Jacob Winiecki Email & Phone Number

Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

I am project lead for the Resilience+ Innovation Facility, in partnership with the University of California Davis, to design and scale integrated approaches to risk management for smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. I am Venture Building Lead for the Jobtech Alliance Accelerator, a program that hosts 2 cohorts of 4 early-stage innovators building affordable, accessible and appropriate jobtech solutions which connect young people to jobs in Africa. I co-developed the Digital… Show more I am project lead for the Resilience+ Innovation Facility, in partnership with the University of California Davis, to design and scale integrated approaches to risk management for smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. I am Venture Building Lead for the Jobtech Alliance Accelerator, a program that hosts 2 cohorts of 4 early-stage innovators building affordable, accessible and appropriate jobtech solutions which connect young people to jobs in Africa. I co-developed the Digital Finance for Climate Resilience network (now the CIFAR Alliance) to catalyze action to address the climate resilience and adaptation needs of the most vulnerable populations. I provide technical support to Catalyst Fund startup venture-building engagements with a particular focus on fintech solutions for climate resilience and adaptation, financial health, and last-mile utilities.I designed and managed action research projects advancing new pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar products and business models with operators and financial institutions under the Financial Inclusion on Business Runways (FIBR) program in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Areas of engagement included digitization strategy and smartphone app design, portfolio analytics and machine learning for churn prediction, sales strategy and agent network management, customer incentives and behavioral interventions, and linkages between PAYGo and local financial institutions.I have led consumer research, human-centered design and product development consulting engagements in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Clients include PAYGo energy providers, global payments providers, development finance institutions, distributed utilities, and foundations. Show less

Helsinki Area, Finland

Freelance consulting in the areas of digital finance, off-grid energy, and pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) solar. • CGAP, Inclusive Markets Team. Research and development of new frontier agent business models to reduce payment frictions impacting pay-as-you-go solar customers in East and West Africa. 2016-2017. • International Finance Corporation (IFC). Strategy and technical assistance to a multinational energy company in the design and launch of a pay-as-you-go solar business in Papua New… Show more Freelance consulting in the areas of digital finance, off-grid energy, and pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) solar. • CGAP, Inclusive Markets Team. Research and development of new frontier agent business models to reduce payment frictions impacting pay-as-you-go solar customers in East and West Africa. 2016-2017. • International Finance Corporation (IFC). Strategy and technical assistance to a multinational energy company in the design and launch of a pay-as-you-go solar business in Papua New Guinea. Sep 2016 – Dec 2017.• IFC, Lighting Global Initiative. Designed and executed a “Digital Finance + Energy” training for Lighting Global staff, and supported the development of the team’s strategy for PAYGO solar in Africa and Asia/Pacific. Show less

Arusha, Tanzania

Venture-backed micro-leasing company focused on electrifying Sub-Saharan Africa with PAYGO solar. • Built and managed Africa-based Product Management and Innovation teams charged with product-market fit and evaluation of new business model opportunities• Leading design and overhaul of OGE’s core product offerings, including home solar product configuration, micro-lease terms and conditions, customer-facing pricing and messaging• Designing and managing field-based research, trials… Show more Venture-backed micro-leasing company focused on electrifying Sub-Saharan Africa with PAYGO solar. • Built and managed Africa-based Product Management and Innovation teams charged with product-market fit and evaluation of new business model opportunities• Leading design and overhaul of OGE’s core product offerings, including home solar product configuration, micro-lease terms and conditions, customer-facing pricing and messaging• Designing and managing field-based research, trials and pilot projects rapidly testing new products, feature changes, and business model improvements in Tanzania and Rwanda Show less

Independent research institution housed at The World Bank focused on financial inclusion.• Developed and managed CGAP's work in the energy access sector, with a focus on pay-as-you-go solar businesses leveraging digital finance and innovative payment enforcement technology • Led research partnerships with three leading PAYG solar companies in East Africa, providing technical assistance and documenting lessons learned • Raised awareness of "Digital Finance Plus" businesses… Show more Independent research institution housed at The World Bank focused on financial inclusion.• Developed and managed CGAP's work in the energy access sector, with a focus on pay-as-you-go solar businesses leveraging digital finance and innovative payment enforcement technology • Led research partnerships with three leading PAYG solar companies in East Africa, providing technical assistance and documenting lessons learned • Raised awareness of "Digital Finance Plus" businesses and opportunities in the energy sector through public good research, blog posts, and problem solving/solution development through CGAP hosted working group sessions Show less

Greater New York City Area

Early-stage financing for mobile/ICT, alternative energy, and agriculture tech start-ups focused on the world's underserved markets.• Supported pipeline development and portfolio management, focused on clean energy opportunities in East Africa

Bangalore, India

Simpa Networks is a start-up technology company with a bold mission: to make modern energy simple, affordable, and accessible to everyone. Simpa sells solar-as-a-service to energy-poor households and micro-enterprises in rural India. Simpa customers make a small down payment for the solar PV system, then pay for energy on a pay-as-you-go basis using a mobile phone. Each payment for energy also adds towards the total purchase price, and once fully paid, the system unlocks, providing energy free… Show more Simpa Networks is a start-up technology company with a bold mission: to make modern energy simple, affordable, and accessible to everyone. Simpa sells solar-as-a-service to energy-poor households and micro-enterprises in rural India. Simpa customers make a small down payment for the solar PV system, then pay for energy on a pay-as-you-go basis using a mobile phone. Each payment for energy also adds towards the total purchase price, and once fully paid, the system unlocks, providing energy free and clear. Show less

Global non-profit organization that brings together practitioners, funder, pro-poor enterprises, and end-user to develop solutions for access to finance for clean energy and water. • Member of founding team, managing energy access projects in East Africa, Asia, and Latin America focused on end-user financing • Designed, piloted, and grew new energy lending programs at 6 microfinance institutions in Africa and Asia, and one in-house revolving loan fund at a leading East African solar… Show more Global non-profit organization that brings together practitioners, funder, pro-poor enterprises, and end-user to develop solutions for access to finance for clean energy and water. • Member of founding team, managing energy access projects in East Africa, Asia, and Latin America focused on end-user financing • Designed, piloted, and grew new energy lending programs at 6 microfinance institutions in Africa and Asia, and one in-house revolving loan fund at a leading East African solar company • Identified and brokered investments in East African microfinance institutions offering energy lending facilities on behalf of U.S.-based social investors. • Provided business development support services to multiple solar product companies, including market expansion strategy, business plan development, product management, and new product rollout Show less

Adjunct at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, co-teaching "Solar Design for Development."

New York, Usa; Kampala, Uganda; Kisumu, Kenya

• Conducted scoping assessment of microfinance and energy sectors in Ethiopia and recommended country strategy on behalf of UNCDF CleanStart. 2013/4• Co-authored global action research project sponsored by Citigroup Foundation and USAID profiling microfinance institutions offering energy loan product lines in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and documenting best practices. 2006/7. • Supported the development and launch of the FINCA Uganda solar photovoltaic and fuel-efficient cookstove… Show more • Conducted scoping assessment of microfinance and energy sectors in Ethiopia and recommended country strategy on behalf of UNCDF CleanStart. 2013/4• Co-authored global action research project sponsored by Citigroup Foundation and USAID profiling microfinance institutions offering energy loan product lines in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and documenting best practices. 2006/7. • Supported the development and launch of the FINCA Uganda solar photovoltaic and fuel-efficient cookstove loan portfolio. 2006/7. • Co-managed evaluation of Ghana’s Multi-Functional Platform village-level energy program on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2007. • Provided support to the UNDP Africa Regional Bureau and the European Union Energy Initiative in the development of the East Africa Strategy for Scaling up Access to Modern Energy Services, a regional policy white-paper. 2006/7. • Conducted an evaluation and assessment of infrastructure constraints on private sector development and foreign investment in Western Kenya on behalf of the Millennium Cities Initiative, a project of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. 2007.• Conducted evaluation and assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of institutional biomass rocket cook stoves in the Millennium Villages Project school-feeding program in Western Kenya. 2007.• Provided technical assistance and programmatic support to the capacity building service line of the Global Village Energy Partnership to promote access to modern energy services to promote poverty reduction and sustainable development. 2005/6. Show less

Masters Of Public Administration, Environmental Science And Policy

Activities and Societies: Microfinance Working Group, Member Corporate Social Responsibility Group, Member

B.S., Financial Accounting