Crowdfunding sites such as Fundable, EquityNet, CrunchBase, Crowd Funder, and others are a popular if not less than traditional way for solar startups to gain exposure to investors and raise money to further fund their operations or finance debt. Whether it be seed funding or debt financing, here are eight innovative players with various crowdfunding campaigns seeking further financing.
3GSolar Photovoltaics Ltd.
The Israeli-based manufacturer 3G Solar is using innovative solar dye cells in order to create longer-lasting batteries that can be used for a wide variety of electronic devices. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are being continually proven within the solar industry as cheaper and more efficient as opposed to traditional silicon models. 3G Solar is utilizing PV cells to better power devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) such as smart devices, wristwatches, surveillance cameras, and thermostats. The PV dye inside the battery collects sunlight and then uses an environmentally friendly process to convert it to electrical output.
3G Solar is currently seeking further investment on Fundable.
Capital Raised: Undisclosed
Country: Israel
Key Executives: Barry Breen (CEO), Daphna Pearl (CFO)
Management w/Proven Track Record – Yes
Existing Credible Investors – Solar Partnership via Smedvig Capital (UK), Ningbo Huaxiang Group (China), IEC (Israel)
Blue Chip Customers – Unknown
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum – Yes
Notable Partners – Arkema Inc. (USA), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Bedek Aviation (Israel)
Sono Motors
Sono Motors, a German solar-car manufacturer is making headlines with its innovative new car model, the Sion, a sleek car equipped with over 200 solar cells with the ability for the car battery to charge itself from the sunlight during the day. The company boasts that in Germany, “up to 34 kilometers of additional range per day can be generated purely by solar energy†(Sono Motors). The solar integration of the car’s energy is all part of the company’s mission to reduce the CO2 footprint and be a global provider of sustainable energy. One particularly exciting feature about Sono is their goSion mobile app, where Sion owners can commute with other app users, give rides similar to Uber, and even share some of their battery power at a certain price.
Sono is crowdfunding on Seedrs, where purchased shares can later be traded on a secondary market. The company also invites private and institutional investors directly on its website.
Capital Raised: ~ €58 million (crowdfunding and Sion pre-orders)
Country: Germany
Key Executives: Laurin Hahn, Jona Cristians
Management w/Proven Track Record: No
Credible Investors: Wi Ventures, Grune Sachwerte
Blue Chip Customers: Unknown (pre-orders from 33 different countries)
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes (Seedrs)
Notable Partners: Automotive Solutions Germany (ASG), Continental
Haus Me
Haus.Me is a US-based energy sustainable home manufacturing company based in Reno, Nevada. Due to high prices in the current housing market, Haus Me builds 800 square foot houses at a factory and delivers them anywhere in the country. The houses are off-the-grid, powered entirely by sustainable solar energy, and can be put on any surface. The company motto, “Freedom Deliveredâ€, aims to empower customers with a rebranding of the concept of homeownership by creating a product with zero energy bills, zero on-site construction, and a house that is environmentally friendly. The solar-powered houses also come fully equipped with smart home devices, furniture, and even wine glasses.
According to Crowd Funder, Haus.Me is seeking $2 million in initial seed funding.
Capital Raised: $1,745,000
Country: USA
Key Executives: Max Gerbut (CEO)
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes
Credible Investors: Unknown
Blue Chip Customers: Miele, Byd, Schuco, others.
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: No/Unknown
Notable Partners: Phillips, Apple, Mitsubishi, Sonos, LG Solar, others.
Solar Century
Based in the UK, Solar Century is a well-known solar energy developer with operations including solar panel design, project financing, construction, and maintenance/technical support. The company has done projects all over the world including Africa and Latin America. Solar Century prides itself in combatting the frightening rise of effects of climate change by offering a solar-energy based system that aims to help push the business world along to a zero-carbon environment. Their model has produced over 3.5 billion units of electricity while preventing 1.6 billion KG of CO2. Many of Solar Century’s partners include regulators, climate change activism organizations, political leaders, and big-name tech giants such as Microsoft and Apple to fuel the push towards total renewable energy.
It appears Solar Century is currently crowdfunding through CrunchBase for debt financing.
Capital Raised: $88 million
Country: United Kingdom
Key Executives: Frans van den Heuvel (CEO), Neil Perry (CFO)
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes
Credible Investors: VantagePoint Capital Partners, Zouk Capital LLP, Scottish Equity Partners and Groupo ECOS.
Blue Chip Customers: USAid, Bentley, Toyota, ASDA, IKEA, Good Energy, among others.
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes (CrunchBase)
Notable Partners: Nissan, PowerField, ECOSolar
Questar Energy Systems
Having arrived at its full-product-ready stage, the US-based Questar Energy Systems is raising capital to finance operations for mass production and sales of its innovative SolarTrackr, a low-cost system of mounted systems to provide solar energy on a mass scale to homes and businesses. The Seattle-area company created the SolarTrackr to provide smart solar energy to various systems, utilizing an interconnected system through Internet connections to optimize the energy delivery.
Questar is crowdfunding through CrunchBase and Gust for seed funding. The company is reportedly seeking $1.5 million, according to their Gust profile.
Capital Raised: $55,000
Country: USA
Key Executives: John Hughes (CEO), Greg Robinson (CFO)
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes
Credible Investors: Unknown
Blue Chip Customers: Unknown
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes ($55,000 currently raised)
Notable Partners: Unknown
Renu Robotics
US-based Renu Robotics has a mission of using solar energy to power farms with the creation of their fully autonomous tractor, the RenuBot, which runs entirely on solar power. The bot is made for use on utility-scale solar farms where maintenance costs can be cut substantially with the self-powered tractor that charges its battery during the day from sunlight and then operates at night. The San Antonio, Texas-based company also sells robotic management software to track and properly utilize the performance RenuBot. The company is also reportedly developing further products and features for the RenuBot to spray pesticides on farms, as well as clean and dispose of used solar panels. The patent for the self-driving technology of the autonomous tractor is currently pending.
According to MicroVentures, Renu Robotics is reportedly seeking additional seed funding of $1 million total. They are crowdfunding via CrunchBase until March 16th, 2020.
Capital Raised: $643,000 ($65k via crowdfunding, $578k via private investors)
Country: USA
Key Executives: Tim Matus (CEO), Tony Padgett (COO)
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes
Credible Investors: None (mostly crowdfunding)
Blue Chip Customers: Unknown
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes ($2.9 million raised prior)
Notable Partners: Unknown
Solari Energy
The Australian-based Solari Energy is a renewable energy provider with services related to solar power and systems to carry out operations such as lighting, water filtration, and aeration in an energy-efficient manner. The company has main headquarters in Brisbane, with additional offices and operations in other parts of Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, and goals of expanding to Malaysia and the Philippines. One of the biggest investments by Solari has been a massive AUD$200 million solar pipeline project currently underway. Solari does exclusively commercial sales in Australia but does target residential sales in Auckland, New Zealand. In Papua New Guinea, Solari designs grid systems and energy storage projects.
According to EquityNet, Solari Energy is seeking AUD$5 million in funding.
Capital Raised: Undisclosed
Country: Australia, Pacific region
Key Executives: Doug Fletcher (CEO)
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes (prior solar energy experience)
Credible Investors: Unknown
Blue Chip Customers: Renewable Energy Target (RET) Project
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes (2015 equity round)
Notable Partners: Australian government, CDB Group (New Zealand)
IPP Solar
Originally founded in 2008 in New York, IPP Solar is a US-based company primarily involved with solar power plants for commercial use and electric vehicles. Multiple megawatts of installed systems have been provided via IPP’s services. According to their website, the first community solar panel project in New York City was completed by IPP Solar. Solar project financing and developing for a wide range of customers are the primary functions, with the long-term goal of providing sustainable solar energy to a diverse customer base of commercial businesses, governments, and individuals.
According to EquityNet, IPP Solar is seeking $400,000 in debt financing.
Capital Raised: $110,000 (convertible debt)
Country: USA
Key Executives: Maziar Daeleli
Management w/Proven Track Record: Yes
Credible Investors: Formed by team of investors previously known as AISI Group
Blue Chip Customers: NRG Evo, EDiS
Prior Crowdfunding Momentum: Yes ($110,000 raised)
Notable Partners: New York state government, Urstadt Biddle Properties, Boscov
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