This morning reader Charles asked us how to find a good idea for a start-up. Well, have we got one:

"Companies that make thin film solar cells continue to raise huge amounts of money from venture capitalists," reports to New York Times—and they aren't exaggerating. One such company, SoloPower, recently raised $200 million in VC investment. Nanosolar secured $300 million in August, Miasole raised $200 million in July, and AVA Solar closed a reported nine-figure deal this summer as well.

VCs obviously aren't screwing around when it comes to thin film start-ups.

What makes this technology so highly coveted is that thin film solar cells are lighter, smaller, and cheaper to make than crystalline silicon, which is what's used now. And it's become especially hot because it's so new that there's likely to be huge innovations and advancements that will make large sums of money for the VCs that invest in it.

So, we realize that as far as business ideas go, thin film solar is kind of complicated (it's actually pretty close to rocket science). But no matter! Valleywag has a primer on what you need to know about the technology so you don't look dumb. We've paraphrased:

-Your best bet is to move to Nevada. There you'll find affordable, sunny space to prototype, a pre-existing tech culture in the Reno area, and no state income tax.

-The technology isn't all the way there yet, which means the field's ripe for a big, money-making breakthrough.

-The technology that's got VCs all excited is the "thin film," which is copper indium gallium selenide. It's lighter and smaller than what's used now.

So, now all you need is a business plan, right?

The good stuff.