Reidar Langmo has joined the board of 1366 Technologies. Based in Oslo, Norway, the solar industry veteran is the CEO of VC firm Novus Energy Partners and was a cofounder of silicon PV company REC.
1366 says it has increased its core workforce by 50% over the past nine months, and the Lexington, MA-based company hopes that guidance from Langmo and the rest of its board will help bring its disruptive silicon PV technologies to market more quickly.
“1366 has an impressive team and high-impact technologies that could help jumpstart solar manufacturing in the US,” said Langmo. “I look forward to working with 1366 as the company grows and rapidly commercializes its new technologies.”
“As cofounder of one of the world’s leading solar companies and a clean-tech veteran with the most successful clean energy IPO to date, Reidar brings significant industry insight and experience to our board,” said Frank van Mierlo, president of 1366. “We are honored to have Reidar join us and value his belief in the work we’re doing.”
The start-up company recently closed a $5.15 million internal round of funding with returning investors Polaris Venture Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners. The company was also awarded a $4 million contract from U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, the only such award given in solar PV.
1366 says it plans to hire up to five additional engineers over the next six months to aggressively commercialize its self-aligned cell and direct wafer technologies for silicon PV.
