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3DSolar
Techstars '24Rocklin, US · 1 known investors
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3DSolar develops micro 3D solar cell technology that increases power density and thermal performance compared to traditional flat panel designs. The company targets renewable energy generation for residential, commercial, and microgrid applications.
Also known as 3D Solar · Topshelf Enterprises
Investors · 1
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
Company profile
researched Sep 20263D Solar (legal entity Topshelf Enterprises, also listed as 3DSolar) develops additive manufacturing technologies used to produce intricate molds for casting glass, metal and ceramic parts at both micro and macro scale. Its stated core application is a micro 3D solar cell architecture: the company 3D-prints polymer solar cell substrates, replicates them into molds, and then uses what it calls a High-Volume Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Process to cast-mold large-area micro-3D solar glass substrate panels. The cell design mimics a honeycomb-dodecahedron geometry, which the company says increases surface area and refracts and traps incoming light internally rather than reflecting it, combined with cadmium telluride's light absorption characteristics.
According to the company, its micro 3D solar cells deliver 2-3x higher power density than traditional flat panels, improved heat management in hot climates, energy generation extended across a 7 AM to 7 PM window, seasonal IV curve stability in December, and a mitigation for the Duck Curve affecting the California grid. Beyond solar, the company describes applications in battery production (micro 3D electrodes for higher power and longer cycle life), micro-optics produced without ASML-scale EUV lithography equipment, chips on glass substrates, and lightweight high-strength automotive parts.
Founding story
3D Solar was founded by Daniel Clark, who serves as the company's founder and describes its manufacturing process and solar cell design in published interviews. The company traces its solar architecture from large polyhedral solar designs down to a micro 3D cell architecture.
Business model
3D Solar develops and applies a proprietary additive manufacturing and casting process to produce molds and cast parts in glass, metal and ceramic. The company currently supplies glass components to defense and industrial customers, and intends to commercialize solar module production based on the same process. Its website also solicits investment and team members.
Traction
The company supplies glass components to defense and industrial sectors, was selected for the RadTech RadLaunch Class of 2024, and was listed in the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator cohort in June 2024. Headcount is listed as 1-10 employees.
Latest developments
A 2025 UV+EB Technology article detailed the company's manufacturing process, including use of recycled glass waste refined into roughly 7-micron particles, subzero casting-molding on a cold plate, and UV and IR photoinitiators at 385-405 nm and 670-750 nm respectively. The company outlined planned expansion of its methodology into battery electrodes, micro-optics, chips on glass substrates and automotive parts.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
An early-stage deep-tech manufacturer with fewer than 10 employees, participating in accelerator and industry recognition programs, with current revenue-generating activity in glass components for defense and industrial customers and solar modules still at the commercialization stage.
The company positions its micro 3D cell geometry against conventional flat silicon panels, citing higher power density, internal light trapping, better thermal behavior in hot climates and output shifted toward mornings and evenings. It also states its molding process allows complex geometries previously limited to plastics injection molding to be cast in glass, metals or ceramics, and that its subzero casting approach yields a semiconductor-grade finish without post-processing.
Technology
The process combines volumetric printing or two-photon lithography to produce layer-line-free polymer substrates, replication of those substrates into molds, and a hybrid additive manufacturing casting step. Casting is performed at room temperature, where chemical curing permits non-transparent binder resins combined with metals, or at subzero temperatures on a cold plate, where freezing stabilizes photopolymers and eliminates heat distortion during UV or IR exposure. Feedstock includes recycled glass waste refined to approximately 7-micron particles. UV photoinitiators operate at 385-405 nm and near-IR/IR at 670-750 nm. The solar cell uses cadmium telluride absorption with a honeycomb-dodecahedron-inspired micro 3D geometry.
Go-to-market
The company currently sells glass components into defense and industrial sectors while working toward commercialization of solar module production. It participated in the RadTech RadLaunch program and the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator, and publicly invites investors and prospective team members through its website.
Defense and industrial buyers of cast glass components; for solar, rooftop, commercial and remote microgrid energy applications. The company also identifies potential use in battery, micro-optics, semiconductor packaging and automotive manufacturing.
Geography
Listed locations are Rocklin, California and Knoxville, Tennessee, United States.
History
The company was founded in 2019 and is listed with locations in Rocklin, California and Knoxville, Tennessee. Operating as Topshelf Enterprises doing business as 3D Solar out of Knoxville, Tennessee, it was recognized as part of the RadTech RadLaunch Class of 2024 and appeared in the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator cohort listed in Techstars' June 2024 update. The company states it moved from validated large polyhedral solar designs to a micro 3D cell architecture.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 4
Companies working in the same space as 3DSolar.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filings3DSolar was listed among the companies in the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator cohort in Techstars' June 2024 portfolio update.
Topshelf Enterprises, operating as 3D Solar, was named part of the RadTech RadLaunch Class of 2024.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- 3DSolar3dsolar.co · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 3DSolar do?
- 3D Solar uses additive manufacturing and casting to make micro 3D solar cell substrates and complex glass, metal and ceramic parts.
- Who are 3DSolar's investors?
- 3DSolar's investors include Techstars.
- Where is 3DSolar headquartered?
- 3DSolar is headquartered in Rocklin, US.