Start-Up Alley is an exciting opportunity at SPI for new companies to gain visibility and for those in the industry to see what’s on the horizon.
While Solar Power International’s many over-the-top booths sure grab your attention, some of the most innovative technology at the show may be in Start-Up Alley. The program returns for its second year, presented by Solar Power International and Clean Energy Trust, to give up-and-coming companies a chance to reap the benefits of a show where they otherwise might not be able to afford a booth.
Though now signing deals with companies like Enphase Energy, program founder Mike Dershowitz recalls spending every penny his start-up software company ModSolar had to get a booth at PV America in the company’s early days.
“We were all the way at the back in the concessions area where no one could find us,” Dershowitz recalls in a video he shot to promote Start-Up Alley. “But we picked up customers, found prospects and showed our face among our competitors.”
“We wanted to help other companies repeat the success we had,” he says. “The goal is to help them find their first customers and introduce them to venture capitalists and possible partners.”
Last year’s winner was Michigan-based GreenLancer.com, which lets contractors order the entire spectrum of documents needed to take a project from feasibility through construction. In effect, the company can serve as a back office operation for contractors seeking to add solar energy expertise to its services.
Since winning the 2013 Solar Power International Start-Up Alley Challenge, CEO Michael Sharber says GreenLancer.com has seen its monthly sales increase more than 30 times and its customer base increase six times what it had been.
“The Start-Up Alley Challenge validated our business model,” Sharber says. “As a result, we landed and signed master service agreements with some of the industry’s largest players.”
Last year Greenlancer.com, which can serve as a back office operation for contractors seeking to add solar energy expertise to its services, celebrated its win of the Start-Up Alley Challenge at SPI in Chicago.
The finalist in the running for this year’s competition include:
enACT Systems Inc
Energy Toolbase LLC
Faraday
Geli Inc
Smart Resource Labs
SMASHsolar, Inc.
Sun Number
Finalists will pitch their business proposals to a panel of distinguished venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, corporate investors and business leaders at the show.
Attend the challenge on the expo floor to see who comes out 2014’s winner. Competition will be located on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m in South Hall 4.