YourNest Venture Capital is a SEBI-registered early-stage venture capital fund that invests in deep technology, ‘Pre-Series A’ Start-Ups. Its first fund, YourNest Angel Fund which was established in 2012, has raised INR 90 cr. Fund I is fully deployed and has invested in 16 startups. Its second fund, YourNest India VC Fund II was launched in 2016. It is raising a corpus of INR 450 cr. The fund invests in the new, connected economy and Deep-Tech start-ups represented by the Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Electronic System Design, Enterprise SaaS comprising Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, among others, with start-ups having a B2B business model being the prime focus. YourNest believes in being a ‘Nurture Capital’ where its team of partners work as ‘enablers’ for investee companies in diverse fields across technology, marketing, global reach and leadership development.

YourNest Venture Capital

Venture Catalysts is an integrated incubator that offers funding, mentorship, and network. It provides investment of $500K to $2MN per startup with incubation support for 18-24 months. It was established in year 2016 and in a short span, it boasts of successful incubatees like BharatPe, Fynd, Beardo, PeeSafe, Innov8, vPhrase, SuprDaily, DSYH, IGP.com etc., which are today category leaders. It is one of the largest early stage players in India with 4500+ angel investors spread across 36 cities in 6 countries - India, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Saudi Arabia & USA.  Globally, marquee investors such as YCombinator, Greenoaks, Axis Capital, Alpha Capital, Rocketship, FJ Labs (investors of Airbnb, Uber, Facebook) have co-invested with Venture Catalysts. With its focus on developing startup ecosystem in Tier II, III cities in India, Venture Catalysts has launched its incubation program in cities like Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Raipur, Surat and Nagpur besides metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. These centres not only offer incubation support to startups but also organise regular investor education sessions for potential angel investors viz. HNIs & industrialists. Besides raising seed stage and Series A investments for startups, Venture Catalysts is known for its startup building capability, strategic guidance, generating business leads, leveraging its network across the globe through its partners and providing phenomenal returns to its investors. It is evident from the fact that more than 10 incubatee companies of Venture Catalysts have raised Series A investment in the last two years especially when the market had not been very upbeat. Today, Venture Catalysts has taken the leadership position in startup investments and incubation and has been rated as India's top Early stage Investor by leading national media.

Venture Catalysts

Climate Capital is an investment firm that supports companies that directly or indirectly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Capital

In June 2020, Amazon announced The Climate Pledge Fund to support the development of sustainable and decarbonizing technologies and services that will enable Amazon and other companies to meet the goals set by The Climate Pledge. This dedicated investment program—with an initial $2 billion in funding—will invest in visionary companies whose products and solutions will facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Climate Pledge Fund

Riso Capital invests in, & helps bring the best & brightest start-ups in India to a global market.

Riso Capital

ION Energy

ION Energy is accelerating Earth's transition to an all-electric planet.    With a cutting-edge battery management system, advanced analytics software and artificial intelligence-powered platform, ION is enabling electric vehicle and energy storage space providers to unlock the power of data to make faster and smarter decisions.    ION is empowering organizations with the flexibility, independence, and autonomy to buy ready-to-deploy BMS platforms or build custom zero-downtime BMS models. Their versatility and adaptability have helped them to continually emerge as the ideal battery technology partner for OEMs and battery pack manufacturers.

<div>India-based ION Energy provides battery management system (BMS) hardware and battery intelligence software solutions. The company&rsquo;s &ldquo;Maxwell&rdquo; BMS optimizes lithium-battery use in electric two and three-wheelers, passenger and commercial EVs, industrial EVs, and stationary battery energy storage systems to improve efficiency, safety, and longevity of batteries. The company&rsquo;s battery simulation software Altergo leverages data science and machine learning to extract data from batteries and to mirror its performance on a digital platform for remote monitoring and predictive analysis.</div>

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

ION Energy, founded in 2016, is a Mumbai-based company that develops advanced battery management and intelligence platforms for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company's primary focus is on improving battery life and performance through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. ION Energy's flagship product is Edison Analytics, a cloud-hosted battery lifecycle management platform that leverages battery data, software analytics, and AI to remotely monitor, predict, and improve battery life. The platform utilizes the "Trinity of Battery Life" approach, which considers the entity, environment, and experience factors that impact battery life. ION Energy's solutions include cross-functional battery management systems (BMS) such as FS-CT, FS-LT, and FS-XT, designed for various applications ranging from light electric vehicles to grid storage. In May 2022, ION Energy sold its battery management system subsidiary, Maxwell Energy Systems, to Endurance Technologies for USD 40 million. The deal involved Endurance initially taking a 51% stake and acquiring the remaining business over the following five years.

Battery Management Systems

Ion Energy sells its battery management hardware business for $40m

How This Mumbai-Based Startup Is Using AI/ML To Improve Lithium-Ion Battery Life

Optimizing the future of energy with software solutions

Energy Optimization & Management Software

To develop a renewable hydrogen hub in Brisbane, focusing on green hydrogen production and refueling for heavy mobility fleets.

CampX

Collaborating with CampX to join its accelerator program. CARRAR develops thermal management systems and battery modules for electric vehicles based on an innovative two-phase immersion cooling technology.

Companies offering software solutions to optimize the performance of EV batteries (e.g. charging optimization software, Digital Twin solutions, etc.)

<div>
 
 India-based ION Energy provides battery management system (BMS) hardware and battery intelligence software solutions. The company&rsquo;s &ldquo;Maxwell&rdquo; BMS optimizes lithium-battery use in electric two and three-wheelers, passenger and commercial EVs, industrial EVs, and stationary battery energy storage systems to improve efficiency, safety, and longevity of batteries. The company&rsquo;s battery simulation software Altergo leverages data science and machine learning to extract data from batteries and to mirror its performance on a digital platform for remote monitoring and predictive analysis.
 
 
 As of June 2021, the company had deployed over 60,000 Maxwell units for more than 75 mobility and energy storage customers across 15 countries including India, France, Spain, and the US. Altergo also focused on helping owners and operators of battery fleets to improve the operational efficiency of their assets after deployment. It partnered with the US energy storage developer esVolta to deploy the software across its entire portfolio of battery storage systems totaling 581 MWh.&nbsp;
 
 
 In June 2021, the company raised USD 3.6 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its team, invest in product development, and grow its software business in North America and Europe. 
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 SolidEnergy Systems (SES) is a lithium-metal battery developer and manufacturer of battery cells for EVs. SES hybrid Li-metal batteries replace the graphite anode with lithium-metal to improve energy density (to around 400 Wh/kg). SES also uses a hybrid electrolyte&mdash;the battery has a solid protective coating on the lithium-metal anode and a liquid in the cathode, unlike some solid-state batteries (Solid Power and QuantumScape) that are all-solid and free of any liquid. The company&rsquo;s battery is expected to enable a longer driving range (around 500&ndash;600 miles) and is also capable of reaching an 80% charge in under 15 minutes. In 2021, SES was the first company to introduce 100Ah Li-metal cells, globally.
 
 
 SES&rsquo; large format Li-metal EV and eVTOL cells known as &ldquo;Apollo&rdquo; can be customized for different OEM requests. As such, the company has begun pilot-scale manufacturing of 50Ah to 100Ah Li-Metal cells with GM, Hyundai, and Honda at their Shanghai (China) and Chungju (Korea) battery manufacturing facilities. The company aims to commercialize its batteries by 2025. SES 
 <a href="https://investors.ses.ai/news/news-details/2023/SES-to-Host-Battery-World-2023-and-Announce-Worlds-First-Automotive-B-sample-JDA-for-Li-Metal/default.aspx">
 expects
 </a>
 to establish the world&rsquo;s first B-sample Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with an automotive OEM in December 2023.
 
 
 &nbsp;
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In February 2023, SES received an undisclosed amount of cash grants from the South Korean Central Government. Prior to this in April 2021, the company raised USD 139 million in a Series D funding round led by General Motors, while in July 2021, it raised USD 100 million from Hyundai.&nbsp;
 
 
 SES was listed on NYSE through a SPAC merger in February 2022. The deal raised USD 275 million at a valuation of USD 3.6 billion. The proceeds were to be used to accelerate growth and fund key development initiatives.&nbsp;
 
 
 
</div>

Addionics, a British next-gen battery-tech company, develops smart 3D electrodes for EV batteries by optimizing AI-based algorithms. The company states that its tech could improve the cost and performance of any EV battery. The company collaborated with leading automotive OEMs and suppliers in the US and Europe to integrate its technology with lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate, silicon, lithium polymer battery chemistries, and solid state batteries.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27236">February 2024</a>, Addionics reported a planned USD 400 million investment into its US manufacturing facilities to expand domestic EV battery production in the country. The new facilities will produce 3D copper foils to support 90 GWh of battery capacity, annually. The company’s first factory is set to begin production in 2027, with additional plants expected to come online in 2032.Key customers and partnershipsIn June 2022, Addionics <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11083">partnered </a>with Blitz Motors, an Israel based smart electric moped manufacturer, to provide smart 3D electrodes and develop Li-ion batteries. In August 2021, Addionics partnered with the Center of Process Innovation (CPI) and the University of Warwick’s WMG to improve lithium-ion battery cell performance and manufacturing processes. In April 2021, Addionics also partnered with Saint-Gobain Ceramics, a manufacturer of materials for construction, mobility, healthcare, and other industrial segments to develop high-power, high-capacity solid-state batteries for EVs.Funding and financialsIn January 2022, the company raised USD 27 million in Series A funding. The proceeds were to be used to redesign existing battery architecture with Addionics’ Smart 3D Electrodes. The company planned to commercialize its solution by 2024.

Addionics

InoBat is a Slovakian next-generation battery technology company. In November 2020, the company announced the launch of an “intelligent” EV battery. According to the company, this was the first of its kind and was developed through the combination of AI and high throughput (HTP) technology. The use of AI enables the company to develop bespoke batteries within a short period of time, making it possible to cater to the unique needs and power demands of different vehicles and applications. The company’s technology also reduces reliance on cobalt, resulting in higher energy density, with a goal of reaching 330 Wh/kg by the end of 2023 (compared to 250–270 Wh/kg of the highest-density lithium-ion batteries).Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;In November 2021, InoBat partnered with Chinese equipment manufacturer Wuxi Lead to deploy a lithium-ion pilot battery production line in Slovakia. The first batch of batteries was expected to be produced by the end of 2022. In April 2021, the company entered into a partnership with SOR (a producer of city and inter-city buses in Central Europe) to design, develop, and supply batteries for a new electric bus fleet. InoBat also planned to expand its geographic footprint across Europe and globally by building several gigafactories through 2024. In March 2022, Inobat announced plans to deploy a <a href="https://inobatauto.eu/newsroom/inobat-auto-announces-intention-to-build-its-third-gigafactory-in-western-europe/">third facility </a>in Western Europe.In April 2022, InoBat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9677">Gigamine</a>, a British battery recycling startup, to reprocess lithium-ion batteries from EVs. In September 2022, Inobat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12909">Cosworth</a>, to supply InoBat battery cells for Cosworth’s battery packs in the high-performance automotive marketIn October 2022, InoBat signed an agreement with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13944">GUS Technology</a>,, for the latter to produce and deliver InoBat’s batteries. During the same month the company signed declarations of intent with the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13942">Spanish government </a>to construct a new EV battery production facility in Valladolid, Spain. In November 2022, InoBat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14473">Ricardo </a>to jointly supply battery cells, modules, and packs to high-performance automotive manufacturers.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21481">September 2023</a>, InoBat reported that Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery developer, acquired a 25% stake in the company. The two companies intend to focus on developing localized battery value chains in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and will also accelerate R&amp;D across the value chain.In January 2022, InoBat raised an undisclosed amount in a funding round led by Ideanomics, a company promoting electric mobility. The proceeds were to be utilized to support the completion of InoBat’s pilot battery plant in Slovakia by the end of 2022.

InoBat

<div>
 
 Lightyear is a Dutch solar electric car startup. The company develops long-range electric cars that are grid-independent and are equipped with built-in solar panels, permitting longer charge cycles.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s flagship electric car Lightyear 0 (formerly Lightyear One) has a battery range of 625 km (versus Tesla Model S&rsquo; ~400 km) and has an energy use of 10.5 kWh per 100 kms. Lightyear 0 has a built-in five-square-meter solar panel and was available for pre-order at EUR 250,000 (~USD 272,278) excluding taxes (versus Tesla Model S&rsquo; USD 90,000) as of June 2022.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company reported that Lightyear 0 had begun production in 
 <a href="https://lightyear.one/articles/impact-has-started-lightyear-0-has-gone-into-production">
 November 2022
 </a>
 . However, subsequently in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15885">
 January 2023
 </a>
 , it announced that the production of Lightyear 0 has been suspended to instead direct resources towards Lightyear 2.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The Lightyear 2 model has received over 40,000 subscriptions from individual customers, as well as 21,000 pre-orders from fleet owners such as 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15722">
 Arval
 </a>
 , Athlon, LeasePlan, and MyWheels.
 
 
 In July 2022, Lightyear partnered with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11799">
 Valmet Automotive
 </a>
 to produce Lightyear 0 at Valmet&rsquo;s manufacturing facility in Uusikaupunki, Finland. A maximum of 946 Lightyear 0&rsquo;s will be produced. Additionally, in August 2022, Lightyear 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12007">
 partnered
 </a>
 with Koenigsegg, a Swedish high-performance sports car manufacturer, to jointly develop innovative EV technologies and optimize Koenigsegg&rsquo;s proprietary technologies to improve the energy efficiencies of Lightyear&rsquo;s second model, Lightyear 2. Additionally, in October 2022, the company acquired the technological design for drivetrain inverters from 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14036">
 Next Level Electronics
 </a>
 .
 
 
 In December 2021, Lightyear announced a 3 year partnership with LeasePlan where it promised 5,000 Lightyear 2 vehicles for its fleet. The company is also partnering with The Sharing Company (Netherlands) to supply 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9823">
 5,000 
 </a>
 Lightyear 2 vehicles for its MyWheels car-sharing platform by 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12809">
 September 2022
 </a>
 , Lightyear raised EUR 81 million (~USD 80.4 million) in funding for the production of Lightyear 0 in late 2022 and to also ensure the continued achievement of development milestones for Lightyear 2. In May 2021, Lightyear received a strategic investment of EUR 20 million (~USD 23 million) from the Dutch trading company SHV. In March 2021, the company raised EUR 40.2 million (~USD 48 million) in a venture round led by Zero Point Holding. The funds were expected to support commercialization and growth.
 
</div>

Lightyear

Companies developing battery electric cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks

Companies developing commercial BEVs. Includes electric LCVs, trucks, buses, etc.

Companies developing Li-ion EV batteries and battery materials. Includes next-gen advancements in Li-ion batteries (e.g. fast charging batteries, graphite-anode substitutes)

Companies developing EV battery technologies that do not fall under the definition of Li-ion (e.g. solid-state batteries, lithium substitutes, etc.)

Companies that facilitate EV charging. Includes both charging infrastructure providers and network operators. Also includes vehicle-to-grid technologies.

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) promote sustainable transportation

EV charging networks support the adoption of EVs for sustainable transportation

ION Energy, founded in 2016, is a Mumbai-based company that develops advanced battery management and intelligence platforms for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company's primary focus is on improving battery life and performance through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. ION Energy's flagship product is Edison Analytics, a cloud-hosted battery lifecycle management platform that leverages battery data, software analytics, and AI to remotely monitor, predict, and improve battery life. The platform utilizes the "Trinity of Battery Life" approach, which considers the entity, environment, and experience factors that impact battery life. ION Energy's solutions include cross-functional battery management systems (BMS) such as FS-CT, FS-LT, and FS-XT, designed for various applications ranging from light electric vehicles to grid storage. In May 2022, ION Energy sold its battery management system subsidiary, Maxwell Energy Systems, to Endurance Technologies for USD 40 million. The deal involved Endurance initially taking a 51% stake and acquiring the remaining business over the following five years.

TWAICE is a Munich-based battery analytics software company founded in 2018 by Dr. Michael Baumann and Dr. Stephan Rohr. The company provides a predictive analytics platform for companies working with lithium-ion batteries, addressing key concerns such as health, warranty, and safety throughout the battery lifecycle. TWAICE's software creates digital twins of batteries, allowing real-time monitoring and analysis of battery condition and performance. The platform combines deep battery expertise with artificial intelligence to generate actionable insights for battery development, operation, and potential second-life applications.
TWAICE's technology enables customers to optimize battery development processes, simulate battery behavior, monitor in-field performance, and evaluate used batteries for second-life applications. The company's solutions cater to various industries, including automotive, energy storage, and fleet management. TWAICE's analytics can help reduce development costs, improve battery performance and lifespan, and mitigate safety risks associated with battery operations. As of May 2021, TWAICE had raised a total of USD 45 million in funding to expand its product offerings and international presence.
Key customers and partnerships
TWAICE's customer base includes major automotive manufacturers such as Audi, Daimler, and Hero Motors, as well as energy companies like Verbund. The company has also established partnerships with Munich Re for insurance solutions, TÜV Rheinland for certifications, and ViriCiti for fleet management services. In April 2020, TWAICE's monitoring and analytics software was used by insurance company Munich Re to provide the first-ever performance warranty assurance for lithium-ion batteries. TWAICE has also formed a joint venture with TÜV Rheinland called Battery Quick Check to provide residual value assessments for used electric vehicle batteries. In 2020, TWAICE partnered with Dutch telematics company ViriCiti to deliver comprehensive battery analytics for electric bus fleets.

TWAICE

Habitat Energy, founded in 2017, is a leading global optimizer of battery storage and renewable energy assets. The company specializes in delivering market-leading performance and value for asset owners through its EVOLVE optimization service. EVOLVE combines cutting-edge algorithmic forecasting and automation with an expert in-house trading team and asset intelligence to maximize revenue across real-time markets while minimizing exposure to negative prices and system costs.
Habitat Energy's proprietary software allows for real-time trading, forecasting, and revenue generation in wholesale and ancillary service markets. The company uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to analyze power market dynamics and optimize split-second dispatch instructions specific to each storage and renewable power supply asset under active management. Habitat's algorithmic tools are complemented by oversight from an experienced 24/7 trading team and in-house route-to-market execution capability. The company also possesses sophisticated in-house modeling of battery degradation, enabling it to calculate the marginal degradation cost of each dispatch action and factor that into real-time optimization decisions.
In November 2021, Habitat Energy was acquired by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a specialist global investment manager focused on renewables, storage, and grid support infrastructure. Following the acquisition, Habitat Energy expanded its operations globally, with offices in Oxford, UK; Melbourne, Australia; and Austin, Texas, US. As of September 2022, Habitat Energy had an operating portfolio of over 700MW of storage capacity in the UK, dynamically optimized across real-time wholesale power markets, the Balancing Mechanism, and regulated ancillary services markets.
Key customers and partnerships
Habitat Energy has partnered with battery storage developer Glidepath Power Solutions to optimize an initial portfolio of 60MW of BESS assets in ERCOT, Texas. This includes Glidepath's 10MW/10MWh "Prospect" battery storage project in West Columbia and the 50MW Byrd Ranch storage project in Sweeny. In February 2022, Habitat Energy signed a deal with Eelpower to manage 189MW of UK battery storage projects, including assets in Fordtown near Aberdeen, Scotland, and Halesworth in Suffolk, England.

Habitat energy

Element Energy, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is an advanced battery management technology company. The company has developed proprietary hardware and software algorithms to improve the safety, intelligence, and economics of large-format battery systems. Element Energy's core product is an adaptive battery management system (BMS) that provides active monitoring, in-field diagnostics, predictive intelligence, and distributed control of large-scale battery systems. This technology results in improved total system performance, including enhanced energy throughput, system life, and economics, all delivered on a cost-competitive basis with traditional systems.
The company's BMS technology is applicable to both first and second-life batteries, with a focus on improving visualization, battery safety, and efficiency. Element Energy's approach distributes control down to the module level, allowing for the seamless combination of modules with different chemistries and states of health without negatively impacting performance. This technology is being validated on a large scale with a 50 MWh pilot project in the US, expected to be completed in early 2024.
Element Energy has secured over 2.5 GWh of second-life EV batteries for redeployment in utility-scale energy storage applications. The company plans to deploy 100-400 MWh systems starting in 2023, with multi-gigawatt deployments of its secured pipeline beginning the same year. As of November 2023, Element Energy had received and screened nearly two GWh of second-life batteries and was working toward deployment in utility-scale applications.
In addition to its focus on second-life batteries, Element Energy offers its technology solutions broadly across first-life energy storage and electric vehicle applications. The company is also exploring opportunities to apply its technology to electric vehicle batteries and is deploying its software as a service with a leading battery operations and maintenance provider.

Element Energy

KORE Power is a leading US-based developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells and energy storage solutions. Founded in 2018, the company designs and produces battery cells, modules, and packs for the energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) markets. KORE Power offers both nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistries, along with its own battery management system. The company's product portfolio includes energy storage systems for utility, commercial, industrial, and e-mobility applications.
KORE Power is currently constructing the KOREPlex, a 1.3 million square foot manufacturing facility in Buckeye, Arizona. Once operational, the plant will have an initial annual production capacity of six GWh of battery cells, with the potential to expand to 12 GWh. The facility is expected to begin commercial production by the end of 2024 or early 2025. In June 2023, KORE Power received a conditional commitment for an USD 850 million loan from the US Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office to support the construction of the KOREPlex.
In addition to cell manufacturing, KORE Power has expanded its offerings through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. In 2022, the company acquired Northern Reliability, an energy storage system integrator, to form KORE Solutions. This vertical integration allows KORE Power to provide end-to-end energy storage solutions. The company has also launched Nomad Transportable Power Systems, a subsidiary that produces mobile energy storage units for various applications, including power backup, emergency response, and grid support.
KORE Power has recently introduced its DC Block products, which are all-in-one energy storage solutions manufactured in the US. These systems are available in 750 kWh LFP and 1.3 MWh NMC configurations, designed to simplify installation and reduce project timelines for customers.

KORE Power

Software solutions that improve the reliability and performance of the electrical grid through facilitating the connection of distributed energy resources and other renewable energy sources. This includes solutions that optimize the operation of grids

Software solutions that monitor and optimize the performance, storage, and safety of long-duration energy storage batteries

Software solutions that monitor and optimize the performance of renewable energy assets to maximize their contribution toward consumer consumption

Demand response programs that aim to adjust the electricity consumption by end users in response to signals or price incentives

Uses AI/ML models to optimize energy supply and consumption

Optimizes and manages energy consumption and supply in smart cities

Provides software solutions for sustainable energy consumption

ION Energy

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