Outer Spaces launches with modular residential solar catalogue
Newly-founded residential energy firm Outer Spaces has announced the upcoming launch of a new product category, which combines solar power and battery storage with modular architecture.
Established by a trio of partners, the El Segundo, California-based company is a follow-up to the direct-to-consumer outdoor furniture brand Outer. Officials say the firm’s new product category, known as OS1, “creates endless possibilities for gathering, working, cooking or recharging outside, all while powering the home.”
The product category offers multiple configurations, with each containing integrated solar energy solutions and “invisible” home battery storage. The solar pavilion generates energy and an included power deck contains ultra-thin battery storage units beneath its finished outdoor deck design.
“The land and sunlight outside our homes are two of our most valuable, yet underutilized resources. At the same time, the technology needed to generate and store energy at homes already exists,” says Jiake Liu, co-founder and CEO of Outer Spaces. “We believe power should do more than run a house. It should expand how you live in it. Rather than asking homeowners to compromise the appearance and safety of their homes, we’re giving them more livable space that also powers it.”
The company launches with an $8 million pre-seed round of financing, led by Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures. With that funding, the team aims to solve a major issue with residential solar: aesthetic appeal.
Reimagining solar design
Outer Spaces representatives say their new company aims to redesign solar’s look and feel within the residential sector.
Thoughtful design is missing in residential solar, company officials say. The most common design of residential solar equipment, is as industrial equipment: panels on the roof with exposed battery storage on the wall. In the company’s own words, “the technology has advanced considerably but the way it looks and the way it fits into people’s lives has not.”
“People care how their homes look, yet the solar industry has asked them to stop caring,” says Terry Lin, co-founder and chief design officer of Outer Spaces. “We approached residential energy as an architectural and consumer-design challenge to create a space people would want in their backyard.”
Once the Outer Spaces catalogue launches, homeowners will be able to fully configure and order their system from the company’s website, to match their home design. Outer Spaces will also sell the products through solar installers, builders, landscapers, developers, and designers.
“Having personally gone through a painfully slow and expensive backyard deck construction project and solar installation, I wish Outer Spaces had existed,” says Kevin Zhang, general partner of Upfront Ventures. “Thrilled to back Jiake and Terry again in this new vision: they have invented a beautiful, flexible backyard space that provides seamless home energy independence, and the best part is it doesn’t require full construction crews and lengthy permitting.”
The first Outer Spaces systems will be available starting in 2027, according to company representatives. The product category will first launch in southern California and a group of other select markets.
