Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Vawter
Hi Austin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The origin story of Eversun and the eTower begins with Austin Vawter’s desire to extend his volleyball playtime regardless of daylight restrictions. After relocating to San Diego in 2014, Austin found himself unable to continue his volleyball games post-daylight savings due to early sunsets. The available public courts with lighting were limited and the bureaucratic hurdles to install new lights were daunting.
Faced with these challenges, Austin explored portable lighting solutions but found existing options unsatisfactory. The common tow-behind generator light towers were bulky, noisy, and inappropriate for the beach setting. Alternatives like home depot tool lights were too short and inadequately bright.
Undeterred, Austin devised a novel solution—a lightweight, portable lighting system using a telescopic flag pole, a modified golf cart battery, and custom LEDs. This prototype, which he named the eTower, proved transformative. On its debut night, the innovative lighting not only allowed his volleyball games to continue into the evening but also attracted attention from various passersby, sparking interest from athletes to construction workers.
Recognizing the broader application and potential of his invention beyond beach volleyball, Austin was motivated to establish Eversun. His vision was to create a versatile, eco-friendly lighting solution that could cater to diverse needs without the limitations of traditional portable light towers. This vision was further realized as Eversun evolved, incorporating advanced technology and sustainable practices, ultimately redefining portable lighting solutions on a broader scale.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been far from a smooth road. The initial launch and planning were relatively straightforward, but scaling into production and creating a product that lacked any existing templates or designs in the market proved to be an extremely rough journey. Initially thought to be simple, manufacturing a product of this scale and complexity turned out to be an extraordinarily challenging endeavor.
The product launched in 2017, but it wasn’t until 2019 that we developed an in-house solution that was more manufacturable. This phase required a substantial amount of capital, and traditional venture capital routes were not viable. Austin opted to crowdfund the project, driven by significant interest from those who had seen the tower in action and expressed a desire to purchase it. The initial manufacturing run of 20 towers, originally thought to be straightforward, encountered nearly insurmountable challenges—manufacturing tolerances were off, parts didn’t fit, and scalability issues abounded. Each of the first 20 units took 40 hours to assemble, and Austin ended up with a financial loss of $5,000.
Undeterred and still passionate about the project and the joy it brought people, Austin applied the lessons learned from the first run, made adjustments to the product, and launched a second Kickstarter campaign. This campaign targeted a broader audience, including sectors like pickleball, soccer, volleyball, and event planning. To meet the demand and improve product quality, the price was increased. This campaign allowed for the production of 100 units and successfully raised about $250,000, although it was not without its challenges.
As we were gearing up to fulfill these orders, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, nearly crippling the business. The global shutdowns led to significant delays in our supply chain, cost overruns, and general logistical nightmares. Most of our production was outsourced overseas, which compounded these issues. Despite these obstacles, Austin committed to building every unit by hand. While some customers canceled their orders due to the wait, those who remained were more than satisfied with the final product.
In 2021, facing a need for a significant cash infusion and with no interest from venture capitalists in a hardware startup without substantial sales, Austin returned to Kickstarter for a third campaign. This campaign incorporated all the lessons from the previous ones, improving the product significantly. This iteration introduced advanced materials like carbon fiber, lithium-ion batteries, and highly efficient LEDs, setting up the system in less than 60 seconds and delivering 20,000 lumens for up to five hours.
However, just as the business was beginning to thrive, Austin encountered a personal crisis—his daughter was diagnosed with a grade two brain tumor, bringing his entrepreneurial efforts to a near standstill and nearly causing the company to become insolvent. Mirroring her father’s resilience, Austin’s daughter bravely fought the cancer, which was successfully removed, and she fully recovered. Inspired by her recovery and determination, she encouraged Austin to persevere with his business. During this challenging time, the positive feedback from existing customers poured in, and the demand for the eTowers soared. In 2022, Eversun received orders worth $2 million for their innovative lighting solutions.
In 2023, recognizing the potential of integrating solar technology, Austin and his team spent months designing and testing various solar panel configurations. This effort culminated in the creation of the Apollo X eTower, a product three years in the making that has received rave reviews. Joining the Clean Tech San Diego Southern California Energy Innovation Network accelerated our growth, enabling us to finally attract venture capital and build a skilled team, including engineers from Intel, Arlo, and Phoenix, among others from the vibrant San Diego startup community.
Today, as Eversun transitions to Eversun Energy, the Apollo X eTower is poised to make a significant impact on the market. We’re closer than ever to realizing our vision, but we continue to seek the right funding partners to fully achieve our goals.
We’ve been impressed with Eversun Energy Inc, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Eversun is at the forefront of redefining portable lighting solutions through innovative technology and sustainable practices. Our flagship product, the eTower, embodies our commitment to revolutionizing how lighting is used across various industries, from construction sites to nighttime sporting events and emergency response scenarios.
Founded on the principles of sustainability, efficiency, and versatility, Eversun specializes in creating high-performance, eco-friendly lighting towers that are portable and easy to set up. Our products are distinguished by their use of cutting-edge materials such as carbon fiber and advanced energy sources like lithium-ion batteries and integrated solar panels, which not only reduce carbon footprints but also enhance mobility and ease of use.
What sets us apart from others in the market is our ability to deliver high-lumen output in compact and transportable units that can be deployed in under a minute. This feature significantly reduces setup times and logistical headaches, making our towers ideal for rapid deployment in diverse settings.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. The eTower, our primary offering, has been developed in direct response to the needs of our customers who sought more sustainable, efficient, and effective lighting solutions. The positive feedback and strong demand we’ve received have only fueled our drive to innovate further.
For our readers, we want you to know that Eversun is more than just a lighting company. We are a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what portable lighting technology can achieve. Whether you’re managing a large-scale construction project, organizing a community event, or in need of reliable emergency lighting, Eversun is here to light the way forward. Our commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer-focused innovation is what makes our offerings stand out in the crowded marketplace.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the context of the portable lighting industry, particularly within sectors focusing on sustainability and technology like Eversun, several key trends and shifts are likely to shape the future over the next 5-10 years:
Increased Emphasis on Sustainability: As global awareness and regulations around environmental impact intensify, the demand for eco-friendly lighting solutions will rise. Companies will increasingly turn to technologies that offer lower carbon footprints and higher energy efficiency. Innovations in solar power and the use of renewable energy sources in portable lighting units will likely become standard practice.
Technological Advancements: The integration of advanced technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and improved battery technologies will transform how lighting solutions are managed and deployed. These technologies can offer significant improvements in energy management, operational efficiency, and user-friendliness, providing real-time data analytics for predictive maintenance and remote control capabilities.
Versatility and Portability: The demand for versatile and easily deployable lighting solutions will continue to grow, especially in industries like construction, event management, and emergency services. Lighting units that are easy to transport, set up, and adaptable to various environments will be particularly valued.
Regulatory and Safety Standards: With the increasing deployment of portable lighting solutions in diverse settings, there will likely be a rise in specific regulations focusing on safety, energy consumption, and environmental impact. Compliance with these new standards will become a crucial factor for companies operating in this space.
Market Expansion: The market for portable lighting is set to expand beyond traditional sectors. New applications could emerge in areas such as mobile healthcare, remote education, and expansive agricultural projects, where reliable and portable light sources are essential.
Customization and User-centric Designs: As competition in the portable lighting space intensifies, differentiation based on design and customization options that cater to specific user needs will become more critical. Companies that can offer innovative and user-centered designs will likely capture larger market shares.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Strategic partnerships between lighting companies and industries like telecommunications, energy, and construction will likely increase. These collaborations can leverage mutual strengths for better product integration, such as embedding lighting solutions with communication or security features.
For Eversun, staying ahead of these trends and continuously innovating in line with these shifts will be key to maintaining competitiveness and leadership in the evolving portable lighting market.
Pricing:
- The average diesel light tower costs $12-15k and costs ~$1500/month to operate. They emit 10-20lbs of CO2e every hour they are in operation.
- Eversun eTower costs $0 to operate and emits zero emissions, noise, and fumes. With solar tax incentives, the price per lumen of light is equal or cheaper with the eTower solution plus the added benefits of sustainability, health, and rapid mobility.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eversun.io
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eversunlighting
