Erik Hersman

Brainstormer, Christian, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Parent

I lead Gridless, a company pioneering decentralized energy solutions through bitcoin mining to electrify off-grid communities across Africa. With active renewable-powered sites in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, Gridless uses bitcoin mining to monetize excess energy and build a financially sustainable path to rural electrification for the continent’s 600 million unconnected people. Previously, I founded BRCK, a rugged connectivity device and Africa’s largest public WiFi platform, and the iHub, Nairobi’s influential innovation hub that helped shape the region’s tech ecosystem. I also co-founded Ushahidi, the groundbreaking crisis-mapping platform used worldwide. A lifelong builder of tech and infrastructure for Africa, I live in Nairobi with my family. You can find me on Twitter at @WhiteAfrican.

Good ideas. Using technology to change Africa.

There is a near unlimited supply of energy to be developed in the one place on earth that needs it most… Africa

Africa, bitcoin, community, Connectivity, energy, Ideas, infrastructure

TED Global 2007 in Arusha was where we first came together. "We" being the young entrepreneurs, bloggers, thinkers and movers in Africa. It was out of this group that 3 of the 4 co-founders of Ushahidi would arise, just 7 months later in Kenya. One year after this, we've added yet another TED Fellow to the mix, so our team is made of 4 previous TED Fellows. If nothing else, TED brought together people with amazing ideas and catalyzed changes that will be felt for years to come across Africa.

board games.