Enphase Energy
Petaluma, Calif.
Solar panels pump out direct current, not household alternating current. The "iinverter" that makes this switch from DC to AC can be one of the most costly parts of a solar system. Enphase has managed to shrink the size and price of its inverters so low that each panel can have its own. This boosts overall power output and helps identify panel problems sooner.
Key investors: Madrone Capital Partners, Bay Partners, Third Point Ventures, RockPort Capital Partners, and Applied Ventures
