My research delves into the critical role of public-private interactions in successfully bringing solar technology to market, with a unique emphasis on how these collaborations are influenced by their geographic location. I investigated the solar startup landscape in the United States, particularly focusing on how public funding impacts the success of small businesses in securing further investment.
A key finding from my work is that public funding provided to solar entrepreneurial hubs – like Silicon Valley, Los Angeles/San Diego, and Boston – has a disproportionately significant effect on a company’s ability to attract subsequent private investment. This suggests that the impact of public support is not uniform across the country; instead, it largely depends on the local investment environment in which a company operates. My analysis establishes a causal link between federal public funding and the success of a small business in soliciting private follow-on investment, even when accounting for various company and environmental factors. This research provides crucial insights for policymakers and investors, highlighting that robust local investor ecosystems and independent technology validation in the same location are vital components for accelerating the commercialization of solar technology.
These projects have been funded partly by the US Department of Energy.