Soofa

Soofa is an out-of-home media owner and smart-city technology company that designs, builds, and operates a network of solar-powered digital signs in walkable neighborhoods and public spaces. Launched out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company began with a solar bench that let people charge their phones in parks and squares, then evolved into eight-foot public displays built around low-power electronic-paper screens. These e-paper totems run entirely on solar power and require no grid connection, positioning Soofa as a zero-carbon alternative to conventional illuminated digital out-of-home structures.

The displays serve a dual purpose: cities and municipal partners use them to share community information, wayfinding, and civic messaging, while advertisers use the same screens to reach pedestrians in dense, foot-traffic neighborhoods that traditional roadside billboards cannot easily serve. Soofa pairs its hardware with management software and reporting tools that capture real-time pedestrian data, allowing brands to measure audience exposure at street level rather than relying solely on vehicle counts. The company markets its placements as embedded in highly walkable areas across major designated market areas, and its footprint has grown to dozens of cities across multiple states.

Founded on principles of sustainability, equitable information access, and MIT engineering, Soofa distinguishes itself through solar operation, e-paper efficiency, and civic partnership. Its combination of place-based street furniture, measurable pedestrian audiences, and environmentally responsible design targets advertisers and cities seeking modern, community-oriented outdoor communication.