Could you imagine a solar cooker being a multimillion-dollar business venture? Well, you’d be surprised to know that it is and goes by the name SolSource. Big companies like One Earth Designs and Shark Tank support the business.
One Earth Designs is a charity organization with the sole mission to introduce innovations that have a substantial social and environmental impact on the planet. Their team consists of creative designers, environmental scientists, and practical thinkers.
While Shark Tank is an American business reality television show that aims to support entrepreneurs achieve big things with their business ideas.
SolSource was founded by Caitlin Powers, who is also one of the co-founders of One Earth Designs. While the idea initially came from Scott Frank, SolSource is essentially a partnership between Frank and Powers. In our review of this fantastic solar cooking, you will learn everything you need to know about it. So, keep reading!
SolSource is a business that specializes in making solar-powered stoves for cooking. Apart from not requiring any gas or electricity to function, this one-of-a-kind cooker is 75% lighter, more efficient, and more compact than regular stoves.
This cooker allows you to cook while conserving energy since it is 100% pollution-free and highly cost-effective. Whether you are going camping or for some other outdoor activity where there is no gas or electricity, SolSource covers all your cooking requirements.
It rates high in portability as it only weighs around ten pouts and can even fold into a small footprint. Moreover, this cooker does not disappoint in terms of performance and style and heats up quickly after installation.
SolSource’s unique design allows it to capture sunlight and perform several cooking functions like grilling, pan-frying, slow cooking and even boiling. This cooker generates heat to such as extent that you can also use it to heat a large amount of water for residential use when there is a gas or electricity shortage.
Moreover, it also consists of an advanced self-healing polymer which ensures high performance and longevity. Another plus point of this cooker is that it has an aligning mirror that enables users to align the cooker with the making to ensure maximum efficiency, making it extremely easy to use.
This product resembles a satellite dish that reflects sunlight onto a pot stand suspended in the center of the dish. On a sunny day, you can quickly grill a burger on this solar-powered stove in just ten minutes. The surface of the reflective dish is made from scratch-resistant and 100% recyclable materials.
Powers wanted to take her business to the level next by revolutionizing outdoor cooking and thus decided to enter Shark Tank, hoping to convince one of the Sharks to invest in her unique business idea. She sought an investment of $500,000 in exchange for 3% of her business.
Powers started her pitch by displaying her product and went into detail about how it functions and its benefits to users. The Sharks were impressed when they heard that this solar-powered stove claimed to heat five times faster than a regular grill and allows users to control the heat by manipulating the panels on the stove.
The Sharks were also pleased when they heard that the company has successfully generated $1.3 million in sales revenue, which is expected to reach $500,000 by the end of the year. Mark made an offer to invest $500,000 in exchange for 5% equity, to which Powers made a counteroffer of 4% at the same investment. Mark agreed, and they finalized the deal.
Final Deal: a deal of 500,000 dollars in exchange for 4% ownership of SolSource was finalized between Mark and Powers.
Despite the Shark Tank deal working out as planned, SolSource ceased its operations and is no longer in business. It’s another bust and a Shark Tank failure.
Our Review of SolSource
Cooking outdoors becomes convenient with appliances offered by SolSource. The company made lightweight and highly efficient solar-powered stoves to accommodate many cooking functions like grilling, boiling water, etc.
SolSource products were 100% sun powered, meaning they do not require an additional energy source such as gas, electricity, fire, or propane to function properly. The stoves came with satellite-shaped dishes that harnessed energy from the sun by reflecting the sun’s rays toward the cookware. Their cooker was just as effective as regular kitchen ovens and could heat up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the stove’s most significant advantages is that it allows users to reduce their carbon footprint while cooking. Cooking with solar energy prevented toxic smoke from blowing up into your face or going into the air. Additionally, the grill was made from solar-powered materials and did not emit any carbon emissions, making it healthy for you and the environment.
This product is also super easy to clean –all you need to do is take a cloth, dip it into a soapy solution, and wipe away any grease stuck on the surface. You can then pat it dry using a soft microfiber cloth. You would also be pleased to know that its surface stays cool during usage, so you don’t have to wait for it to cool down before you can clean it.
This cooker is perfect for outdoor use, such as camping or when you want to cook in your backyard or on the terrace. Since it weighs around 10 Pounds, you can easily move it around when required. Another advantage is that it has an alignment mirror which allows you to align it with the sun to ensure maximum efficiency.
Pros of SolSource
- 100% solar-powered.
- Made from eco-friendly materials.
- It can heat up to a temperature of 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
- It does not release any toxic smoke into the air.
Cons of SolSource
- It does not securely accommodate smaller pans.
- It is pretty expensive compared to regular kitchen stoves.
Who Is SolSource for?
SolSource is for anyone looking to cook in an eco-friendly manner without gas, electricity, or fire. It is perfect for cooking outdoors or when there is a power shortage.
Are There Any Alternatives?
One of the best alternatives for SolSource is GoSun, which specializes in solar-powered ovens that can be charged in the sunlight for later use.
Our Final Thoughts
SolSource was an excellent product that allows ease of cooking in the outdoors. Unfortunately, it could not survive in the market and had to close operations. We hope to see them around in the future so that everyone reaps the benefits of this stylish and convenient solar-powered stove.
