In many rural regions of the African continent, there is a lack of modern power supply infrastructure. People there are therefore dependent on expensive and toxic fuels such as kerosene lamps. The Alliance for Rural Electrification wants to change this: The international business association promotes decentralized, renewable energy industries worldwide to enable affordable energy for all people and thereby create local, sustainable economic growth. PineBerry has been a member there since 2020, the contact was established at that time through the HNU Africa Institute. Rebecca Bregant has been an elected member of the board since 2021. Already during her studies, the HNU alumna had been involved in the HNU student council in order to be able to actively shape university policy in the interest of the common good. Today, she is no longer involved with students but with companies, but the principle remains the same. In June 2022, the presidential position became vacant and she stood for election - and was elected at the General Assembly.
PineBerry's "Everything-as-a-Service" Platform.
PineBerry (opens in a new window)has developed a digital "Everything-as-a-Service" platform for local utilities that connects solar systems and water pumps, for example, to the PineBerry cloud via the Internet of Things (IoT) and turns them into remotely controllable "jukeboxes." This allows local businesses to offer pay-per-use financing to unbanked people, providing access to life-enhancing products while minimizing risk and cost in serving rural areas. Rebecca Bregant is responsible for marketing and sales.
Current crowdfunding project
One of the most exciting current projects at PineBerry is a crowdfunding project with their partner EnergyBox (opens in a new window). The funding goal is €450,000, of which will provide 119,000 people with access to clean energy, create 282 local jobs, and provide 600,000 additional hours of light for children to learn. This is an asset investment that earns 5.0% interest - interested parties invest in a sustainable, climate-friendly investment and receive a fair financial return.
A clear mission
When asked why she is so passionate about this industry, Rebeca Bregant replies, "I've seen a lot of misery in my travels. "Burning" is a good keyword here - whether it's the kerosene lamp in the small mud hut in the countryside, or even the plastic waste being burned in the open streets in the slums of the cities. People breathe toxic air, are cut off from essential basic services such as electricity and have no prospects for the future. I want to use my strengths and skills to contribute to a more sustainable and just world - and I want to work with people who have the same mission. That drives me every day and is reflected in my positions at PineBerry and ARE."
Speaker at TEDxFiesole
Her commitment to a more just world was also evident last September when she took the stage as a speaker at TEDxFiesole in Italy. The title of her speech was "How you can change the world - with Blockchain technology." "Many people think about donating money to charity, fearing that the money will not reach people in need," the startup founder explained. "Blockchain technology creates complete transparency of money flows, showing where the money goes and the positive impact it has on people in need."
Her tips to all graduates and alumni
Travel - especially to developing countries - broadens personal horizons and helps to better understand global economic and social contexts, finds Rebecca Bregant. This, in turn, is also very helpful for professional careers. Another piece of advice: "Try things out, be brave and leave your comfort zone! You only regret what you didn't do." The last tip she recommends is to make sure you have a good work-life balance. "It does no one any good - least of all yourself - to be mentally at work 24/7. As we can see from the increasing number of mental illnesses and burnouts, it's simply not sustainable. Mechanisms to switch off are very important for your own health and performance."
Info about the person
- Rebecca, born 1991, half German, half Slovenian. Born in Ulm, likes to travel (e.g. as a digital nomad), now she has moved back to Ulm.
IMUK from winter semester 2011: original plan marketing and design, then unexpectedly quite enthusiastic about IT and web development, first web engineering tutor.
MAM from WiSe 2015: focus on Information Management
Active in StuVer: participation in university politics, organization of e.g. Christmas market and HNU party
Two of her fellow students and friends from MAM worked in the field of solar energy for Africa during their studies, which fascinated them a lot. As a result, they decided to start a business together in the field, which was the beginning of PineBerry (then called mango solar).
From 2018: pre-founding phase, master thesis written at PineBerry with support from HNU Africa Institute, actual founding only 2 years later in August 2020.
