Climate tech
Q2 202413.05.2024

Solar Energy

Picture of Shubham Jaipuria

Shubham Jaipuria

at Sifted

In 2023, solar energy startups really hit their stride, raking in $2.3b in funding, a jump from $1.7b the year before. Fast forward to the fourth month of 2024, and these startups have only managed to pull in less than $100mn. Not much action on the funding front this year, but we're expecting some of the big players from last year to make a comeback in the second half of the year.

26 out of 27 EU Member States have submitted their National Energy and Climate Plans. On average, solar energy targets have shot up by 87% compared to previous goals. It's good news, but the investments in grid deployment haven't quite kept up with the enthusiasm. Plus, with 80% of solar panels currently imported from China, the EU has passed a bill to cut down reliance on any single country for critical raw materials to just 65% by 2030.

20 startups to watch

  • Woltair logo

    Sifted score

    8.07
    -

    Woltair

    Clean energy solutions for all.

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Year founded

      2018

    • HQ

      Prague, Czech Republic

    • Latest round

      Series A
      20.5m / Jun 2023

    • Total funding

      37.8m

  • SmartHelio logo

    Sifted score

    7.98
    -

    SmartHelio

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Hiring
    • Year founded

      2019

    • HQ

      Lausanne, Switzerland

    • Latest round

      Seed
      3.5m / Dec 2022

    • Total funding

      5.6m

  • Sunsave logo

    Sifted score

    7.87
    -

    Sunsave

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Year founded

      2022

    • HQ

      London, United Kingdom

    • Latest round

      Seed
      6.5m / Dec 2023

    • Total funding

      12.1m

  • Beem energy logo

    Sifted score

    7.6
    -

    Beem energy

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Hiring
    • Year founded

      2018

    • HQ

      Nantes, France

    • Latest round

      Series A
      20m / May 2023

    • Total funding

      29m

  • Samara logo

    Sifted score

    7.22
    -

    Samara

    • Hiring
    • Year founded

      2022

    • HQ

      Madrid, Spain

    • Latest round

      Seed
      4.5m / Dec 2022

    • Total funding

      6.5m

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