Because of a growing market, government incentives, and the declining cost per kilowatt hour, solar energy is, more than ever, a popular choice for homeowners. Tigo has a technology that improves the output of solar energy by as much as 20%.

Past founder of Valence Energy, and now Tigo Business executive and entrepreneur, James Bickford, has challenged Camp BizSmart students to use Tigo real time solar panel measurements to start a whole new business for Tigo by designing a mobile or web based app for residential solar system installers, which can integrate into Tigo Energy’s current software. Students will design the app, the revenue model, and a marketing plan to achieve the following objectives:

*Build the app to give the installers a competitive advantage.
*Use at least three data/control points in the Tigo Energy database to build their app which can include: power use per solar panel problem alerts, integrated weather information, collection of data from the meters of other companies, or On/Off controls.
*Create a revenue stream to target amounts and timing provided in the business case challenge.
*Make sure the installers achieve an annual return of at least 10 times their investment in the cost of the app and have it go-to-market ready in 6 mos.

In addition to these objectives the app must preserve the homeowners privacy.

James will provide the kick-off discussion of the Tigo business challenge at both the Stanford University and Santa Clara University Camp BizSmart sessions. He is definitely an inspiration to young people who hope to be entrepreneurs. After graduating from Santa Clara with a degree in mechanical engineering and leading SCU’s inaugural Solar Decathlon (solardecathlon.org) team to a surprise third-place finish in the international competition, James Bickford ‘08 co-founded Valence Energy(ValenceEnergy.com), a company that develops energy efficiency software. James is now the marketing manager of Tigo Energy (Tigoenergy.com), an innovative startup in Silicon Valley focusing on solar innovations.

Originally from Tacoma, Washington, James Bickford would not have guessed he’d be called an entrepreneur before even graduating. But his participation in the 2007 Solar Decathlon took him down a surprising path: One month after receiving his diploma, he was reporting to work—at a start-up renewable energy business that he co-founded.

The competition is on! There are four business challenges for Camp BizSmart student teams who attend either the Stanford University July 6-17 or Santa Clara University Aug 2-13 sessions. Read the other blogs to learn about all of the business problems students will solve at each location this summer 2010!

Tags: Camp BizSmart, James Bickford, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara University Solar Decathlon, solar decathlon, solar energy, Stanford University, Tigo, Tigo energy, young entrepreneurs

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