MassChallenge

Founded in 2018, CLIMATENZA is a Chilean company specializing in innovative solar thermal technologies. It focuses on generating high-value energy for utilities and heat for industrial applications, aiming to limit climate change and promote sustainable development.

Perovskia develops and digitally prints customized solar cells using patent-protected technology, combining printed electronics, photovoltaics, and materials science. The company produces solar cells that can be printed directly onto glass and other substrates, enabling electronics manufacturers to power devices, extend battery life, and provide sustainable energy alternatives to traditional silicon-based cells.

Moon Innovations provides affordable, smart, and sustainable solutions, for low-mid income homes and businesses all around the world.It designs, develops, and manufacture the solar smart inverter system which is a single-box solution providing homes and businesses with solar electricity, WiFi internet access, and AI-enabled security surveillance with a mobile application to remotely monitor and control the system.

Earthbond facilitates collective purchasing power within neighborhoods for improved pricing and financing options.

Powered by AI, Mona Lee is the fastest, most efficient way for homeowners to go solar. Through a direct-to-consumer approach, Mona Lee’s AI-powered self-serve platform transforms the solar buying experience by eliminating non-stop solicitation calls, lengthy design and evaluation processes, and back-and-forth price negotiations that can take up to weeks. With Mona Lee, customers go from quote to scheduling their installation in minutes. Feel free to visit our website to read customer testimonials and Mona Lee solar reviews. Mona Lee was founded by a group of serial entrepreneurs with decades of experience in clean energy. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA and is proud to serve homeowners nationwide.

ENERGY2GO is a provider of direct solar energy recharge to small devices and built-in power banks. The integrated PowerBank can store the sun's energy and provide customers with clean energy at any time of day and in sunlight conditions.

SolFoil specializes in the development of innovative solar heating equipment designed for outdoor cooking and heating applications. The company offers compact and easy-to-use solar heated packages that enable users to heat, cook, pasteurize, and sterilize food without the hazards associated with traditional methods, such as smoke or fire risk. By harnessing sunlight effectively, SolFoil's products are suited for a variety of situations, including outdoor activities, sports events, and emergency or crisis scenarios, providing a practical solution for users seeking reliable and safe heating options.

SmartHelio is a software company specializing in predictive analytics for the solar industry. Its platform uses advanced algorithms and AI to detect faults in solar systems, enabling real-time insights and recommendations for improved performance and efficiency. By integrating with existing IT platforms or providing a dashboard, SmartHelio helps solar companies optimize their operations, reduce O&M efforts by 30%, and generate up to 5% extra energy.

Solarflux Energy Technologies specializes in solar thermal power through its innovative parabolic dish concentrator technology. This technology is designed to address the increasing energy demands of modern society while providing a clean and cost-effective energy solution. By utilizing low-cost materials, Solarflux is able to offer enhanced energy conversion efficiency and reduced system costs. The company's solutions require minimal land use, allow for streamlined installation, and demand low maintenance, making them an attractive option for clients seeking sustainable thermal energy alternatives.

ALP Technologies is a renewable energy engineering start-up from London. It focuses on developing renewable energy technologies for the developing world. Since founding in 2015, it has won multiple awards and funded research and development projects such as advanced battery systems on recycled cells, novel biogas generation, and power electronic and control systems. Its small-scale power plant for developing regions uses solar, bio-ethanol, and agricultural waste to generate uninterrupted electricity. It aims to displace diesel generation and fossil fuel based power plants and leapfrog grid infrastructure in the developing world.

Power2Peer is a developer of a blockchain-secured energy trading platform designed to facilitate the purchase and sale of renewable energy at a local level. Its app-based marketplace, P2PConnect, connects small-scale energy producers and consumers, enabling them to buy and sell clean energy directly. This platform allows community members, who may not be able to invest in traditional renewable energy installations like rooftop solar panels or wind farms, to easily access locally sourced clean energy. Additionally, corporate clients and small businesses can benefit from offsetting their carbon footprints by utilizing this sustainable energy, even in the event of grid outages. Power2Peer aims to expand the renewable energy market by promoting the use of micro-grids powered by solar panels and other renewable resources, making sustainability more accessible and affordable for all.

AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

iWin, based in Manno, Switzerland, specializes in the development of an innovative photovoltaic venetian-blind shading device that is seamlessly integrated into insulating windows without affecting their design or functionality. Established in 2019, the company aims to enhance building sustainability, as the construction sector is responsible for approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions. The patented system not only generates renewable energy on-site but also effectively controls light and solar radiation, protecting buildings from overheating in summer. iWin’s product is customizable in size and color, durable, and requires minimal maintenance, boasting a payback period of less than ten years. The company has created its first working prototype and has formed partnerships with SUPSI and Pellini Group, a leader in integral venetian blinds. With a significant market opportunity, particularly in Switzerland where around 900,000 square meters of glass façades are installed annually, iWin is poised for growth in the sustainable building sector.

Founded in 2018, SAMAWATT specializes in optimizing renewable energy trading for wind and solar park operators. Its AI-driven platform offers services such as accurate production and price forecasting, strategic spot market trading, battery storage management, and peer-to-peer energy exchange, helping operators manage risk and enhance profitability.

Bodhi's mission is to cultivate the bond between people and the energy that powers their lives. Our software platform empowers solar companies to deliver amazing customer experiences with ease. Bodhi automates communication and personalizes the homeowners’ experience, so that installers can focus on what they do best - executing projects, making more sales, and transforming communities around energy.

HiLyte provides off-grid energy solutions, specializing in portable lighting and phone-charging services for rural communities. They equip local agents with training and support to offer hiLyte cubes, reducing dependence on polluting alternatives.

KeeUI Solar operates a solar equipment and project platform that supports renewable energy adoption in Mexico, offering digital tools and services such as real-time equipment sourcing, automated system design, and specialized training. It supplies solar components including panels, inverters, structures, and EV chargers, along with industrial monitoring and system design services that integrate technical data. These offerings help solar professionals reduce project lead times, optimize procurement, and scale installations while maintaining technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.

Blue Isles provides floating solar power solutions.

SolarBox is a renewable energy technologies company that offers renewable energy technologies to people who lack access to electricity. The company is driven by its mission is to offer people who lack access to electricity a better life using renewable energy technologies. The company was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Yotta Energy Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Austin, Texas, specializes in the manufacture of innovative solar storage solutions. The company's flagship product, SolarLEAF, is a modular energy storage device that integrates with photovoltaic panels, designed to lower costs and enhance the resiliency of energy storage systems. By significantly reducing the soft costs associated with the design, installation, and maintenance of energy storage, SolarLEAF provides a more efficient alternative to traditional centralized systems. Additionally, Yotta Energy offers SolarPLEXUS, a gateway that optimizes the operation of SolarLEAF units and facilitates connectivity within the system. Their software platform further aggregates energy data to support utilities in managing grid operations and enables system owners to effectively manage their power and reduce expenses.

Ilumexico is a B-Corporation focused on promoting community development in Mexico's most marginalized regions through solar energy solutions. The enterprise aims to enhance rural electrification by providing access to clean energy, utilizing microfinance schemes and offering long-term service and training for the use and maintenance of solar technologies. Their product offerings include solar water pumps, refrigerators, street lighting, solar fences, and grid-connected systems. Ilumexico believes that energy access serves as a foundation for broader development and runs programs and workshops on topics such as community organization, gender equity, and financial inclusion to empower these communities.

OffGridBox is a company that specializes in delivering renewable energy and clean water solutions to remote areas and developing countries through its innovative OffGridBox™ system. This modular unit, housed within a compact 6x6x6 feet shipping container, is equipped with the necessary technology to generate electricity and purify water. OffGridBox aims to address the needs of over 2 billion people who lack access to reliable energy and clean water. Each unit can serve approximately 300 families, potentially impacting around 1,500 individuals, and is often managed by local cooperatives, such as women-led organizations in Rwanda. The company has successfully deployed 38 units across nine countries, including Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, the Philippines, Madagascar, the United States, and Colombia, serving various sectors such as humanitarian efforts, household retail, and industrial services. To date, these units have accumulated over 400,000 working hours, demonstrating their effectiveness and sustainability.

LEDsafari is a Lausanne, Switzerland based company founded in 2014 that provides hands-on training programs to enable individuals to design and build solar LED lamps, and operates an educational platform with ready-to-use content and learning tools. The company targets sustainability education in schools, universities, NGOs, businesses, and other institutions, and markets a solar kit that has sold around 15,000 units in 15 countries through its online platform. It plans to expand with augmented reality and mobile technologies to enrich the learning experience, aiming to empower the next generation to tackle climate change by delivering practical knowledge in solar technology and sustainable design.

Oorja Development Solutions aims to provide clean energy access to 450 million un/underelectrified people in rural Indian communities. It deploy smart micro-grids powered by biomass gasification and solar PV systems to generate, store and transmit reliable and affordable electricity to SMEs as anchor load and low-income households. It uses a scalable community-owned business model to leverage energy provision as a catalyst for socio-economic development to alleviate poverty, empower women and tackle climate change.

SunCity is disrupting irrigation practices by developing and building affordable solar energy solutions that help small farmers switch from diesel pumps.

Insolight is an energy company founded in 2015 that specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced solar panels. The company has achieved record efficiency levels of 29 percent for its solar modules, significantly lowering residential solar electricity costs. Insolight utilizes innovative optical technology that combines high efficiency with the ease of mounting similar to standard flat panels. The company has also demonstrated its capabilities through third-party validations, achieving 36 percent efficiency on lab prototypes and 29 percent on pre-industrial modules. Insolight's business model focuses on developing intellectual property, controlling wholesale distribution, and outsourcing manufacturing. Additionally, the company is engaged in creating photovoltaic systems aimed at reducing solar electricity costs in the agricultural sector, employing integrated tracking methods to optimize energy production based on the sun's position.

Catalyst for World Water is dedicated to addressing the global water crisis through innovative clean energy solutions. The company has developed a photocatalytic composite that harnesses solar energy, the most abundant renewable energy source. When exposed to sunlight, this technology generates reactive oxygen species capable of degrading organic materials and inactivating harmful bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. By utilizing an inexpensive, reusable catalyst, Catalyst for World Water aims to provide effective and sustainable solutions for water purification. This groundbreaking approach has the potential to transform the water industry and significantly improve public health by saving millions of lives worldwide.

Empowerment Solar fosters energy independence and economic prosperity across the Middle East by supplying affordable and easy access to reliable and clean solar electricity. They design and install distributed solar electricity systems for Palestinian businesses in the West Bank, eventually expanding across the region. They save Palestinian firms (who pay 70% more than Americans for electricity) 1,000s of dollars annually and eliminate electricity-shortage constraints plaguing West Bank companies.

Ubuntu Power is committed to enhancing the lives of millions of Sub-Saharan Africans living without electricity or internet connectivity. The company provides solar power solutions and mobile services, delivering clean electricity and digital connectivity to underserved areas.

Red Girasol S.A.P.I de C.V. operates a crowdfunding platform that links solar system installers with residential users in Mexico, facilitating the financing of clean energy projects. Founded in 2016 and located in Monterrey, the platform enables residential users to raise funds for solar panel installations by connecting them with investors willing to contribute. Users benefit from lower interest rates compared to traditional financing options and can pay back their contributions in monthly installments. Red Girasol utilizes an algorithm to analyze users' sunlight exposure and generate tailored quotations from various installers. After selecting a suitable installer and providing a minimum upfront payment, users initiate a funding campaign to reach their financing goal. Once achieved, installation occurs, and the company manages monthly payments to investors, earning revenue through commissions from residents, investors, and suppliers involved in its network. The platform not only supports individuals in adopting solar energy but also aims to generate environmental and social benefits through its operations.

Renovagen has developed a patented transportable solar power system which enables PV arrays of up to 100kWp to be deployed from a 20ft ISO standard shipping container. It is a solar power system called "RAPID ROLL" - a complete "micro-grid in a box" solution which includes a solar field that can be unrolled "like a carpet" in 2 minutes. Compared with existing solutions, it produces 10 times more power and can be deployed much more quickly. Ideal for military, disaster relief and remote industrial operations such as mining, the Renovagen system addresses the need for high power, transportable renewable energy systems which can eliminate the high costs of delivering fuel and maintaining diesel gensets in remote locations.

Sunwealth Power is a clean energy investment firm focused on commercial solar. It uses a proprietary methodology to identify high-performance, high-impact solar projects and builds a diversified portfolio of assets that generate returns and clean energy. The company employs a tech-driven investment approach and leverages its experience in solar to support the deployment of solar power for businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations, delivering favorable financial outcomes alongside meaningful environmental impact.

Agira’s business model helps solar panel manufacturers become profitable by reducing panel cost and increasing manufacturing capacity by using optics technology. Active solar cells constitute 60% of a solar panel’s cost and are its most capital, energy, and time intensive component. Agira’s optics enable manufacturers to produce solar panels using only a fraction of the solar cells currently required.

Raja Systems specializes in providing electrification services for off-grid or poorly grid-connected locations. The company utilizes advanced software to generate load and electricity generation forecasts, optimizing the operation of hybrid power systems that typically combine diesel generators, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and batteries. By improving the coordination of these energy sources, Raja Systems enables clients in sectors such as architecture, hospitality, agriculture, real estate development, and telecommunications to significantly reduce operating costs by up to 50% and lower capital expenses by up to 10%. The company's innovative approach focuses on smart decision-making regarding energy resource utilization, particularly in reducing diesel consumption in remote power generation setups.

Solar Tri-Gen is dedicated to the idea that innovative, affordable, renewable energy is the only solution to the growing tension between the aspirations of the developing world and concern over global climate change. They transfer technology and build capacity through partnerships that manufacture, own and operate novel distributed energy infrastructure based on micro-CSP, and provide an affordable micro-utility service and trigeneration to health clinics and schools in remote areas.

Invisergy has developed a transparent, electricity generating window. In a 20 story commercial building, energy generation of 100 kW is possible, providing for 5-10% of a building’s load requirement. Invisergy’s window is an extremely low cost per watt solution that maintains the aesthetic appeal necessary to penetrate new construction in the Building Integrated Photovoltaic market. Invisergy's proprietary technology will add value for window manufacturers through strategic partnerships. Invisergy has developed a cost-effective, transparent solar energy generating window that will revolutionize building sustainability.

STG International provides small-scale low cost solar thermal power plant for electrifying clinics and schools in developing countries. In the world's poor rural areas schools and health clinics struggle to provide adequate service without electricity or hot water. Electrification of these institutions proceeds slowly with expensive grid extension, photovoltaic (PV) panels or diesel generators. STG has developed a better solution: a miniaturized solar thermal power plant using low cost solar collectors and a novel ORC engine that can provide clean electricity and hot water at a fraction of the cost of competing systems.

SolSolutions mission is to simultaneously generate clean electricity and improve the quality of education in underprivileged schools.They adapt the proven, for-profit, solar Power Purchase Agreement model to make SolSolution a high-impact social enterprise. Instead of distributing profit to shareholders, they reinvest it into school budgets. They are planning a Dorchester, MA pilot installation.Their vision is to install 1GW of capacity by 2020 and shift >$800M to educational budgets by 2040.

Emergent Energy (Pty) Ltd. specializes in providing renewable energy solutions, including both grid-tied and off-grid systems, sustainable building design, and energy efficiency consulting. Founded in 2010 and based in Cape Town, South Africa, the company caters to a diverse clientele across various sectors, such as information and communication technology, agriculture, hospitality, education, and government. Its offerings include tailored solar photovoltaic systems, wind and hydro solutions, and Energy Heat Pump installations, all designed to meet the unique challenges of different environments. Emergent Energy also supports clients with comprehensive technical guidance and monitoring solutions to track system performance and ensure efficient operation and maintenance. With a commitment to enhancing the sustainability of South Africa’s energy sector, the company draws on extensive local and international expertise to deliver innovative solutions that promote cleaner and more reliable energy systems.

7Solar Technologies converts sunlight into heating AND cooling for buildings in a single, integrated solution. Their system integrates proprietary PV/Thermal collectors, solar air-conditioning, and software that proactively minimizes energy costs. The net result is a system that produces 4 times more energy per m2 of surface area than standard PV and they offset the entire heating and cooling load of a building. The ROI on their system is less than 3 years and less than 5 years without government incentives.

Teleos Solar makes a solar energy widely affordable. Their patent-pending crystallization process-step solution will enable CIGS thin-film solar manufacturers to increase module power output by up to 80% and cut module cost per watt almost in half. The CEO was a manager at a global solar equipment supplier and the technical team has 35 years combined in semiconductor research. It is estimated that the CIGS manufacturing equipment market could reach $10 billion by 2020. They are seeking seed funding.

Solar Engineering Solution (SES) offers breakthrough solar thermal technologies to deliver clean and cost-efficient cooling and heating solutions for commercial buildings. Heating, cooling, and hot water account for more than 40% of total energy use in buildings (over $170 B/yr), and represents 10% of US CO2 emission. Our solar thermal collector, smart control and other innovations, enable building owners to achieve payback within 3-5 years by a typical 85% reduction in energy operating costs.

Silicon Solar Solutions is an Arkansas-based startup focused on addressing the high material costs in the solar industry, which hinder market adoption. The company specializes in developing silicon-based solar cells using a patented large grain polysilicon technology. This innovation aims to reduce material usage while increasing power generation efficiency, applicable to both wafer-based and thin-film devices. Their approach emphasizes the use of abundant, non-toxic materials that are environmentally friendly and easily recyclable, offering a cost-effective solution for manufacturing solar cells and thin-film modules.