Students turned innovators powering South Africa

Arion Power is rapidly establishing itself as one of South Africa’s most dynamic young manufacturers in the renewable energy and backup power sector.

Founded in 2020 by University of Cape Town postgraduate students Brian Gadisi and Alan Gie, and later joined by Thembalethu Hadebe, the company evolved from a classroom assignment into a fully-fledged manufacturer of lithium and phosphate energy storage systems for homes, businesses, and industrial operations.

For co-founder and director Brian Gadisi, now 27, the company’s beginnings were unexpected.

What started as a compulsory academic project soon took on a life of its own.

“The product was planned, but the business wasn’t. This was meant to be a school project. We were supposed to produce a report at the end of the year, submit it, and move on with our lives, but it ended up giving birth to this business.”

The assignment came at a time when students across the country were struggling to stay online during COVID-19 lockdowns and prolonged loadshedding.

“During my honours degree, one of our projects was to develop a business idea. My two colleagues and I came up with a solution for Wi-Fi access for students, because it was during loadshedding and the COVID-19 lockdown,” he said.

Originally, five students took part, but three moved on after the assignment concluded, leaving Gadisi and Gie to commercialise the concept.

Arion Power’s first product was a compact Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device designed to power essential low-voltage equipment.

A UPS is a small backup device that keeps essential equipment running during power cuts.

“We started by manufacturing UPS devices, primarily the Wibox, which is a backup battery system for low-direct-current items, such as Wi-Fi routers, to charge phones and keep low-voltage lights on during loadshedding,” Gadisi explained.

The early success demonstrated demand but also highlighted a broader opportunity.

As the company gained momentum, it shifted focus to producing more advanced systems in-house.

“We have since pivoted to lithium and phosphate batteries, which are key components of most of our products.

“We manufacture lithium and phosphate batteries, pack the cells, produce the battery management system ourselves, and have the capability to stack batteries into large-scale applications. We also design full backup systems for commercial and industrial use – think farms, shops, mining shafts, and sometimes schools.”

In simple terms, the company builds its own batteries and the smart systems that control them, which are then installed as comprehensive backup power solutions for businesses, farms, mines, and schools.

Manufacturing takes place in Cape Town, where the business now has three executives and 17 full-time employees.

YES programme helps expand business

The Youth Employment Service (YES) programme has played a vital role in expanding the company’s talent pool.

“We have received substantial support from organisations such as the YES programme to create employment opportunities and internships. Many of our former interns have been retained and are now full-time team members,” Gadisi said.

YES is a presidential programme that helps young South Africans gain work experience by placing them in jobs and training opportunities.

Financing the growth was challenging and required considerable determination.

The company later secured three rounds of support from the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa), all fully amortised, and most recently completed its first equity partnership with a private mentor.

(Loan amortisation refers to scheduling debt payments over time in regular, fixed amounts.)

Today, Arion Power produces a wide range of solutions, including lithium iron phosphate storage systems, Wibox units, laptop power banks, inverter systems, portable power stations, business continuity packages, and hybrid or off-grid solar solutions.

Its rapid rise was recognised when Arion Power was named a Top 3 Finalist for Youth-Led SMME of the Year at the Presidential SMME and Co-operatives Awards.

Looking ahead, Gadisi said the company has ambitious continental goals.

“We want to expand across Africa because our products are designed to promote accessibility. We aim to be the partner that brings this accessibility at an affordable cost.” 

For more information, visit the following:
• YES: www.yes4youth.co.za 
• Arion Power: www.arionpower.co.za 
• Sedfa: www.sedfa.org.za