Thin-film solar maker Ascentool looks to raise $20M

Reacting to the growing popularity of thin-film solar equipment, Milpitas, Calif.-based Ascentool has set out to raise a new round of funding targeted at $20 million, reports Dow Jones VentureWire. The company will use the money to expand its toehold in Shanghai, where it hopes to start manufacturing equipment that will be used to make thin-film solar modules.

So far, the company is fairly stealthy. It previously raised under $5 million from its founders and several angel investors. It has also received nearly $10 million in subsidies from the local government in Shanghai in exchange for equity, VentureWire reports.

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About the Author, Camille Ricketts

Camille is the lead writer for GreenBeat. She came to VentureBeat from Google where she worked on its traditional platforms team, particularly in TV. Before that, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York and London. Follow her on Twitter at @camillericketts, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

With GreenBeat 2009, VentureBeat's all-star conference on all things Smart Grid, coming up in November, Camille will be expanding coverage of this exciting space. Stay up to date by following @greenbeat2009 on Twitter or by becoming a fan of the event on Facebook here.