SLS Energy celebrates five years of growth at CMU-Africa

Patricia Raffaele

Apr 28, 2026

Co-founders of SLS Energy and CMU-Africa alumni Léandre Berwa (MS ECE ’20), chief executive officer; Chris Karera (MS ECE ’20), head of software engineering; and Patrick Ntwari (MS ECE ’20), head of hardware engineering, celebrated five years of the company’s growth by hosting a special anniversary event. The event was held at CMU-Africa’s Innovation Hub, where SLS Energy began as a startup in 2021.

"CMU-Africa has been integral to SLS from the very start. The university has shaped my career through academics, research opportunities, and internships," said Berwa. "Upon founding in 2021, SLS was incubated within CMU-Africa’s entrepreneurship program, and continues to be housed there today in the Innovation Hub. The program provided both financial backing and technical assistance that proved indispensable to the company’s early development and continued growth.”

CMU-Africa has been integral to SLS Energy from the very start and the resources provided were indispensable to the company’s early development and its continued growth.

Léandre Berwa, CEO, SLS Energy

SLS Energy invited partners, customers, investors, suppliers, government representatives, and others to this special celebration. Guests participated in hands-on demonstrations, a panel discussion, and networking opportunities.

Tim Brown, interim director of CMU-Africa, delivered the keynote address, recognizing the long-standing partnership between SLS Energy and CMU-Africa. Brown reflected on CMU-Africa’s broader role in nurturing Rwanda’s focus on entrepreneurship.

The celebration marked the company’s journey, which started with a focus on the need to create a useful application for thousands of batteries from motorcycles and electric vehicles that were going to be retired. Today, the company’s focus is on the development of a new market: the second-life battery system (repurposing retired electric vehicle and waste batteries) and growing a supply chain in Rwanda and Africa to create sustainable energy solutions.

During the event, guests engaged with the company’s technology, such as the battery as-a service-model and analytics tools that are used to monitor battery health, predict battery degradation, and optimize battery performance.

Through hands-on interactive demonstrations, guests learned how second-life batteries–such as retired electric vehicle packs–are tested, reconditioned, and redeployed in commercial and industrial applications in Rwanda.

Panelists–including a customer, supplier, funder, investor, and representative from an ecosystem support organization–discussed, “Five Years of Building the Second-Life Battery Ecosystem in Rwanda.” Topics of conversation ranged from adopting SLS as a customer to how the second-life battery supply chain has evolved. Financial topics included the significance of structured events, such as Hanga Pitchfest, and challenges, including the need for more financial sector-specific financing vehicles. The discussion concluded with a focus on the resources needed to grow engineering-led ventures in Rwanda.

The celebration concluded with a reception, providing guests with time for conversation and networking.

SLS Energy has met many milestones in its first five years, including powering reliable energy systems for more than 30 sites, deploying more than 500 kilowatt hours in storage capacity/clean energy, and achieving 99.9 percent system guaranteed reliability. SLS Energy also highlighted its impact on the #5yearspoweringrwanda goal of achieving universal access to electricity in Rwanda by 2030.

SLS Energy plans to continue expanding, operating its battery-as-a-service model, and making clean energy available to businesses across Africa.