weather and a lack of real-time information also make it difficult for local fishers to plan their fishing and dry the fish for transport, which leads to waste. Overfishing is difficult to regulate due to the resources required to cover the large territory. .

GSMA project

In November 2022, Simusolar received a GSMA grant to launch IoT fishing lights that are locatable, trackable, energy efficient and controlled via smartphone. Paired with a mobile app, it tracks usage, monitors weather and manages fishing operations. The tracking feature provides anonymised data to the Ministry of Fisheries, aiding in their digitalisation efforts.

Outcomes

Raised funding in the form of convertible notes and grants from Treehouse Investments, Chroma Impact and others.

Traction

As of March 2025, just over 490 fishers purchased an energy-efficient IoT fishing light.

A message from the founder(s)

“With GSMA’s support, we will serve a key role in sustaining the fishery of Lake Victoria while also helping fishers to adapt to climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and sustain their livelihoods.”

– Marianne Walpert and Michael Kuntz, Co-founders