Notation Capital is a pre-seed venture capital firm that work with technical founding teams. Notation Capital focus on early-stage technical teams, often pre-market or even pre-product, primarily in New York, and provide capital and support to help go-to-market and scale the company.

Notation Capital

Highline BETA is a startup co-creation company that launches new ventures with leading corporations and founders. Through startup co-creation, the firm helps to identify industry opportunities and to launch and co-invest in a new startup. It invests in startups through corporate accelerator programs and in co-creations with corporate partners. Highline BETA was founded in 2017 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Highline Beta

Third Sphere is Pre-Seed and Seed stage fund focused on rapid, scalable climate action and targeting outsized impact and outsized returns.   Fund strategy: Climate action - Track record of over 100 portfolio companies that unlock GHG reduction and resilience via strategies like electrification that don’t ask for premiums, just better products and services such as Cove Tool (building design), OneWheel (consumer EV), and Gradient (home hvac). First-in Capital - focus on ownership in pre-seed/seed stage teams and markets where we can help unlock institutional funding and multiple opportunities to expand ownership before Series A.  Earned access - GPs (Shaun, Stonly, and Shilpi) have 9 years together with public reputation and ranks including; top 1% of investors on NFX for climatetech; #1 ranked early stage fund by Climate 50; named in the  top 10 of VCs who founders love the most by Techcrunch   Repeatable differentiation - Proprietary curated network with over 12k people, enabling 1k annual 1:1 introductions, along with access to asset finance.

Third Sphere

URBAN-X is the platform for startups reimagining city life. Built by MINI, we partner with founders to build bold technology solutions for a sustainable planet. URBAN-X provides world-class engineering and design resources, investment capital through our venture partner JVP, a global network of investors, and premier educational content.

URBAN-X

Root Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in technical teams working on deep tech. The firm specializes in the fields of financial services, venture capital, and investments. It was founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Root Ventures

Construct Capital is an early stage venture capital firm founded in 2020. We invest in extraordinary founders building technology to transform the most foundational industries of our economy — from manufacturing and supply chain to food and transportation — that drive half our economy’s GDP yet are failing to meet customer expectations. We are active investors seeking to invest at the Seed or Series A stage.

Construct Capital

Expansion Venture Capital, is a venture capital firm focused in early and growth stage companies. Located in New York City, EVC was founded by brothers, Joseph and Ryan Melohn.   EVC’s team is comprised of entrepreneurs. Fifteen years of combined experience has enabled EVC to help build great companies across the US.  As entrepreneurs, “we have been in their shoes and speak the same language”.  We pride ourselves on being available for our teams of entrepreneurs 24/7. We work side by side with them, providing intellectual capital and assistance in any way we can. From mentorship to business development, raising capital, getting the right press, are some of the ways “we work for you”. When one of our founders have a question we want to be the first place they turn. Their success is our success!  We are founder friendly! “Entrepreneurs, not VCs, build great companies”

Expansion Venture Capital

Maple VC is a pre-seed and seed fund focused on investing in Canadian founders building in America.

Maple VC

ABB Ventures, the business-led venture capital investment framework of ABB, looks for breakthrough technology companies aligned with ABB’s goal to write the future of industrial electrification and automation. Since its formation in 2009, ABB Ventures, formerly known as ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), has deployed around $500 million into startups spanning a range of sectors including robotics, industrial IoT, AI/machine learning, energy transition, cybersecurity, electric mobility, smart buildings, and distributed energy. For more information, visit www.abb.com/ventures Feel free to reach out to our business-led venture capital teams: • ABB Robotics & Automation Ventures (ABB RA Ventures) • ABB Electrification Ventures (ABB EL Ventures) • ABB Motion Ventures (ABB MO Ventures)

ABB Ventures

King River Capital invests in high-growth software and AI-driven technology businesses that are solving critical problems. The firm aims to cultivate a diverse, energized ecosystem of entrepreneurs, operators, and partners that will build the world’s iconic companies and create a better future. It invests typically in the Series A through Series C rounds.  King River Capital (KRC) was founded in 2019 as a venture capital fund dedicated to investing in exceptional teams that are building innovative companies in Australia and the US. It is headquartered in Surry Hills, Australia.

King River Capital

Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution, and control; hydraulics components, systems, and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics, and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries.

Eaton Electrical

Silver Comet Energy partners also help with retail brands that want to pursue NEVI funding and build DC fast chargers but are unfamiliar with EV charging technology.

Silver Comet Energy

ChargeLab

ChargeLab is the Android of EV charging. We don’t build EV chargers, but our hardware-agnostic platform runs on the world’s most popular EV chargers. Once connected, our software makes any EV charger smarter and easier to use.

ChargeLab has developed a hardware-agnostic software platform to manage EV charging infrastructure. The company’s main product is a cloud-based charging station management system (CSMS). This software runs at the edge and in the cloud, enabling fleets, building operators, and utilities to deploy large numbers of EV chargers and manage them as an intelligent network. Furthermore, the company’s platform is able to carry out automated EV charger monitoring, management of pricing and access rules, payment processing, and electrical load balancing.

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

ChargeLab launches Spark™ to simplify EV charger management with AI-powered insights

ABB and ChargeLab have partnered to offer integrated electric vehicle charging hardware and software. ChargeLab’s OCPP network platform will run on top of ABB’s Terra DC chargers and the brand-new Terra AC wallbox to enable smarter EV charging for a wide range of use cases.

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

ChargeLab has developed a hardware-agnostic software platform to manage EV charging infrastructure. The company’s main product is a cloud-based charging station management system (CSMS). This software runs at the edge and in the cloud, enabling fleets, building operators, and utilities to deploy large numbers of EV chargers and manage them as an intelligent network. Furthermore, the company’s platform is able to carry out automated EV charger monitoring, management of pricing and access rules, payment processing, and electrical load balancing.ChargeLab has also developed apps for EV drivers, dashboards for fleet managers and site hosts, and open APIs for integration with third-party systems.The company manages EV chargers built by companies such as ABB, Eaton EV, EVBox, Lite-On, Siemens, Tritium, United Chargers, and Zerova as part of an open EV charging ecosystem driven by the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP).Funding and financials ChargeLab raised USD 30 million in a Series A funding round that was completed in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17697">April 2023 </a>and intended to use the funds to expand its engineering team and support the commercialization of new products.

<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

<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>

ION Energy

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

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) promote sustainable transportation

EV charging networks support the adoption of EVs for sustainable transportation

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 
 ChargeLab, a firm that has developed a software system capable of managing EV chargers indiscriminate of their hardware, has formed a partnership with Rexel Energy Solutions (RES), a business specializing in energy-efficient and electrification solutions. The aim is to support Canadian businesses in obtaining funding from the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) for the installation of EV chargers.
 The mission of this collaboration is to aid businesses in acquiring grants which cover up to half the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers, facilitated by the ZEVIP. RES will provide comprehensive services, which include system design and installation. ChargeLab, on the other hand, will provide network management software as well as customised reports that meet the requirements of the ZEVIP.&nbsp;
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 ChargeLab also partnered with WallBox in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/31817"> July 2024 </a> . The two companies aimed to expand Wallbox's commercial offering in North America by leveraging ChargeLab's charging station management system (CSMS) and open APIs.

ChargeLab

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