Radar · Energy Efficiency in California
Best Energy Efficiency Companies in California, United States
The 120 best Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Serious Energy.
By Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories
120companies tracked
$346.7Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
23have raised
FLIAR INTELLIGENCE · ENERGY EFFICIENCY × CALIFORNIA
Our analysis of 50 Energy Efficiency companies
$1.3b in tracked funding; 52% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2011.
50companies analysed
52%cloud-native stacks
2011funding peak (by rounds)
1unicorns
2007median founding year
58kcombined LinkedIn audience
42%of audience held by top 3
3companies hiring publicly (12 mo)
Ranked: Best Energy Efficiency companies in California
| # | Company | Last round | Disclosed funding | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Web popularity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraxas Energy Consulting Provider of energy audits, retro-commissioning, and energy accounting software. | — | — | 18 18 → 32 (+78%) | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+35 | Top 5M | — | — |
| 2 | Access Lighting Manufacturer of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures | — | — | 27 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+19 | Top 5M | — | — |
| 3 | ACCLAIM LIGHTING Manufacturer of architectural and entertainment lighting systems. | — | — | — | — | MagentoMySQLPHP+20 | Top 5M | — | 3 launchs |
| 4 | Aeris Hospitality Provider of project management services for energy efficient lighting systems | — | — | — | Laura Ditte CEO | — | — | 2 patents High‑efficiency GaN power inverters and energy‑storage boost converters | — |
| 5 | Aircon Energy Developer of solar energy projects | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Aleo Lighting Manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting solutions, focused on providing energy-efficient and advanced… | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 6 launchs |
| 7 | All Around Landscape Supply Provider of professional-grade landscaping products to commercial and residential customers | — | — | — | Victor Schaff Owner | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Alpers Engineering Provider of commissioning, retro-commissioning, and energy audit services for buildings. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Top 12 Energy Efficiency companies in California
#1
Series A · Palo Alto, California · founded 2008 · 12 employees$34Mraised▾
Series A · Palo Alto, California · founded 2008 · 12 employees
Provider of geothermal energy production services
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 57how this company ranks against its industry peers
Innovation
top 19%Patents
top 23%Funding
top 41%Moat
top 45%Global
bottom 43%News
bottom 42%Innovation: 77 patents (top 28% of patent-holders) · 77 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21
Patents: 77 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 77 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Funding: Raised $34.0M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 3 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Series A (Mar 2025)
Audience (LinkedIn): 8k LinkedIn followers — 13.1% of this cohort's audience
Hiring (LinkedIn): 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Manager, Land Development, Strategy Associate
Activity (LinkedIn): 2 partnerships (incl. Breakfast Hughes) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Mar 2025Series A$13M
- Jan 2024Series A$20M
- Mar 2023Series A$14M
Investors
BlueScopeX, Thin Line Capital, Valo Ventures, VoLo Earth Ventures, B Current, MIH Capital Management
#2
Series A · Sunnyvale, California · founded 1902 · 16 employees$12.5Mraised▾
Series A · Sunnyvale, California · founded 1902 · 16 employees
Provider of electrochemical-based air conditioners. Its products use a combination of liquid desiccant and vapor compression technology to provide superior comfort and performance at a lower cost.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 19how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 44%Talent
bottom 49%Global
bottom 37%Market
bottom 31%News
bottom 21%Funding: Raised $12.5M · 2 rounds over 3 yrs (0.7/yr) · Last round Series A (Aug 2024)
Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated
Global: Investors from 1 country beyond United States
Audience (LinkedIn): 5k LinkedIn followers — 8.4% of this cohort's audience
Hiring (LinkedIn): 4 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum +4 · hiring: Regional Sales Manager, Mechanical Design Engineer
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Founders & team
Investors
DOE, At One Ventures, Fifth Wall, Xerox Ventures, Myriad Venture Partners, Starshot Capital
#3
Seed · San Francisco, California · founded 2020 · 5 employees$15.5Mraised▾
Seed · San Francisco, California · founded 2020 · 5 employees
Developer of hydrogen storage and delivery solutions for various industries. The company provides solutions for power generation in locations lacking grid access. These solutions serve sectors including data centers, construction, ports, and airports. The company focuses on efficient, low-carbon fuels to deliver energy where and when needed. It also develops hydrogen densification equipment and storage systems.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 19how this company ranks against its industry peers
Innovation
top 31%Patents
top 33%Funding
top 37%Partners
top 40%Moat
top 45%News
top 48%Innovation: 25 patents (top 46% of patent-holders) · 25 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21
Patents: 25 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 25 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Funding: Raised $15.5M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 5 yrs (0.6/yr) · Last round Seed (Apr 2024)
Funding rounds
- Apr 2024Seed—
- Jun 2022Seed—
- 2021Seed—
Founders & team
Investors
Trucks Venture Capital, Collab Fund, The Climate Pledge, United Airlines, Newlab, Climate Capital
#4
Acquired · Santa Fe Springs, California · founded 2017 · 46 employees$17.2Mraised▾
Acquired · Santa Fe Springs, California · founded 2017 · 46 employees
Provider of energy & batteries management services
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 62how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 30%Funding
top 33%Market
top 46%Talent
bottom 49%Global
bottom 43%News
bottom 22%Growth: Headcount 32 → 46 (+44%) across vintages
Funding: Raised $17.2M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 5 yrs (0.2/yr) · Last round Series A (Oct 2022)
Market: 46 employees (top 35% of Energy Efficiency)
Funding rounds
- Oct 2022Series A$17.2M
- Apr 2021Seed—
Founders & team
Investors
Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Helios Climate Ventures, 8VC, Hella Ventures, Ajax Strategies, Fontinalis Partners
#5
Series D · Sunnyvale, California · founded 2002 · 106 employees$136.9Mraised▾
Series D · Sunnyvale, California · founded 2002 · 106 employees
Serious Energy designs and delivers products that reduce energy usage in buildings for owners and occupants. It provides acoustical and thermal solutions to the built environment through its QuietRock, Serious Window and iWindow brands.Serious Energy products have been installed in thousands of projects worldwide, including the Empire State Building.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 32how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 33%Market
top 41%Global
bottom 37%News
bottom 27%Tech
bottom 15%Funding: Raised $137M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 19 yrs (0.2/yr) · Last round Series D (Nov 2011)
Market: 106 employees (top 24% of Energy Efficiency)
Global: Investors from 2 countries beyond United States
Funding rounds
- Nov 2011Series D$3M
- Jun 2010Series D$19.8M
- Nov 2009Series C$64.1M
- Nov 2007Series B$50M
Investors
New Enterprise Associates, Foundation Capital, Rustic Canyon Partners, EnerTech Capital, Mesirow, Navitas Capital
Tech stack
Apache Http Server
#6
Acquired · Fremont, California · founded 2008 · 229 employees$93.6Mraised▾
Acquired · Fremont, California · founded 2008 · 229 employees
Manufacturer of LED lighting solutions for commercial and residential applications. The company offers a range of products, including those designed to enhance color rendering and reduce blue light emissions. These lighting solutions cater to various needs, from general illumination to specialized applications. Specification sheets, compatibility information, and resources are available for each product.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 55how this company ranks against its industry peers
Talent
top 15%Patents
top 27%Moat
top 28%Innovation
top 33%Funding
top 33%Market
top 43%Talent: Analyst team rating 5/5
Patents: 496 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 6 filings since 2022 vs 149 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 5/10 · IP moat: 496 patents
Audience (LinkedIn): 7k LinkedIn followers — 13.0% of this cohort's audience
Activity (LinkedIn): 2 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Oct 2013Grant (prize money)—
- Jan 2013Venture Debt$8M
- Sep 2011Grant (prize money)$809.6K
- Jun 2011Grant (prize money)$300K
Investors
Khosla Ventures, ARPA-E, Trinity Capital, OSTI, NGEN Partners, Angeleno Group
Tech stack
Concrete CmsPhpApache Http ServerLightboxJqueryGoogle Tag Manager
#7
Series A · Livermore, California · founded 2014 · 12 employees$16Mraised▾
Series A · Livermore, California · founded 2014 · 12 employees
Manufacturer of high-performance UVB/C solid-state emitters & UVC LEDs
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 37how this company ranks against its industry peers
Patents
top 32%Innovation
top 39%Funding
top 41%Growth
top 45%Moat
top 45%Talent
bottom 49%Patents: 90 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 32 filings since 2022 vs 53 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2025
Innovation: 90 patents (top 21% of patent-holders) · 32 filings since 2022 vs 53 in 2017-21
Funding: Raised $16.0M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 5 yrs (0.2/yr) · Last round Series A (Dec 2021)
Audience (LinkedIn): 737 LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
- Dec 2021Series A—
- Feb 2021Series A$16M
Founders & team
Investors
FLUXUNIT, UVC Tech, Walden International, Trinity Capital, SK Telecom Americas
Tech stack
BootstrapCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementContact Form 7Core-JsElementor
#8
Acquired · Hawthorne, California · founded 2008 · 40 employees$10Mraised▾
Acquired · Hawthorne, California · founded 2008 · 40 employees
LED modules and drivers manufacturer
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 35how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 42%Funding
top 49%Tech
top 49%Moat
bottom 49%Patents
bottom 45%Market
bottom 43%Growth: 1 acquisition/expansion move in 24 mo
Funding: Raised $10.0M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 17 yrs (0.1/yr) · Last round Conventional Debt (Jul 2016)
Tech: 36 technologies across 3/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare · Security: Recaptcha
Audience (LinkedIn): 4k LinkedIn followers — 7.5% of this cohort's audience
Hiring (LinkedIn): 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Sales, Product Management
Funding rounds
- Jul 2016Conventional Debt$8M
- May 2009Series A$10M
Investors
US Capital, Braemar Energy Ventures
Tech stack
CloudflareConstant ContactCookiebotCore-JsDatatablesDemandbase
#9
Early Stage · Marina, California · founded 1989 · 29 employees$2.2Mraised▾
Early Stage · Marina, California · founded 1989 · 29 employees
Manufacturer and brand of LED lights
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 32how this company ranks against its industry peers
Product
top 18%Patents
top 39%Innovation
top 45%Moat
top 45%Tech
bottom 45%Market
bottom 42%Product: 5 distinct product lines
Patents: 54 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 5 filings since 2022 vs 29 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2025
Innovation: 54 patents (top 29% of patent-holders) · 5 filings since 2022 vs 29 in 2017-21 · 5 product lines
Tech stack
Cart FunctionalityShopifyPickystoryFast BundleBold Product OptionsVenmo
#10
Series A · El Dorado Hills, California · founded 2014$3.5Mraised▾
Series A · El Dorado Hills, California · founded 2014
Provider of smart hydraulic solutions for the fluid power systems
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 14how this company ranks against its industry peers
Innovation
top 40%Product
top 46%Funding
bottom 41%Tech
bottom 32%Global
bottom 29%Market
bottom 22%Innovation: 2 product lines
Product: 2 distinct product lines · Company stage: Series A
Funding: Raised $3.5M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 8 yrs (0.2/yr) · Last round Series A (Mar 2018)
Audience (LinkedIn): 843 LinkedIn followers
Activity (LinkedIn): 2 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- 2018Grant (prize money)$3.8M
- Mar 2018Series A$3.5M
Investors
California Energy Commission
#11
Acquired · Los Angeles, California · founded 2007 · 29 employees$1.3Mraised▾
Acquired · Los Angeles, California · founded 2007 · 29 employees
Noribachi is a LED manufacturer for high output commercial and industrial lighting solutions. It applies a Bespoke Engineered & Specifically Tailored (BEST) methodology to deliver LED light applications. Their Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production line enables to fabricate a variety of common lighting unit (CLU) shapes efficiently, which are incorporated with high quality drivers and heat sinks into a rigorously designed system.
Funding rounds
- Apr 2016Series A—
- Sep 2015Venture Debt—
- Nov 2011Seed$100K
- Oct 2011Seed—
Investors
HCAP Partners, Northwest Area Foundation
#12
Seed · San Diego, California · founded 2007$807.7Kraised▾
Seed · San Diego, California · founded 2007
Provider of energy efficiency solutions and sustainable infrastructure products
Funding rounds
- Mar 2012Seed$233.8K
- Feb 2012Seed$573.8K
Founders & team
Tech stack
Nginx
Funding & investor landscape
$346.7Mtotal disclosed funding
19companies funded
37disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
New Enterprise Associates2 rounds
Notable founders
Phil Farese
CEO · Mojave
David Jaramillo
Co-founder & CTO · Verne
Michael Rice
Co-Founder · AMP
Ling Zhou
Co-founder and CEO · Bolb
John Galt
Co-Owner · GreenHouse
Jegan Varadarajan
Owner · GreenHouse
Steven Strasser
CEO · Power Efficiency
Joe Flynn
Co-founder and President · Alloy LED
Max Darling
Co-Founder & CEO · Alloy LED
Eileen Sun
Founder & President · GLF Integrated Power
Stephen Bryson
Co-Founder · GLF Integrated Power
Jisoo Chun
Co-Founder & CSO · BK Litec
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 1,561,715 docs
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Energy Efficiency coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
RESEARCH IN CALIFORNIA · Energy
How research on Energy Efficiency in California is moving
A read on the academic research around Energy Efficiency in California — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 143 papers.
UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Davis lead California's optimistic energy-efficiency research, predominantly advancing building energy optimization and smart grid management across 143 papers.
143 papers · stance +0.52 · 29% breakthrough · 14% concern
top institutions
- University of California, Berkeley26
- University of California, Los Angeles18
- University of California, Davis14
- University of California, Irvine10
- University of California, San Diego8
leading researchers
Jaeho Lee · Matthew J. Ellis · Aaswath P. Raman · Caton Mande · Chi‐Cheng Chu · Loren dela Rosa
prism intelligence · tone & topics
90% positive · 3% critical tone
BusinessEnvironmentSustainabilityHome ImprovementElectronicsTransportation
▲
Breakthroughs40 · 28%
▼ 29%→23% share
▼0.8× share momentum14 median citations32% since 2021mostly methods-led
Passive cooling and radiative cooling emerged brand-new with 5 and 4 papers respectively, signaling newly emerging thermal innovation.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Heat pump1→4
Newly emergingPassive cooling 0→5 · Radiative cooling 0→4 · Thermal 0→3
Landmark A radiative cooling structural material · 1,495 cites
◆
Advancements77 · 54%
▼ 61%→50% share
▼0.8× share momentum5 median citations36% since 2021mostly methods-led
Radiative cooling newly emerged with 6 advancement papers while passive cooling tripled from 1 to 7, intensifying rapidly.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Passive cooling1→7
- Thermal2→5
- Heat pump4→6
- Heat exchanger3→5
Newly emergingRadiative cooling 0→6 · Porosity 0→3 · Overheating (electricity) 0→3
Landmark Distributed Optimal Energy Management in Microgrids · 480 cites
▼
Concerns19 · 13%
▲ 5%→23% share
▲4.6× share momentum6 median citations68% since 2021mostly empirical
Heat pump concerns emerged brand-new at 5 papers as the concern field-share surged from 5% to 23%.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Heat exchanger1→3
Newly emergingHeat pump 0→5 · Thermodynamics 0→3
Landmark Energy Efficiency: The New Holy Grail of Data Management Systems Research · 97 cites
Common questions
How many Energy Efficiency companies are there in California, United States?
Radar tracks 120 indexable Energy Efficiency companies headquartered in California, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States?
The Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States on this list have raised a combined $346.7M in disclosed equity funding across 19 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Energy Efficiency company in California, United States?
Serious Energy is the highest-funded Energy Efficiency company in California, United States, with $136.9M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States are funded?
19 of the 120 Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Energy Efficiency unicorns are there in California, United States?
None of the Energy Efficiency companies in California, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in California, United States Energy Efficiency companies?
The most active investors in California, United States Energy Efficiency companies on this list include CalSEED, Free Electrons, HAX, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Navitas Capital.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.