Aurora Solar

Market position

Aurora describes itself as the world's number one solar design software and states that 90% of top residential US solar companies use the platform. Customer testimonials on its site position it against Solo, OpenSolar, and Solargraf, citing design accuracy, shading accuracy, and scalability as differentiators. A separate company, Aurora Solar Technologies Inc. (TSX.V: ACU) of North Vancouver, operates in PV manufacturing process control and is unrelated to this company.

Positioning centers on design accuracy without site visits, particularly shade and irradiance modeling validated by NREL and offered as bankable shade reports, combined with permit-quality proposals generated from just an address and an electric bill. Aurora couples this technical depth with AI automation (rapid 3D site model generation, automated design, stringing and fire pathways) and an end-to-end scope spanning lead capture, design, proposal, integrated third-party financing, e-signature and contract management, plus optional expert services such as plan sets and engineering stamps. Customers quoted by the company cite reduced proposal turnaround and higher close rates relative to competing tools.

Technology

Remote solar design technology combining HD aerial imagery, LIDAR-assisted modeling, 3D roof and tree modeling, irradiance and shading analysis, and a performance simulation engine validated by NREL, with shade reports positioned as bankable. Machine learning and computer vision underpin Aurora AI site models that produce 3D roof models with obstructions in under 15 seconds, AI-assisted obstruction detection, AutoDesigner automated panel placement against energy targets, automated stringing and fire pathway placement, and Lead Capture AI, which auto-generates a preliminary design for website visitors. The company states AI-generated 3D solar designs can be created in under 30 seconds. A database of more than 25,000 US authorities having jurisdiction supports permit-oriented design, and Sync, Design, and webhook APIs support integration with external systems.

Go-to-market

Self-serve online sign-up for Basic and Premium plans purchased by credit card, with additional licenses purchasable in-app, alongside a sales-led motion for Enterprise deals via demo scheduling and contact-sales. Marketing assets include the annual Aurora Solar Snapshot report, customer case studies and testimonials, Aurora Academy training content, and co-marketed integrations with financing providers such as EnFin, Lightreach, and Sungage.

Residential solar sales organizations, installers, dealers, and enterprise solar providers, ranging from individual solar professionals on the Basic plan to scaled teams and multi-dealer enterprises; content is segmented into 'For Sales' and 'For Installers.' End homeowners interact with the software indirectly through proposals and instant 3D solar estimates.

Geography

Primarily United States-focused: HD imagery, a database of 25,000+ US jurisdictions, US utility rate data, California Title 24 compliance approval, and adoption claims referencing top US residential solar companies. The company also refers to solar providers around the world using the platform.

History

Founded in August 2013, Aurora had its performance simulation engine validated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in July 2015 and its remote shading accuracy validated by NREL in December 2015. In November 2016 it received a $400,000 award from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Incubator Program (Technology to Market, Incubator 10). It raised a $20 million Series A led by Energize Ventures in February 2019. In March 2020 it became the first assessment tool approved by the California Energy Commission for demonstrating compliance with the California Title 24 solar mandate, and in September 2020 released battery storage backup and recommendation functionality. A $50 million Series B led by ICONIQ followed in November 2020. The company surpassed five million solar projects designed in its software in April 2021, announced a $250 million Series C led by Coatue in May 2021, and a $200 million Series D co-led by Coatue and Energize in February 2022, alongside the release of Lead Capture AI and Sales Mode AI.

Risks & controversies

Sources do not describe litigation, regulatory actions, or controversies. Notable considerations from the material: heavy exposure to the US residential solar market, which the company itself characterizes as facing 'new realities'; competition from Solo, OpenSolar, and Solargraf; dependence on third-party data and financing partners (EagleView, Google HD, Nearmap, Genability, GoodLeap, Dividend, Mosaic); and potential confusion with the unrelated public company Aurora Solar Technologies Inc.