Jumpstarting Solar Finance
February 15, 2014 at 07:55PM 
A new crowdfunding source, "Mosaic, an Oakland-based startup company, connects solar-power-seeking businesses and nonprofits with hundreds of investors. Investors contribute a minimum of $25 to a project. Over the next 5 to 10 years -- depending on the project -- the investors will make that money back, plus interest. The return on the investment ranges from 4.5 to 6.4 percent annually, depending on the project.
Investors contribute a minimum of $25 to a project. Over the next 5 to 10 years -- depending on the project -- the investors will make that money back, plus interest. The return on the investment ranges from 4.5 to 6.4 percent annually, depending on the project.
Initially, Mosaic worked on a philanthropic model, where people donated a sum of money to a project that they would eventually be repaid. (YEP's panels were funded this way.) Mosaic moved to this return on investment model in January and lowered the minimum amount of money needed to participate from $100 to $25. They saw an immediate response. It took a year and a half to raise the first $350,000 under the old model, said Lisa Curtis, Mosaic's communications director, but the new profit-minded model yielded $300,000 in investments in one day. "I think there's something to be said for enlightened self-interest," said Curtis." (read more).
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