2026 Agenda
Cambridge Venture, Innovation & Partnering (VIP)'s 4th Annual
Battery Venture, Innovation & Partnering
Financing Innovation and Commercialization of Emerging Technologies
March 23 - 24, 2026 ALL TIMES EDT
Monday, March 23
1:50 pmRegistration Open and Afternoon Coffee / Welcome to Venture, Innovation & Partnering
Battery Report 2025: The Ebbs & Flows of Financial Capital
Michael Liu, Director, Research & Insights, Volta Foundation
The global battery industry is exiting its volume-at-all-costs phase and entering a capital-disciplined, margin-defined cycle. This session serves as an overview & reframes the past year’s developments through a business and financial lens, tracking how market growth, policy architecture, and cross-border investment are reshaping competitive advantage. We begin with the macro landscape, outlining how end-market demand, technology mix, and regional supply–demand balances are evolving and what that implies for pricing and utilization. We then examine the capital story-where investment is concentrating or retreating, and the drivers behind those shifts—including policy-linked incentives, cross-border flows, and changing conditions in equity and debt markets. Finally, we will recap how capital is being deployed in new application verticals to support storage in the energy gauntlet.
Preparing for Diligence: Tips and Lessons Learned
Bill Grigos will discuss how start-ups can prepare for diligence, whether as part of a fund-raise, collaboration, or exit, focusing on intellectual property issues. The discussion will address when and how to begin, strategies for success and pitfalls to avoid.
Powering AI—Next-Gen Batteries as Compute Enablers in the AI Era
Katherine He, Investor, TDK Ventures Inc.
AI data centers are transforming into power-hungry “AI factories,” creating extreme electrical environments that legacy storage and UPS systems were never designed for. This session highlights the rising role of batteries as compute enablers—from BESS to UPS to integrated rack-level BBUs—and why the next wave of cell innovation must prioritize high-power density, resilience, and reliability. We’ll also explore how this market offers battery manufacturers a rare combination of scale and premium margins, outpacing EV and traditional ESS economics.
The Evolution of Capital Markets and the Data Center Industry
Alexandra Manoloff, Head of Battery Coverage for North America, Barclays Investment Bank, Energy Transition Group
As the data center landscape continues to evolve, power – outside and within – has become ever-critical. And batteries are at the foundation of this – for every duration, ranging from pulsing to backup power and energy storage. As we settle into a new normal around the building, power procurement and operations of data centers in a world with hyperscalers, the lines between white space and gray space have become blurry, and the need for and premium placed on innovation for power has become exponentially important. The finance world is very focused on this as well, and capital markets surrounding the data center industry continue to evolve.
Battery: A Critical Asset in the A.I. Era
Jun Sup Shin, Founder & CEO, Blue Nova Energy LLC
The continued digitization of data and the explosive adoption of AI in all aspects of private and commercial applications are driving unprecedented energy demands in data centers. Battery systems—rack-level BBUs and facility-scale BESS—are essential to maintaining reliable operations, yet their strategic importance is sometimes underappreciated. While batteries are often viewed as commoditized components, rapid innovation in battery technology suggests they deserve greater attention. The urgency to deploy AI and data centers on schedule, combined with cost considerations, can create challenges for thorough battery design and validation. Decision-makers should balance these pressures by recognizing that proven technologies offer stability, while new solutions may bring meaningful advancements. To promote resilience and safety, it is recommended that customers and investors implement performance metrics designed to incentivize vendors who provide advanced, dependable, and safe battery solutions. At the same time, they should also invest in checking mechanism while pursuing vendors with creative innovations in battery chemistry and system architecture, pushing the boundaries to optimize performance, safety, and cost.
Bridging the Gap between GPUs and the Grid—Powering AI Data Centers with Next-Gen Batteries
Katherine He, Investor, TDK Ventures Inc.
This panel will examine how the explosive growth of AI data centers is reshaping the requirements for next-generation battery and high-power energy storage technologies. We will discuss the uncertainty around chemistry direction, safety expectations, permitting, and what it takes to scale energy storage to support hyperscale compute. Our speakers will explore where the IT industry is heading, how to productize reliable energy storage systems for data-center loads, and what innovations are required to bridge the gap between GPUs and the grid.
Material Informatics and AI in Battery Discovery: Is the Hype Real Yet?—A Road Map
Anil Achyuta, Partner, Energy Impact Partners
Advances in graph neural networks, density functional theory models, and large-scale simulation are reshaping how new materials and chemistries are discovered. After decades of promise, we may finally be approaching true rational chemistry design—where AI meaningfully compresses experimental cycles rather than simply accelerating data analysis. This panel will examine whether that inflection point is real, and what it means for commercialization timelines in energy, manufacturing, and climate technologies. We’ll explore case studies of startups using AI for materials discovery, highlighting what has worked, what hasn’t, and where bottlenecks remain. Discussion will include the rising cost of compute, how teams balance simulation with wet-lab iteration, and the emerging role of autonomous labs. Panelists will also address how AI integrates into existing scientific workflows, from hypothesis generation to verification, and how these systems shift the role of scientists and engineers. Together, we’ll map out what is hype, what is real, and what breakthroughs are needed to make AI-driven materials development a reliable industrial engine.
5:25 pmWelcome Reception Sponsored by SES
6:25 pmClose of Day
Tuesday, March 24
8:00 amRegistration and Morning Coffee
8:30 amOpening Remarks from the Organizer
The Gigafactory Yield Curve: How Manufacturing Intelligence Turns Western Battery Ambition into Production Reality
Arun Nair, Head of BU, SyncoraDMP
Western gigafactories often face a 24–36-month gap between commissioning and production-grade yield, eroding investor returns. This talk introduces the “Gigafactory Yield Curve” and shows how manufacturing intelligence, real-time monitoring, and automated quality insights accelerate ramp-up and improve capital efficiency.
Raising the Capital to Commercialize Technology—Fund Deep Tech to Scale
James Frith, Principal, Volta Energy Technologies
As government support fades and EV skepticism rises, Series B funding challenges signal a critical juncture for battery tech. To advance, the sector must attract deep tech investors—those backing AI, quantum, and advanced materials—into battery innovation across hardware, software, and AI tools. Disruption opportunities abound in outdated business models through disintermediation, novel contracting, and strategic partnerships, offering new paths to scale and profitability.
10:00 amNetworking Coffee Break
New Markets for Battery—Needs and Gaps, Let’s Think Differently
Kyle Teamey, Managing Partner, Planetary Health, RA Capital
Markets for batteries continue to grow rapidly, and we are seeing opportunities for innovators to deliver targeted solutions that address real customer needs. As the grid is pushed to its limit by growing energy demand, entrepreneurs have opportunities both in front of and behind the meter. At the same time, the aerospace and defense sectors may present opportunities for advanced energy systems to unlock new capabilities. Drones, in particular, may represent an entry point for novel battery technologies. How should entrepreneurs address growing and emerging opportunities?
EMERGING COMPANY SHOWCASES
moderated by Suyash Mohan, Venture Investor, Plug and Play Tech Center
Next-Generation Battery Separator for Safer, Longer-Lasting CellsJan Sagmo, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Sales & Management , ZNL Energy AS
ZNL Energy develops the patented ZNL-NPx separator to improve safety, thermal robustness, and cycle life. It suppresses degradation, side reactions, and transition metal diffusion. Customer tests show stronger capacity retention and reduced aging, supporting safer batteries across Europe and the US.
Sea Li-ion Technologies: Integrated Lithium Extraction and Battery Materials ManufacturingGriffin Bourjeaurd, Founder, Sea Li-ion Technologies
Sea Li-ion's patented X2L technology combines lithium extraction and cathode active material (CAM) synthesis into a single production process, eliminating conventional refinement, reducing costs, and enabling a complete domestic battery manufacturing supply chain. X2L produces CAM (LFP, NMC, LMR, etc.) directly from lithium resources (brine, produced water, seawater, etc.) at lower costs than current battery supply chains.
High Performance Mechanical Si/C: Scalable, Cost-Competitive and Advancing to Commercial Production
Christiaan Jordaan, Founder & CEO, Sicona
High-performance silicon–carbon anode materials offer a scalable, cost-competitive pathway to significantly improve lithium-ion battery energy density and charging performance. This presentation explores the transition from technology development to commercial-scale production.
A Polymer Power Cell for Data Center ResilienceNaBatt Energy develops low-cost sodium-ion batteries based on sodium iron sulfate (NFS) technology, designed to compete with lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.
- Low Cost: NFS batteries are projected to cost $37/kWh on mass production.
- Applications: Suitable for small EVs, energy storage, SLI, and data center UPS.
- Advantages: Features high safety, good low-temperature performance, and long cycle life.
- Manufacturing: Low-cost NFS cathode materials and cells will be produced in the US by NaBatt Energy company.
Where Innovation Still Matters: Charting the Future of Western Battery Leadership
Josh Stiling, Investment Director, Anzu Partners
As venture capital retreats, policy support fades, and EV OEMs tighten their risk tolerance, new demand is rising from energy storage, defense, and aerospace. Which battery innovations can seize these near-term opportunities and scale to global markets—and where should the West focus its efforts versus yield to the East?
Capturing Value in the Shift to Manganese-Rich CathodesPaige Johnson, Founder and CEO, Ten Nine Technologies LLC
Manganese-rich cathodes are often framed as an “LFP alternative” or even an “LFP killer” - but the reality is more nuanced. Paige Johnson, Founder & CEO of Ten-Nine Technologies, cuts through the hype to explain why manganese-rich chemistries are gaining traction and what must happen for them to scale commercially. Investors will gain a clear view of where manganese-rich batteries fit in the next generation of EV platforms and which signals matter most as adoption accelerates.
Join us for a dynamic, program-exclusive lunch designed to catalyze insight, opportunity, and collaboration. Curated discussion tables—shaped by our distinguished co-chairs—bring together select executives, investors, and innovators for focused, thematic conversations that spark new thinking and new partnerships. This elevated experience is open only to Venture, Innovation & Partnering participants and speakers.
Table 1: Capturing Value with Manganese-Rich Chemistries
Paige Johnson, Founder and CEO, Ten Nine Technologies LLC
Table 2: Securing the Supply Chain: Building Resilient Battery Materials at Scale
Virginia Klausmeier, CEO, Sylvatex
Manufacturing Scale-Up—Where Startups can "Go Big" and win
Eric Rosenblum, Managing Partner, Foothill Ventures
Many of the most important battery innovations have originated in the US, but scaled in China and elsewhere. US research centers have not stopped innovating, and there has been an explosion of battery start-ups in the US. However, it is clear that we still lack battery manufacturing experience and scale.
EMERGING COMPANY SHOWCASES
moderated by Suyash Mohan, Venture Investor, Plug and Play Tech Center
Commercializing the Future: A Scalable, Cost-Effective Sodium-ion Platform for Global Energy MarketsJihoon Park, CEO & Founder, Executive Office, Everindus Inc.
Everindus Inc. presents a market-ready Sodium-ion Battery platform engineered for maximum safety and cost-efficiency. While the industry seeks alternatives to Lithium-ion, our technology stands out by offering extreme thermal stability and a simplified, scalable manufacturing process. Designed for seamless global deployment, we leverage a robust supply chain to support the transition toward resilient energy storage. This presentation explores our roadmap for U.S.-Korea strategic alignment, highlighting opportunities for investment and cross-border partnerships to accelerate the next generation of energy infrastructure.
Your Separator Has a Ceramic Problem
Peter Frischmann, CEO and Co-Founder, Sepion Technologies
Ceramic coatings provided the key safety benefits that enabled Ni-rich cathodes to become mainstream. Twenty years after their introduction, they command more than 80% market share. Is their future dominance assured, or is it time to ask more of your separator?
Reducing Scrap and Increasing Yield: Inline X-ray for Gigafactory Battery Production
Bernhard Muerkens, Head of VCbattery I VCbattery a division of VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH
As battery production scales to gigafactories, even small defect rates can translate into millions in scrap costs and unstable production ramp-ups. Inline X-ray inspection allows manufacturers to detect internal defects early, reduce defect escape, and stabilize manufacturing processes. VCbattery enables scalable 3D X-ray inspection solutions designed specifically for high-volume battery cell production.
Dürr Dry Process Electrode Overview, X.Cellify DC 700
From Dependence to Domestic: Relocating Graphite Anode Production from China to the USMark Thompson, Founder & Managing Director, Talga Group Ltd
Graphite anode supply is almost exclusively from/via China and as the largest volume active material in batteries it is arguably the weakest part of the US supply chain. This talk explores the current situation and shares insights from European anode operations to inform economic considerations for new American anode production.
PANEL DISCUSSION:Strategic Partners and Investors: Leveraging Other Resources in the Age of Smaller Checks
Thea Reid, COO, Ateios Systems
Given the current economic climate, many start-ups are having difficulty raising funds after their seed round. This is especially true for Battery start-ups who usually need millions to scale-up production before establishing revenue. With larger investors writing smaller checks and many rounds being funded by angel investors, learn how one company caught the eye of a new age investor.
3:25 pmNetworking Coffee Break
What is the Future Battery Strategy for the West in the Next Five Years?—Domestic Supply Chain & Beyond
Ken Hoffman, Founder & CEO, Traubenbach
While the world has talked about localization over the past few years, 2025 was the year when it became imperative to localize. The question for the battery supply chain is how to set up a non-Chinese-based value chain, given that so little of it currently exists. The panelists have been building this value chain and are showing OEM's from EV's to drones, to stationary storage. We will explore multiple avenues to bring this value chain to local markets and how cross-border partnerships remain crucial to success. Often, innovation, creative thinking, and excellent execution are enough to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles faced today.
PANEL DISCUSSION:Betting on Innovation – Ideation to Adoption
Dee Strand, CSO, R&D, Wildcat Discovery Technologies Inc
The battery industry has been searching for the next step-change in lithium-ion performance. This panel explores how breakthrough battery innovations earn market credibility, and why some approaches begin to define entirely new categories. Panelists will discuss what it takes to translate deep science into scalable products, how strategic validation shapes market perception, and what distinguishes a promising idea from a platform the industry is prepared to back.
AI Gets Physical: Towards a Trillion-Dollar Market
Shawn Golhar, Global Head of Policy Advisory Banking, Barclays
Batteries are at the foundation of AI-enabled robotics, from humanoids to autonomous vehicles to industrial automation. Physical AI is scaling towards a trillion-dollar market, and changing the landscape of industry, commerce, geopolitics and our day-to-day life.
5:35 pmInternational Battery Seminar Reception
6:20 pmClose of Conference