Cohort announcement for the Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme 2024
Running for the fourth consecutive year, the Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme is going stronger than ever.
With our largest ever cohort, 18 SMEs from across the battery supply chain have been selected. Over the next 12 weeks the cohort will undertake a bootcamp aimed at getting a better understanding of what investors look for, crafting a defendable understanding of their finances and future plans and delivering an effective pitch to investors. This programme is delivered with support from our partners Mountside Ventures and Stronger Stories.
Cohort
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AIB Corp Ltd is dedicated to revolutionising the battery minerals supply chain by connecting the UK market with Sub-Saharan Africa’s abundant resources. With a strategic focus on building sustainable, ESG-compliant partnerships, AIB Corp Ltd aims to bolster the UK’s battery manufacturing industry by ensuring a consistent, ethical, and direct supply of critical minerals. We specialise in creating Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and fostering partnerships between UK manufacturers and African suppliers, addressing the industry’s growing demand for high-quality battery materials.
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Celltris is on a mission to slash the cost of energy storage without sacrificing performance. We are focussed on delivering better, lighter, and cheaper cells than exist today. We are currently developing a new sodium-ion technology that is one third cheaper than any state-of-the-art lithium-ion cell, more energy dense, and can be produced using 100% localised supply chain in EU/US.
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ChargeRevive emerges in response to pivotal challenges in the sustainable energy sector, particularly in the need for efficient battery recycling systems and the necessity of establishing closed-loop supply chains to minimise environmental impact. ChargeRevive’s vision is to spearhead the transition towards a more sustainable and efficient EV battery ecosystem. We aspire to be at the forefront of promoting environmental sustainability through advanced AI-based battery State of Health assessment, pioneering consultancy services, and fostering robust networks for battery recycling.
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Based in Oxfordshire, Enough Energy is bringing high power where it is needed whilst reducing load on the grid. We’re leveraging breakthrough technology to develop a battery integrated EV charger, delivering rapid charging from any location, no matter the power available. We aim to support commercial vehicle fleets to electrify, increasing their ability to charge at the depot, reducing driver dwell time and energy costs.
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Global Nano Network (GNN) is a material science company pioneering solutions in battery technology. Their flagship product, HyperFoil®, addresses critical challenges in battery power density and cycle life. Developed using sustainable materials and localised supply chains, HyperFoil® represents a significant advancement in the field. This high-performance current collector is form-factor and chemistry agnostic. Aside from low cycle life and limited power density lithium-ion and next-gen batteries face manufacturing wastage rates of up to 30%. GNN’s HyperFoil® addresses these challenges while enabling dry electrode manufacturing that eliminates the use of toxic solvents. This innovation reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions, offering a sustainable solution for battery production.
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HalioGen Power, a University of Manchester spin-out, is revolutionising energy storage by enabling anyone to use energy anywhere at any time. Our technology is disrupting the long-duration energy storage battery market by reducing costs, enhancing performance, and improving safety of an overlooked battery technology, Redox Flow Batteries. The technology can be integrated with the power grid and/or renewable energy solutions, matching demand and supply of energy globally and helping heavy industries decarbonise.
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HTMS is revolutionising the high temperature composite market by establishing a UK-based supply chain for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs). HTMS develops and manufactures innovative, cost-effective CMCs with reduced CO2 emissions for aerospace, defence, and clean transport sectors. The company’s breakthroughs in material science, including lightweight, thermally tolerant battery boxes, position HTMS as a leader in advanced composites. With rapid industry recognition and a strong product pipeline, HTMS is driving the future of high temperature material technologies.
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Hubl Logistics, a leader in sustainable temperature-controlled transportation, is on a mission to revolutionise food distribution with zero-emission technologies. The company’s flagship product, the CoolRun Pod, is a game-changer in zero-emission, temperature-controlled transport, effectively addressing the inefficiencies in the current last-mile delivery network. CoolRun pods are temperature-controlled containers for transporting food. The pods use PCM plates (thermal batteries that use phase change material technology) to keep food chilled for up to 30 hours or frozen for up to 15 hours. This removes the need for truck refrigeration and insulated bodies and, with it, all on vehicle refrigeration emissions, including refrigerant gases.
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Nubacell is a developer of perspective multi-cell battery architecture and Battery Management System, delivering extended battery life, voltage regulation and support for cell multi-chemistry. Our innovative technology allows reuse of second-hand cells of various health in static energy storage and EV charging infrastructure. Our technology can combine cells of different chemical types and health to reach specified performance, efficiency or cost targets.
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Ocrea Energy Ltd, a UCL spin-out incorporated in June 2024, is a pioneering innovator in all-solid-state battery technologies. We specialise in developing advanced battery components and prototypes that address critical industry challenges, including safety risks, limited energy density, rate capability, and cycle life. Leveraging our patented scalable thin-film templating layers, we aim to develop safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting batteries, ideal for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and renewable energy storage. With strong industry partnerships and a commitment to cutting-edge research, Ocrea Energy Ltd is uniquely positioned to redefine the future of energy storage.
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Photocentric UK is a pioneering company specialising in photopolymer technology and additive manufacturing. Founded in 2002, the company has become a leader in the production of high-performance photopolymer resins and innovative 3D printing solutions. Photocentric, winner of 3 Queens award, is renowned for its patented Daylight Polymer Printing technology, which uses LCD screens as light sources for curing photopolymers. Photocentric’s R&D intends to revolutionise battery manufacture with the introduction of new methods for constructing cathodes and solid-state batteries supported by their digital autonomous mass manufacture of polymer parts (JENI).
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PowerUp is an energy solutions provider, specialising in innovative technologies that usher in a new era of sustainability. Our primary focus is on revolutionising traditional energy systems across diverse industries by moving to a proactive, prediction-based approach instead of being reactive or scheduled. Core activities revolve around the replacement of fossil fuel generators with our cutting-edge PowerStations which incorporate AI-powered predictive analytics, ensuring efficient energy management. A distinctive aspect of our operations is the “just-in-time” battery swap energy distribution using our green fleet and existing transport network, enabling a continuous and reliable green energy supply at the point of use.
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RecoVolt is developing industry leading solutions to tackle end-of-life battery waste, crucial for achieving a net-zero future. We have engineered a state-of-the-art discharger that rapidly prepares batteries for recycling, addressing safety concerns and eliminating bottlenecks. Our technology also evaluates batteries for reuse or repurposing, enabling recyclers and fleet managers to make informed, data-driven decisions. By maximising asset value and promoting the circular economy, RecoVolt supports a sustainable approach to EV battery lifecycle management.
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Senergy offer thermally conductive polymers that power performance in Energy, Automotive and Industrial sectors. Senergy’s thermally conductive polymer technology enables a viable alternative to metal heat exchangers, offering 30-40% reduced mass, 500% CO2eq product reductions and greatly enhanced design possibilities. Senergy’s technology enables conductive polymers that can be mass manufactured using traditional processing such that costs can also be lower than metallic offerings. Senergy have product offerings for EV battery applications, solar thermal, geothermal, refrigeration and other industrial heat exchangers.
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The Structural Battery Company (The SB Co.) is a pioneer in advanced energy storage solutions, specialising in integrating structural batteries into high-performance sectors such as aerospace, defence, and automotive. Founded in 2022, our innovative technology seamlessly combines energy storage with structural integrity, delivering safer, lighter, and stronger solutions that enhance vehicle performance and sustainability. With successful projects like Project RAIJIN, showcased at the Paris International Airshow, and strategic partnerships across multiple industries, The SB Co. is positioned to lead the market in structural battery technology, driving the transition to net zero.
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Thermulon, founded in 2019, is pioneering the production of high-performance, fire-safe insulation materials. Backed by top-tier VCs and a dedicated community of investors, we operate out of our West London laboratory. Our innovative aerogels are created using a proprietary chemical process that combines cutting-edge aerogel technology with scalable, cost-effective industrial methods. By utilising low-cost precursors and advanced reactor technology, we deliver high-quality insulation materials with unmatched affordability and efficiency.
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ThinkClock Battery Labs is an R&D-focused company with deep expertise in Battery Health Analytics using data-driven Digital Twins, advanced AI, and lab-characterisation techniques. We reveal the interpretable diagnostic insight about the battery-health while relating the microscopic data of the battery with the observable system-level behaviour. ThinkClock has won two Innovate UK grants for the rollout of our innovative BatteryScope platform, which is a Battery Health Analytics tool powered by Data-driven Digital Twins, the first of its kind in the world.
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Volador Energy is redefining energy storage with its advanced technologies. Our solutions incorporate cutting-edge immersion-cooled batteries, engineered for superior performance, safety, and durability across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. A key differentiator is our cell-level repairable technology, which allows individual battery cells and modules to be easily repaired or replaced, significantly enhancing the system’s lifespan and reliability. Headquartered in the UK and expanding globally, our solutions are built for longevity and designed to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy.
About the Faraday Battery Challenge
The Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC), delivered by Innovate UK, is a £610 million UKRI Challenge Fund investment, delivering a mission-led, research and innovation programme that covers “Lab to Factory” development, cutting-edge research, national scale-up infrastructure, and skills and training. The FBC seeks to address market failures in road transport decarbonisation and to attract investors to the UK’s battery industry. By leveraging scientific strength, with our delivery partners: Faraday Institution, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and Innovate UK, we are building an ecosystem that supports industry growth and ensures UK prosperity.
If you want stay up to date with Innovate UK Business Connect activities in the battery space, please visit the UK Batteries Network and register to receive our monthly newsletter.
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