Sunfolding

About Sunfolding

Founded in 2012 by Leila Madrone, Sunfolding developed solar tracking technology for the utility-scale solar energy sector. Madrone, an electrical engineer with a background in robotics at MIT and NASA, co-founded the company with Saul Griffith, aiming to create lower-cost, highly manufacturable machines for solar plants. The company's business model centered on designing, manufacturing, and selling balance-of-system products to developers and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms.

Sunfolding's core product was a single-axis solar tracker that utilized pneumatic technology, or air pressure, instead of traditional motors and gears. This system, featuring products like the T29 Single-Axis Tracker and the TopoTrack, used flexible polymer bladders or "airbags" to move solar panels to follow the sun. The design aimed to reduce the number of components, simplify installation, lower maintenance requirements, and allow for deployment on uneven or previously unusable terrain with minimal site grading. By sourcing over 90% of its materials from the U.S. automotive industry, the company also aimed to shorten lead times and reduce procurement risks.

The company's journey included several key milestones, such as a field test in 2015, receiving a SunShot award from ARPA-e in 2016, and being seed-funded by Y Combinator in 2017. A significant $32 million Series B funding round in 2019, led by G2VP and Macquarie Capital, was raised to expand operations and manufacturing. However, despite its approach and securing customer projects, Sunfolding faced manufacturing and supply chain challenges, ultimately leading to the company winding down its operations in late 2023.