SoloPower, a San Jose, CA-based manufacturer of high efficiency, lightweight and flexible thin-film solar cells and modules, was named a winner of the TiE50 Awards, Silicon Valley’s premier annual awards program for global technology startups.

SoloPower will receive the award in the category of clean technology and energy at TiEcon, the world’s largest conference for entrepreneurs, which will take place this year on May 18-19 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.

“It’s an honor for SoloPower to be recognized by TiE50 for our work to make solar power the primary energy source for the world’s commercial and industrial roofs,” said Tim Harris, CEO, SoloPower. “The award comes at an exciting time for SoloPower: our next generation solar panel recently achieved a record aperture area efficiency for flexible CIGS modules of 13.4%; we’re in the midst of unrolling our next line of solar solutions; and we’re hiring for our state-of-the-art, high-volume manufacturing facility in Portland, OR, which will begin commercial production later this year.”

The TiE50 selection process involved judging by a team of more than 40 prominent entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, corporate executives and other domain experts.