In just nine months, Aether has transformed how rooftop solar is designed and installed—and now, with a fresh $2.5 million in seed funding, the company is ready to scale its groundbreaking platform even further.
Zayne Sagar, Founder and CEO of Aether, launched the company with a straightforward goal: build cutting-edge technology that makes rooftop solar affordable, accessible, and easy to deploy across the globe. “Shelby and I started Aether to tackle the inefficiencies we saw in the rooftop solar industry,” Sagar explains. “We knew there had to be a better way—one that would drastically reduce costs and make solar adoption faster.”
Tackling Industry Challenges
The rooftop solar industry has faced persistent challenges, including deceptive sales tactics and complex software solutions that erode consumer trust. Aether is addressing these issues head-on. After gathering insights from hundreds of installers, the company identified several key industry needs:
- Accurate data for estimations and building measurements across various regions.
- Transparent and actionable software that informs homeowners throughout the sales process.
- Elimination of costly and slow connector apps, which add inefficiency to installers’ workflows.
- Automation of processes at scale through Agentic AI workflows to improve efficiency.
- Affordable, integrated solutions that bring everything under one roof.
Aether’s platform replaces the fragmented apps and disjointed tools currently used by solar installers—from pre-sales and design to installation and home monitoring. “By unifying the entire solar workflow into a single, flexible platform, we’re saving time and cutting costs, which is crucial for installers operating on thin margins,” Sagar adds.
Building a Seamless Solar Solution
One of Aether’s most significant innovations is its management of “solar data”—the crucial information generated during the pre-sales design and engineering stages. This data is vital for the entire lifecycle of a solar project, yet many platforms require extensive, custom integrations to handle it effectively. Aether’s deeply integrated platform ensures a seamless experience for both installers and homeowners, eliminating the need for complex, time-consuming setups.
“Our approach from the start was to be more than just another point solution,” Sagar notes. “We wanted to innovate at every stage of the solar lifecycle—pre-sales, design, installation, and even post-sales. We’ve already shown this with the beta release of our one-click solar design automation.”
A Platform for Installers of All Sizes
Smaller solar installers often struggle to innovate their tech stacks due to limited resources and expertise. Aether’s platform levels the playing field, offering tools that empower these businesses to compete with larger players. With features like one-click design automation, installers can deliver faster, more accurate solar projects without relying on disjointed tools or offshore development teams.
Expansion, Innovation, and Solar Financing
With plans to launch a native solar design tool tailored for the European market, Aether is rapidly expanding its global footprint. But the company’s ambitions don’t stop there. In 2025, Aether plans to introduce its own solar financing product—Aether Financing. This will enable installers to offer homeowners attractive financing options, extending Aether’s capabilities into the post-sales phase.
“This is just the beginning,” Sagar says. “We’re building tech that will allow homeowners to make a solar purchase with a single click, ensuring an electrically valid system at the point of sale. Aether Financing will also make the process even more transparent and accessible.”
Investor Confidence and Rapid Growth
The seed round was led by Noa, Europe’s largest built world venture capital firm, signaling strong investor confidence in Aether’s potential to disrupt the solar industry. “Aether’s platform revolutionizes the solar workflow end-to-end, reducing soft costs and saving both the installer and homeowner money,” said Jess Clemans, Investor at Noa. “We’re excited to back such a strong team with a product that can have a real impact on solar’s global adoption.”
Aether is already showing remarkable progress, approaching $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) just nine months after launching. This rapid growth highlights the demand for Aether’s solutions, particularly among installers eager to improve efficiency and cut costs.
What’s Next for Aether?
Looking ahead, Aether’s goal is clear: simplify and streamline the rooftop solar experience for homeowners and installers alike. “We’re not done yet,” Sagar emphasizes. “There’s still work to be done to make the solar purchasing process even easier and more transparent. But with this latest funding, we’re ready to take the next big step.”
Aether has attracted support from leading investors, including industry veterans like Gustaf Alstromer, Nick Elledge, Richard Aberman, and JJ Fliegelman, all of whom see the potential for Aether to reshape the solar landscape.
As the company continues to innovate and expand, one thing is certain—Aether is poised to play a key role in making rooftop solar accessible, affordable, and scalable around the world.ks to Aether’s relentless pursuit of innovation and efficiency.