Monochrome
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Monochrome firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Monochrome
- Legal name
- 株式会社モノクローム
- Website
- https://monochrome.so
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Monochrome industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Roofing Contractors (23816)
- SIC
- Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950), Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA), Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), Solar Inverters, Power Electronics & MLPE (String/Central Inverters, Optimizers, Microinverters) (EUAMABAE)
Keywords
Where Monochrome is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Monochrome business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar Panel Hardware Sales: One-time sale of building-integrated solar panels (Roof-1, Wall-1, Slope) to homeowners, builders, and commercial facility operators. Revenue recognized upon installation or delivery of panels. Forms the primary revenue driver alongside subscription services.
- Monochrome Power (HEMS Subscription): Recurring monthly subscription for the AI-based Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Provides continuous energy optimization, monitoring, and management services. Subscription-based model ensuring predictable recurring revenue from the installed customer base.
- Monochrome Lease (Solar Lease Plan): Lease financing arrangement for solar panel installation through partnership with Hachidori Solar. Customers pay monthly lease fees rather than upfront purchase costs. Monochrome receives financing arrangement revenue and expanded customer access through the lease channel.
- Electricity Retail Business (計画策定 / 自社販売): Developing proprietary electricity retail business to sell self-generated solar power directly to consumers, complementing the hardware and HEMS subscription model with energy supply services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monochrome Power — AI HEMS subscription service for home energy management |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monochrome Lease — Solar panel lease financing plan |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Direct Purchase — One-time hardware purchase of solar panels |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Monochrome product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Monochrome designs, manufactures, and sells building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panels that serve as functional roofing and wall materials for residential and commercial buildings in Japan. The core product lines are the Roof-1 series (roof-integrated solar panels), Wall-1 (wall-integrated solar panels), Panel-B (frameless low-pitch panels), and Energy-1 (AI-based Home Energy Management System). These are complemented by Monochrome Power, an electricity retail service exclusive to its installed solar customers, and Monochrome Lease, a lease financing plan in partnership with Hachidori Solar.
Product overview
Monochrome offers a comprehensive energy ecosystem combining building-integrated solar panels with intelligent energy management. The core product lineup consists of Roof-1 series (roof-integrated solar panels in black, silver, and e variants), Wall-1 (exterior wall-integrated solar panel), and Panel-B (minimalist frameless solar panel for low-pitch roofs). These generation devices are complemented by Energy-1, a HEMS that connects to solar panels, battery storage, smart distribution panels, and heat pump water heaters for AI-powered optimization. The ecosystem is finalized with モノクローム電力 (Monochrome Power), an electricity retail service exclusive to Monochrome solar customers that offers discounted rates and converts clean energy into carbon credits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Roof-1: Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panel that functions as a roof. Available in black, silver, and e variants.
- Wall-1
- Panel-B
- Energy-1
- モノクローム電力
Products and services
- Roof-1 Series (Roof-1 black, Roof-1 silver, Roof-1e) Building-integrated photovoltaic roof panel that combines metal roofing with photovoltaic cells into a single building material, functioning as both roof and solar power generation system in one installation. Available in black (premium aesthetic), silver (alternative design), and e (cost-conscious) variants. For homeowners, homebuilders, and commercial facility operators seeking aesthetic roof-integrated solar.
- Wall-1 Exterior wall-integrated solar panel that transforms building walls into power generation surfaces. Features matte black finish to minimize glare and blend with architectural aesthetics. Suitable for buildings with limited roof space or in snowy regions. Supports both new construction and renovation via cover method installation.
- Panel-B Minimalist frameless all-black solar panel designed for installation on roofs with low pitch (1 degree or less) or roof shapes unsuitable for integrated panels. Features industry-leading 23.3% power generation efficiency using HPBC (Hybrid Passivated Back Contact) technology and 30-year warranty. For homeowners and buildings where Roof-1 installation is not suitable.
- Energy-1 HEMS
Quantifiable outcome
- Hakuba Village project generates approximately 235 kW of clean energy across three municipal facilities, reducing grid dependency and carbon emissions for community infrastructure
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Monochrome
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Monochrome technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Monochrome partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.
- RCC Core (株式会社アールシーコア)coreStrategic partnership for BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) integration. RCC Core's expertise in prefabricated housing and energy storage complements Monochrome's BIPV technology, enabling combined solar-plus-storage solutions for residential customers.
- Goldwin (ゴールドウイン)majorStrategic partnership with premium Japanese apparel brand for the Hakuba Village initiative. Goldwin, known for outdoor and mountain sports apparel, collaborates on sustainable infrastructure development in the Hakuba mountain resort area, aligning brand values around nature and sustainability.
- Hakuba Village (白馬村)flagshipMunicipal partnership with Hakuba Village government for regional energy initiatives. Monochrome has installed approximately 235 kW of building-integrated solar across three municipal facilities (Ohsudo Elementary School, Goryo Elementary School, and additional buildings), demonstrating the company's capability at community scale and generating public-sector case studies.
- Suppose Design OfficemajorLeading Japanese architecture studio that has designed and completed multiple residential projects incorporating Monochrome's building-integrated solar panels. Represents the architect-as-channel GTM model.
- SUEPmajorArchitecture studio partner that has completed BIPV-integrated residential projects with Monochrome, serving as a design-channel partner.
- NOT A HOTEL株式会社majorArchitecture and design firm specializing in innovative residential architecture. Partner for building-integrated solar designs in new construction projects.
- ミサワホーム株式会社 (Misawa Homes)flagshipOne of Japan's largest homebuilders. OEM/partnership arrangement to embed Monochrome's building-integrated solar panels into standard Misawa Homes new construction, providing high-volume channel access for mass-market deployment.
- 中川エリカ建築設計事務所minorArchitecture studio that has designed projects incorporating Monochrome's building-integrated solar panels.
- 山本健悟建築設計室minorArchitecture studio partner for BIPV-integrated residential design projects.
- 能作文徳建築設計事務所minorArchitecture studio partner for Monochrome solar-integrated building projects.
- スキーマ建築計画 (Schema Architecture)majorArchitecture firm partner with multiple completed BIPV projects with Monochrome.
- DRAWERSminorArchitecture studio partner for building-integrated solar design projects.
- lyhtyminorDesign studio partner contributing to Monochrome's BIPV installation portfolio.
- ツバメアーキテクツ (Tsubame Architects)minorArchitecture studio partner for Monochrome solar integration projects.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Monochrome competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tesla (Solar Roof): Tesla's Solar Roof is a building-integrated photovoltaic roofing product designed to replace conventional shingles while generating electricity. It is the most direct global competitor to Monochrome's Roof-1 in the aesthetic BIPV roof category, with similar value proposition of integrated design rather than rack-mounted panels.
- GAF Energy: GAF Energy (a GAF/Standard Industries subsidiary) manufactures building-integrated solar roofing products in North America, including the Timberline Solar shingle. It is a direct peer to Monochrome as a BIPV roof manufacturer targeting mainstream residential customers through roofing contractor channels.
Broad incumbents
- CertainTeed (Solar): CertainTeed's solar division produces integrated solar roofing products as part of a broader building materials portfolio (Saint-Gobain). It is a broad incumbent peer offering aesthetic BIPV alternatives alongside conventional solar and traditional roofing.
- Panasonic (Housing & Eco Solutions): Panasonic operates a major Japanese housing and solar business with rooftop PV modules and integrated home energy products, including HEMS. It is a broad incumbent peer with substantially deeper resources, established installer networks, and direct overlap with Monochrome's Roof-1 and Energy-1 product categories in Japan.
- Sharp Corporation (Energy Solutions): Sharp is a long-established Japanese manufacturer of solar PV modules and integrated home energy solutions. As a broad incumbent peer, it competes with Monochrome in residential solar and home energy management while also serving as a potential supplier/partner for BIPV cells.
- Solar Frontier: Solar Frontier (a former Showa Shell subsidiary, now Idemitsu Kosan) is a Japanese manufacturer of CIS thin-film solar modules with established residential distribution. It is a broad incumbent peer in Japanese residential solar with overlapping go-to-market through homebuilders and installers.
- Kyocera (Solar): Kyocera is a major Japanese electronics and solar manufacturer with residential and commercial PV offerings. It is a broad incumbent peer competing in the Japanese residential solar market that Monochrome serves with its BIPV products.
Emerging players
- Luma Solar: Luma Solar is an early-stage US-based BIPV roof startup developing integrated solar roofing with a focus on design-forward residential applications. It overlaps with Monochrome's Roof-1 as a niche BIPV entrant competing for the aesthetic-conscious homeowner segment.
- Suntrix / SunTegra: SunTegra is an integrated solar roofing system provider targeting residential customers through contractor channels. It is an emerging player peer offering a lower-profile alternative to rack-mounted panels, comparable to Monochrome's Panel-B and Roof-1 products.
Regional players
- Next Energy & Resources Co. Next Energy & Resources (a Japanese solar company with operations across residential, industrial, and self-consumption solar plus HEMS solutions) is a Japan-based regional peer comparable to Monochrome in residential solar and energy management. It is more established than Monochrome and competes in similar Japanese customer segments through installer networks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Monochrome social profiles
Digital presenceMonochrome compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Monochrome financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Monochrome leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Monochrome funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Monochrome M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Monochrome
What does Monochrome do?
Monochrome designs, manufactures, and sells building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panels that serve as functional roofing and wall materials for residential and commercial buildings in Japan. The core product lines are the Roof-1 series (roof-integrated solar panels), Wall-1 (wall-integrated solar panels), Panel-B (frameless low-pitch panels), and Energy-1 (AI-based Home Energy Management System). These are complemented by Monochrome Power, an electricity retail service exclusive to its installed solar customers, and Monochrome Lease, a lease financing plan in partnership with Hachidori Solar.
Is Monochrome a public or private company?
Monochrome is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Monochrome founded?
Monochrome was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Monochrome based?
Monochrome is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Monochrome make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Solar Panel Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are monochrome Power (HEMS Subscription), monochrome Lease (Solar Lease Plan) and electricity Retail Business (計画策定 / 自社販売).
Who are Monochrome's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tesla (Solar Roof) and GAF Energy. Broad incumbents are CertainTeed (Solar), Panasonic (Housing & Eco Solutions), Sharp Corporation (Energy Solutions), Solar Frontier and Kyocera (Solar). Emerging players are Luma Solar and Suntrix / SunTegra. Next Energy & Resources Co. is listed as a regional player.
Does Monochrome have an API?
No public API is recorded for Monochrome.
What industry is Monochrome in?
Monochrome's product category is Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAFAO, Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems, with a secondary code of EUAMAOAA, Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 2950.