Robert Workman’s visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2007 inspired him to teach villagers how to run and sustain their own businesses which meant that they would need some form of power to do it. By 2008, he built the first solar power pack, GoBe (now referred to as the Goal Zero Yeti 150). With Goal Zero's assistance, the villagers in the DRC now had reliable, economical, and safe empowerment through solar energy. The company officially launched in 2009 and has provided reliable power for people all over the world.

Goal Zero is rooted in helping others and they continue to make a positive difference in the lives of victims of natural disasters and those who live without access to electricity. They’ve given gear to victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In 2013, Goal Zero donated $300,000 worth in lights, power, and framework for buildings to victims of the Haiyan Relief. Scouting America carries Goal Zero products because they are dependable, handy, and innovatively designed. Their humanitarian work shows that their values are also at the front of their mission.