Jonathan Shaw is a Kenyan-born entrepreneur with deep investments in the renewable energy sector.
Shaw is the founder and CEO of Nuru (previously known as Kivu Green Energy), a renewable energy developer in eastern DR Congo.
Nuvu is the first Congolese-founded startup to receive a Series A round of investment, the first to bring a solar hybrid mini-grid online in Congo, and is currently deploying the largest off-grid solar hybrid mini-grid in Africa.
Shaw holds a PhD from the University of Michigan.
Winning Funding
In July 2023, Shaw secured Ksh5.6 billion (USD 40 million) to expand his renewable energy startup in Congo.
Following the fund’s acquisition, Shaw revealed plans to establish the largest mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa.
The entrepreneur noted that he would use the funds to construct plants in Goma, Kindu, and Bunia projects in DRC. The grid projects are expected to help DRC raise its power capacity of 13.7 MWp.
By combining solar power and batteries, the new transformational projects will build upon Nuru’s existing operating assets in four other cities in eastern DRC.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the recent developments, Shaw, the CEO of Nuru, stated: “We are thrilled to partner with such a dynamic group of investors who are keen to drive our vision of expanding energy access and transforming 5 million lives in the DRC.
“Closing the Series B is a significant milestone in Nuru’s journey but also demonstrates the viability of the metro grid model in the distributed energy sector in Africa,” he stated.
Nuru was founded in 2015 by Shaw. Under his leadership, he company constructed the DRC’s first mini-grid in 2017, setting the stage for future achievements.
Three years later, Nuru accomplished another milestone by launching a 1.3-megawatt facility in the city of Goma, establishing itself as the largest mini-grid in Sub-Saharan Africa without a connection to a national grid.
