Powur, PBC

Powur, PBC operates as a platform-based company in the residential solar energy sector, structured as a public benefit corporation. The company was founded in January 2014 by Jonathan Budd, who serves as the CEO. Budd's journey to founding the company was inspired by a transformative experience in the Amazon rainforest, which led him to dedicate his work to sustainable energy. He launched the company with the vision to decentralize and accelerate the adoption of clean energy.

The business functions as a fully virtual, cloud-based platform that connects homeowners with a network of independent solar sales professionals and certified installation partners. This asset-light, decentralized model is designed to reduce the high overhead costs typical of traditional solar companies. Powur's platform provides an end-to-end solution, from sales enablement and project fulfillment to administrative tools, allowing local contractors and sales teams to scale their operations. The company serves homeowners by offering customized solar solutions, including solar panels, energy storage systems like the SolarEdge Home suite, and EV chargers. It also serves a network of over 7,000 independent sales professionals, as well as contractors such as roofers and HVAC professionals, by providing them with the tools and resources to sell and install solar systems.

Powur's revenue model is based on a transparent cost of goods (COGS) structure. The platform provides sales professionals with the direct cost to install a solar system, and any profit margin added on top is split, with 70% going to the seller and 30% to Powur. This model aims to offer higher commissions than the industry standard. The company also generates revenue through partnerships with regional EPCs, like ProLux Energy, which utilize the Powur enterprise platform to manage their business. In 2023, the company reported revenue of approximately $360.8 million. A key feature of its platform is the COGS+ model, which uses data science to provide upfront project pricing, significantly reducing the need for late-stage change orders.

Keywords: residential solar, solar sales platform, clean energy, renewable energy, energy storage, solar installation, public benefit corporation, decentralized solar, virtual solar company, Jonathan Budd, solar financing, solar sales enablement, project fulfillment, cost of goods model, independent solar professionals, home energy solutions, EV chargers, solar battery backup, sustainable energy