EI Solutions, the solar integration startup backed by Pasadena-based Idealab, has scored a win in the City of Santa Barbara. EI Solutions is based in the Bay Area with sales offices in Pasadena, and is one of a number of energy related companies out of Idealab. Idealab's portfolio firms include Energy Innovations, focused on solar concentrators; eSolar, focused on utlity-scale solar thermal power; and Aptera Motors, a hybrid car startup. According to Tioga Energy, a renewable energy services provider, and EI Solutions, the two are building and funding a 384 kW DC solar electric system for Santa Barbara.

Pasadena-based Perfect Market, the Idealab startup which is looking to monetize dormant content from publishers, said this morning that the firm's CTO, Dr. Perfect Market is funded by Idealab, Trinity Venture, and Rustic Canyon Ventures. Jay Budzik, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, by the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. Budzik is a graduate of the school, which is a residential college preparatory program.

eSolar is backed by more than $140M in funding, from Google, Idealab, and Oak Investment Partners. Pasadena-based eSolar, the Google-backed thermal solar energy startup, is announcing today that it has hired on a new Vice President of Engineering, Craig Tyner, Ph.D. According to eSolar, Tyner joins the firm from Sandia National Laboratories, where he spent more than 30 years.

Pasadena-based EI Solutions, the solar power integrator arm of Idealab-backed Energy Innovations, has been acquired by a Chinese photovoltaic module manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings. EI Solutions was a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Innovations, which is backed by Idealab, MDV Mohr, Davidow Ventures, and Westlake Venture Partners. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to Suntech, it is will rename EI Solutions as Suntech Energy Solutions.

Perfect Market is venture backed by Idealab, Trinity Ventures and Rustic Canyon Ventures. Pasadena-based Perfect Market, which is developing technology to help publishers monetize their archive content, said Monday that it has acquired technology from Mediariver, which can be used to match content and advertising to any web page. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Carlsbad-based Aptera, the electric car startup backed by Google and Idealab, is delaying delivery of the firm's vehicles to customers, according to a letter to customers. According to Aptera, it missed its goal to deliver its first production 2e vehicles by the end of 2008, and is moving its volume production launch to October 1 of 2009. Aptera raised $24M in a Series C investment from Google, Idealab, The firm said that it plans to build a "much slower rate" starting with a small test fleet. Among issues causing the delay was feedback from customers who had put down a deposit on

Pasadena-based Energy Innovation, the solar concentrator firm backed by Idealab, said earlier this week that it has signed up a number of customers using its solar tracking technology. Energy Innovations is backed by Idealab and Mohr Davidow Ventures. Energy Innovations said that British Telecom is using its technology in an El Segundo location, and The North Face is using its tracking technology in a PV install in Visalia. Financial impact of the deals were not disclosed.

The prize, which is looking to award $10M to a team which develops a 100 MPG, super fuel-efficient vehicle, said that among the 22 teams which have registered for the prize are Idealab-backed Aptera Motors, based in Carlsbad, and Santa Ana-based Kinetix Motors. Aptera recently raised $24M from Idealab, Google, and a number of other backers for its composite, lightweight hybrid electric vehicles; Kinetix Motors is currently raising financing, according to its web site. Los Angeles-based X Prize Foundation said today that it has signed up 22 teams in the firm's Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, including two Southern California teams.

Evolution Robotics said the funding was led by CMEA Ventures, and also included Vodafone Ventures, Idealab, and the Quercus Trust. Pasadena-based robotics technology firm Evolution Robotics has scored another $13.88M in venture funding, the firm disclose today. Faysal Sohail of CMEA will join the firm's board along with the funding.

Rosen has also served at Fandango, a number of Idealab companies, Disney, and McKinsey and Company. Los Angeles-based Velocity Interactive Group, the venture capital firm led by Ross Levinsohn and Jon Miller, said this morning that it has added Mickie Rosen as an investment partner at the company. According to Velocity, Rosen will focus on video, music, social media, publishing, games, and online advertising at the firm.