Join an eco-friendly revolution within a promising and fast-evolving solar energy industry. Discover untapped opportunities and possible risks for business growth coupled with effective strategies to secure solar energy funding and leapfrog competitors.
The solar energy industry is riding a wave of rapid growth, driven by rising demand for clean energy, environmental benefits of renewables, and supportive government policies, such as ITC and RPS. As technology advances and the economy scales, the costs for solar panels are declining, making these products more affordable for consumers. Like this, the solar energy industry becomes more appealing to both startups and venture capitalists. The opportunities to capitalize on are abundant—residential solar installations, commercial and industrial solar solutions, utility-scale solar farms, off-grid solar projects, etc.—as well as the funds infusions ($7B was secured in 2022). But…
In a dog-eat-dog market, standing out is akin to climbing a mountain—risky and needs much power. The top players like First Solar, Enphase Energy, and JinkoSolar are arming themselves with innovative strategies and leveraging cutting-edge technology to maintain their market dominance. At the same time, over 2.7K startups are creating unique solutions, searching for the spots the leaders might’ve missed.
Plus, an impeccable fundraising game is a must. Research and development of solar energy solutions coupled with catching up with tech advancements may burn a hole in your pocket, varying from $1M to $100M. That’s why a smart approach to securing additional funds is key to addressing R&D and tech issues. Thus…
Having secured over $2B in funding, scouted for perfect M&A opportunities, crafted more than 600 flawless and visually attractive pitch decks, and driven growth of numerous ventures across over 80 industries—including the burgeoning solar energy sector—at Waveup, we know which steps to take further to turn your startup into a prosperous and profitable business. Get a glimpse of the industry by looking through our solar industry market research.
2x growth
The solar energy sector is expected to hit $435.4B by 2032, in contrast to 2023 $234.9B.
10%
Solar energy constituted 10% of the worldwide electricity production in 2022.
The average cost of a solar panel has plummeted from $4 to $0.50 per kW.
Jobs have been created within the solar energy sector.
The US federal government offers a 26% tax credit for purchasing solar panels.
VENTURE LANDSCAPE
Key verticals capital funding tends to concentrate:
WAVEUP VIEW
The abundance of growth opportunities comes with a hefty price tag.
Solar energy is a sector where R&D costs are sky-high. Most companies pour substantial investment into manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of solar panels plus large land areas for solar farms. Among them are Heliogen, a solar energy company that raised over $700M in funding yet spent over $100M on R&D, and SunDrive, that invested more than $20M in R&D out of secured $100M. Thus, without leveraging governmental grants, collaborating with established players, and implementing robust fundraising strategies, companies may bite the dust as it once happened to Solyndra—a once-promising solar energy company that got over $530M loan guarantee in 2009 yet failed to raise private investment and filed for bankruptcy in 2011.
Tech challenges are another milestone on the way to success. First of all, it’s hard to find efficient yet cost-effective materials. For instance, the innovative perovskite offers high efficiency but fails to prove its stability and scalability potential in the market. Plus, developing control systems that seamlessly integrate with smart grids, particularly in adverse weather conditions, is a hard nut to crack due to the complexities of integrating AI and the need for real-time adjustments. Thus, solar energy startups need an impeccable fundraising game; otherwise, they risk running out of money early on.
Raising funds is only half the battle; truly making a mark in a saturated and cutthroat market is the ultimate test. Having over 1K established solar energy companies and over 2.7K startups globally, the sector becomes a real battlefield for the new entrants who want to make a splash. Plus, the cross-sectional nature of the industry (it may be more efficient to combine several types of clean energy) coupled with the struggle to convince customers to switch to solar energy only adds fuel to the fire. Thus, to stand out, startups need to develop unique selling propositions and leverage digital marketing and social media to communicate the value of their solutions and educate potential customers.
From diligent industry analysis to storytelling and financial forecasts, we’re helping founders crystallize and structure key business fundamentals and translate them into a compelling investment opportunity framed in a winning solar energy pitch deck.
Evaluating potential investments, conducting due diligence, and supporting portfolio companies on their new fundraising rounds.
Discovering market opportunities in the market and developing execution strategies to build actionable and scalable blueprints for growth.
WHO WE ARE
Market intelligence
Fundraising support
Pitch decks
Financial models
Investor research
Growth consulting
Go-to-market strategies
Marketing/sales materials
Design support
Investments in the solar energy industry are soaring high owing to its environmental benefits, supportive government policies (ITC, for instance), growing demand, and decreasing costs. Like this, the solar energy sector is lucrative for the potential VCs due to substantial rewards and the possibility of contributing to a more sustainable future.
In 2023, the solar energy market reached $234.9B. Expanding at an annual rate of 7.1%, it’s projected to double by 2032. The sector is a fertile ground for startups with the following directions to explore: tech innovations, decentralized energy systems, grid modernization and integration, green hydrogen production, etc.
Attracting funds within the solar energy industry is a hard nut to crack due to several reasons: high initial costs, tech risks, saturated market, investor sentiment, and business model viability.
It usually takes our team two to three weeks to finish the project. However, there are some cases when our experts need one month to create all the documentation. Thus, it’s better to contact us to negotiate the time frames individually.
First of all, investors want to see a coherent and catchy narrative and intro. You must know how to grasp their attention at first sight. Also, it’s crucial to show the viability of the market-entry strategy and business model. The information should be relevant but not overdosed with charts or tables since your presentation must spark VCs’ enthusiasm rather than make them bored. It’s a pity, but many solar energy pitch decks lack these vital aspects and, thus, fail to attract additional funding.
Competition, tech-related issues, and high initial investment are the top three challenges solar energy startups face on their way to success. Many companies utilize robust fundraising strategies to attract additional funds, so then to invest in R&D. Plus, they focus on creating a unique market proposition, developing strong branding and marketing strategies, and collaborating with established industry players.
The solar energy market is fiercely competitive. Only in the US are more than 10K established companies, including NextEra Energy, Avangrid, and Tesla, while fresh blood flows annually as well (over 2.7K startups nowadays).
Navigating VCs to viable ventures within the solar energy domain stands at the core of our investor package. It includes comprehensive due diligence on the projects within the solar energy sector, a clear and insight-rich pitch deck, and impeccable fundraising assistance. We also guide companies within the solar energy landscape and beyond and help startups reach the relevant investors.
Of course! Our experts provide M&A assistance within the solar energy space or beyond. Our team takes care of your project at every step: searching for profitable deals, evaluating their potential, and ensuring effective cooperation before, during, and after the negotiation process.
Sure thing! We settle initial meet-ups with the potential VCs, assisting startups at every phase. We start by evaluating your project on team, product, and funding request criteria. We then ensure your smooth cooperation with solar energy venture capital firms before, during, and after the deal.
Certainly! We provide tailored insights into the solar energy sector. Our research encompasses in-depth industry evaluations, competitive analyses, and comprehensive market surveys for you to get a distinctive edge. Leveraging reliable data sources, we ensure you understand the intricacies of the solar energy landscape, covering its potential and hurdles.
We ensure solar energy growth and fundraising guidance to newcomers within the industry. Our team assists in going through the initial Pre-Seed stage all the way to Series C and further.
Leverage Waveup's unmatched expertise in fundraising, M&A advisory, and growth hacking to take your solar energy project to the next level. Share your email, and let's discuss how we can help!
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