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About the Episode:

What if you could go online, get a solar quote in under a minute, and bypass door knocking sales reps? That's the promise of Project Solar, a Utah-based startup with over $23 M in Series A funding, that's changing the way residential solar is sold. 

Founders Matthew Smith and Trevor Hiltbrand are disrupting the solar market with a direct-to-consumer model that eliminates the middleman, offering transparency and simplicity. Leveraging their deep e-commerce expertise and entrepreneurial backgrounds, they created a platform that empowers homeowners with clear, low pricing and a streamlined process. Their journey has been defined by significant early success, even acquisition offers, and almost immediately finding the coveted “product-market fit”, all while maintaining a rabid focus on customer experience. 
It’s rare that I think someone is truly, actually, changing the way we do things - Project Solar is one of those rare finds.

Expect to learn:

  • How Project Solar’s quoting tool delivers accurate solar quotes in under a minute.

  • Why Project Solar’s focus on simplicity and transparency is reducing the inflated costs commonly found in traditional solar sales.

  • What regulatory efforts are needed in addressing the “bad actors” in the current market

  • Where hiring the right team fits into Project Solar's long-term success in saving customers $42M and counting.

  • When the founders realized the need to refine their business model to meet the changing financing needs of their customers.

Want to know how Project Solar is bringing transparency and simplicity to the solar buying process? Listen in to learn how their direct-to-consumer online platform is transforming the way solar is sold!


Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Matthew Smith:

Connect with Trevor Hiltbrand:

Check out Project Solar:


BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:


NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

Our whole focus is simplifying and bringing transparency to this industry.
— Matthew Smith
We want people, first and foremost, to understand that, it’s just an amazing investment, that benefits the environment, and it benefits their wealth, their income, and so just really changing the perspective of how people perceive solar.
— Trevor Hiltbrand

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is Chint Power Systems America!

CPS America is the #1 supplier of 3-phase string inverters for Commercial & Industrial and Utility-Scale projects with more than 8 gigawatts of inverters installed on 20,000+ sites around the nation!

Visit https://www.mysuncast.com/cps

We are grateful for our GOLD sponsor:

Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina


ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 15 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.