Evaluating only Solpad’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Regulation as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: Product failure.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Solpad founded in San Diego to build integrated portable solar-plus-storage consumer units for off-grid and backup power.
FUNDING
Raised $3M seed round and launched crowdfunding campaign raising hundreds of thousands with pledges for $3,500 SolPad units.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Multiple missed shipping deadlines disclosed to backers as Asian manufacturing partners reported quality yield failures in bifacial panel integration.
SHUTDOWN
Solpad dissolved quietly in 2020 having never shipped production units to crowdfunding backers or retail customers.
Full Analysis
Free · no account needed
Documented cause
Solpad, a San Diego-based solar-plus-storage portable unit company that raised $3M in 2016 and generated significant Indiegogo campaign buzz, failed to ship its consumer product after years of delays. CEO Eamonn Carey and team were unable to achieve the complex integration of bifacial solar panels, integrated battery, and smart inverter at a consumer price point of $3,500. Manufacturing partners in Asia cited quality yield issues. The company quietly dissolved by 2020 with products never shipped to backers.
Lesson
“Consumer hardware cleantech must achieve manufacturing readiness before crowdfunding campaigns; complex integration always costs more than modeled.”