Dlight Design Lamp selling in India, coming soon to USA

Dlight Design is selling three lamps at $30 or less beginning in India and several African countries. Its LED (light-emitting diode) and compact fluorescent lights come in forms that resemble a flashlight or a desk lamp and offer solar-charging options. The venture-backed start-up recently moved headquarters to New Delhi, India. CEO Sam Goldman explained via e-mail that Dlight aims to reach mass market distribution. He and co-founder Ned Tozun developed the idea as students in an emerging markets design course at Stanford University in 2006.

Safe and affordable lighting can be key to development efforts in poor communities. With better light, people have more time to work and study. Hazards of fire from kerosene accidents diminish. And in war zones, potential attackers may be better recognized or deterred. Lighting innovations created for emerging markets are also bouncing back to the developed world.  Dlight will be selling its portable lighting units in the USA soon.