As Frayne told the magazine recently, “Both Alex and I had been through the traditional funding route before for other solar and wind startups, and we wanted to just get to work on creating Solar Pocket Factories. Kickstarter is pretty much the only way to directly tell a bunch of people about a big dream and actually have them want to help make it real.”

image via Solar Pocket Factory/Kickstarter

The dream – the point of the Solar Pocket Factory – is to produce panels that: use long-lasting solar polyurethane or laminated glass (instead of low-cost epoxy); work for at least 10 years (vs. two); cost a buck per watt (as opposed to $1.50-$1.75/watt); are produced in the country where the panels will be used (not outsourced to India, China or Bangladesh); and are made in a fully automated fashion that is fast, accurate, cheap and versatile (instead of made by hand slowly, inaccurately and expensively).

No, a Solar Pocket Factory is not among the rewards offered – but cool, make-it-at-home solar panel stuff is, among other goodies.

Hey, Craig Newmark is backing it. Why not you?

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