El Monte-based Solarmer Energy , which is developing flexible solar power technology, has raised $4.3M Solarmer just startup up a pilot line for its technology in El Monte. in an equity funding round, according to a filing by the firm today. Source of the new funding for the company was not disclosed.

In the recent surge in interest in the clean technology and energy investment area, we're constantly surprised by the number of startups in the area focused on some aspect of the industry. Recently, we learned about Solarmer Energy , a spinout of UCLA, which is developing flexible solar panels, and caught up with Woolas Hsieh , President and Founder of the firm and Dina Lozofsky , VP, Corporate Development at the firm to hear more about its emerging technology. Let's Let's start on the technology side--can you tell us about the technology, and its origins? Dina

EL MONTE, CA--(Marketwire - September 26, 2008) - Dr. Vishal Shrotriya, Director of Technology Development, will present Solarmer Energy, Inc.'s s progress toward delivering commercial grade plastic solar cells and future plans at the Organic Semiconductor Conference in Frankfurt, Germany on September 30, 2008.