SkyWatch Rebrands as Cogenra, Plans to Launch in July

Updated: Skywatch Energy, a stealthy solar startup backed by Vinod Khosla has rebranded as Cogenra Solar and plans to officially launch in July, the company’s CEO Gilad Almogy, told us on Monday at Khosla Ventures’ LP meeting in Sausalito, Calif. Almogy also released a few details about the company’s technology during a panel of executives from Khosla Ventures’ portfolio companies, and explained that Cogenra has developed solar technology that produces both electricity and hot water and is initially aiming to sell to the small business and multi-tenant dwelling building market.

Almogy wouldn’t tell me much more than that after his panel, including whether or not the technology would be based around solar PV, but said more details will be released in July. Both Almogy and Khosla emphasized that Cogenra could produce its technology for a low cost, and that the system could significantly cut down on electricity and heating costs for customers.

Back in April we reported that the startup (called SkyWatch Energy at the time) had raised $10.5 million, according to an SEC filing. Almogy said at the event on Monday that that round of funding was enough for the company to significantly scale.

Cogenra employs several experienced solar entrepreneurs. Almogy was previously a senior vice president in charge of display and thin-film products at semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Applied Materials. LinkedIn profiles indicate that Cogenra’s director of engineering, as well as a senior project manager for the company, also came from Applied Materials. Cogenra’s director of technology Joe Lichy has experience with concentrating-solar technologies and previously served as a vice president at now-defunct flat-plate solar-concentrator company SV Solar. He also was formerly the president of another solar-concentrator company, NuEdison, which was bought by SV Solar in 2007. Update: Lichy tells us he is no longer with the company.

We’ll bring you more on Cogenra when we know more.

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