18+ VCs energizing battery and energy storage companies right now

Battery tech is capital-intensive and slow. Most VCs who jumped into the space during the climate boom of 2020-2021 have stopped writing checks. But some investors understand the long development cycles and are still backing teams with real technical differentiation. Here's who's active.

Quick list

Finding investors who understand hardware timelines

Find investors who've backed companies through pilot production hell. Most climate VCs understand software but panic when your Series A capital plan includes $50M for a pilot line.

Experience means they've seen battery startups go from lab to manufacturing—ask if they've been through a design-for-manufacturing pivot.

Network translates to intros with contract manufacturers in Asia or battery testing labs, not generic climate conference invites. Check if they know people at Panasonic, LG Energy Solution, or CATL.

Alignment on timeline matters more than any other sector—battery companies take 7-10 years to reach meaningful revenue.

Track record shows up in follow-on rounds. If their portfolio companies died waiting for Series B, they probably pushed for revenue too early. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links—its document analytics give you clarity on what investors actually read.

Value-add for battery investors should mean supply chain intros and manufacturing expertise. Generic "we'll help with hiring" promises are useless when you need to source high-purity lithium.

Getting in front of the right battery investors

Identify potential investors by checking who backed similar battery chemistries that failed—they understand the technical risks and might have thesis drift toward your approach.

Craft a compelling pitch that leads with your gravimetric energy density and cycle life data, not your addressable market. Battery investors have seen 500 pitch decks claiming to revolutionize energy storage.

Share your pitch deck through Ellty with unique tracking links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on—if they skip your manufacturing cost roadmap, they probably don’t understand battery economics. Ellty also supports secure sharing for sensitive technical files.

Utilize your network by asking portfolio founders about actual help during scale-up. Most will tell you if the investor understands capex-intensive businesses or just showed up for board meetings.

Attend networking events like the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference or Battery Show in Detroit. ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit is where serious battery investors show up, not generic cleantech conferences.

Engage on online platforms carefully—battery investors respect technical depth on LinkedIn but ignore generic posts about climate impact.

Organize due diligence materials before they ask. Set up an Ellty data room with your cell test data, manufacturing cost model, and supply agreements—it ensures smooth workflow and strong security across all documents.

Set up introductory meetings that lead with your technical differentiation in energy density or cost per kWh. Don't waste time on TAM slides—they know the battery market size. You can keep your materials aligned and up-to-date using our product workspace.

Why this matters now

Battery funding stabilized in 2024 after the 2021-2022 frenzy. Investors who survived the correction understand that battery companies need patient capital and long runways. The Inflation Reduction Act's manufacturing credits changed the math for US-based production—suddenly building in Ohio makes more sense than outsourcing to Asia. Global battery demand is real—EVs, grid storage, and consumer electronics aren't slowing down. But investors also learned that novel chemistries take longer and cost more than anyone predicted. Keep them consistently informed with investor update tool.

18 battery investors

1. Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Patient capital from Gates and other billionaires who understand 10-year timelines. They've backed multiple battery startups through scale-up.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy $405M Series E (2024), ESS Inc. follow-on rounds, Mangrove Lithium $10M Series A (2023)
• LinkedIn: Carmichael Roberts, Eric Toone
• Sector Focus: long-duration energy storage, battery materials, solid-state batteries, recycling
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Kirkland, USA
• Website: breakthroughenergy.org

2. Prelude Ventures

Deep technical diligence team that understands battery chemistry. Backed QuantumScape early and stuck with them through production delays.

• Recent Deals: Natron Energy $50M Series C (2024), Lyten $200M Series B (2023)
• LinkedIn: Gabriel Kra, Manoj Kumar
• Sector Focus: solid-state batteries, battery materials, energy storage systems, lithium metal
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: preludeventures.com

3. DCVC

Materials science specialists who've backed multiple battery unicorns. Strong technical team that can evaluate chemistry claims.

• Recent Deals: Sila Nanotechnologies $375M Series F (2024), Lyten Series B participation (2023)
• LinkedIn: Matt Ocko, Zachary Bogue
• Sector Focus: battery materials, silicon anodes, solid-state tech, manufacturing automation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: dcvc.com

4. Khosla Ventures

Big checks and high conviction in battery tech despite some portfolio struggles. Backed QuantumScape with $300M+ across multiple rounds.

• Recent Deals: QuantumScape follow-on investments, KoBold Metals $195M Series C (2024)
• LinkedIn: Vinod Khosla, Samir Kaul
• Sector Focus: solid-state batteries, battery materials mining, grid storage, recycling
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: khoslaventures.com

5. Energy Impact Partners

Utility-backed fund with strategic value for grid storage companies. Strong customer connections through LPs.

• Recent Deals: Fluence $300M growth round (2023), Stem follow-on investments (2024)
• LinkedIn: Shayle Kann, Hans Kobler
• Sector Focus: grid-scale energy storage, battery management systems, virtual power plants
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: energyimpactpartners.com

6. Capricorn Investment Group

Early Tesla investor with continued focus on battery and EV infrastructure. Long-term capital from single family office.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials $1B Series D (2023), Factorial Energy $200M Series D (2024)
• LinkedIn: Lon Brockinton, Rachel Slaybaugh
• Sector Focus: battery manufacturing, solid-state batteries, battery recycling, EV charging
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: capricorninvestmentgroup.com

7. Volta Energy Technologies

Battery-focused fund backed by Volkswagen and other OEMs. Portfolio companies get strategic intros to automakers.

• Recent Deals: Our Next Energy $300M Series B (2023), Group14 Technologies Series C participation (2024)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Chamberlain, Jon Ringer
• Sector Focus: automotive batteries, battery materials, solid-state tech, battery systems
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Chicago, USA
• Website: voltaenergytechnologies.com

8. G2VP

Cleantech-focused with multiple battery exits. Strong technical diligence and manufacturing expertise.

• Recent Deals: Enovix $125M PIPE investment (2024), Cuberg (acquired by Northvolt, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Raj Atluru
• Sector Focus: lithium-ion improvements, silicon anodes, battery packaging, manufacturing tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: g2vp.com

9. Coatue Management

Growth investor writing large checks for battery manufacturing scale-up. Backed Northvolt through multiple rounds.

• Recent Deals: Northvolt $1.2B extension round (2024), Ambri follow-on investments (2023)
• LinkedIn: Dan Rose, Caryn Marooney
• Sector Focus: battery manufacturing, gigafactories, battery materials, grid storage
• Stage Focus: Series C, Series D, Growth
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: coatue.com

10. TPG Rise Climate

Growth equity checks for proven battery companies scaling manufacturing. Focus on climate impact metrics.

• Recent Deals: Ioneer $700M financing (2023), EVgo follow-on rounds (2024)
• LinkedIn: Jim Coulter, Avi Greengart
• Sector Focus: lithium mining and refining, battery manufacturing, grid storage, EV infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: tpg.com

11. Lux Capital

Deep tech investor with successful battery bets on Form Energy and Enovix. Strong technical team for diligence.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy Series E participation (2024), Enovix PIPE participation (2024)
• LinkedIn: Josh Wolfe, Bilal Zuberi
• Sector Focus: long-duration storage, advanced lithium-ion, battery materials, recycling
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: luxcapital.com

12. Vanagon Ventures

Early-stage battery materials specialist. Small fund but strong technical expertise in anode and cathode materials.

• Recent Deals: Group14 Technologies $400M Series C (2024), multiple seed rounds in battery materials
• LinkedIn: Bill Joy
• Sector Focus: silicon anodes, cathode materials, electrolytes, battery additives
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Aspen, USA
• Website: vanagonventures.com

13. Temasek

Singapore sovereign wealth fund backing Asian battery manufacturing and supply chain companies.

• Recent Deals: Northvolt investments, multiple battery material suppliers in China and Korea (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Temasek Official
• Sector Focus: battery manufacturing, materials supply chain, lithium processing, recycling
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: Singapore
• Website: temasek.com.sg

14. Ecosystem Integrity Fund

Impact investor focused on battery recycling and circular economy. Strategic LP network in waste management.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials Series D participation (2023), Ascend Elements $542M Series D (2023)
• LinkedIn: Bobby Kahn
• Sector Focus: battery recycling, circular economy, lithium recovery, second-life batteries
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: ecosystemintegrityfd.com

15. Blue Bear Capital

Chinese battery supply chain specialist. Portfolio includes suppliers to CATL and BYD.

• Recent Deals: Multiple investments in Chinese battery material companies (2024), Ganfeng Lithium supplier network
• LinkedIn: Blue Bear Capital Team
• Sector Focus: lithium processing, cathode materials, battery equipment, supply chain
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Beijing, China
• Website: bluebearcap.com

16. NGP Capital

European VC with strong battery manufacturing portfolio. Backed Northvolt from Series A through growth rounds.

• Recent Deals: Northvolt multiple rounds (2023-2024), Skeleton Technologies €100M Series E (2024)
• LinkedIn: Masha Drokova
• Sector Focus: battery manufacturing, ultracapacitors, grid storage, EV batteries
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Website: ngpcap.com

17. Shell Ventures

Corporate VC backing battery tech for transportation and grid applications. Strategic value through Shell's energy network.

• Recent Deals: Natron Energy Series C participation (2024), Form Energy strategic investment (2023)
• LinkedIn: Geert van de Wouw
• Sector Focus: grid storage, EV batteries, sodium-ion batteries, battery systems
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Houston, USA / The Hague, Netherlands
• Website: shell.com/ventures

18. Congruent Ventures

Climate tech specialist backing battery materials and manufacturing innovation. Good at spotting supply chain gaps.

• Recent Deals: Li-Cycle PIPE participation (2023), Commonwealth Fusion Systems (adjacent energy storage)
• LinkedIn: Joshua Posamentier, Abe Yokell
• Sector Focus: battery materials, lithium extraction, manufacturing tech, recycling
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Boston, USA
• Website: congruentvc.com

How battery founders should track investor engagement

These 18 investors closed battery deals from 2023 to November 2025. Before reaching out, understand that battery diligence takes 4-6 months minimum. Set up tracking so you know which investors are doing real technical review versus collecting decks for market research.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create unique links for each investor. You'll see which slides get attention—battery investors who skip your manufacturing cost roadmap probably don't understand capex-intensive businesses. Most serious battery investors spend 10+ minutes reviewing cell performance data and supply chain diagrams.

When investors request detailed technical data, share an Ellty data room with your test results, cost models, and supplier agreements. You'll know they're serious when they review your bill of materials multiple times and forward the link to their technical advisors.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor understands battery timelines?

Ask how many battery companies they've backed through pilot production. If they expect revenue in year 2, they don't understand the sector. Real battery investors know you'll burn $50M+ before selling your first commercial unit.

Should I focus on generalist climate VCs or battery specialists?

Battery specialists understand the technical risks and long timelines. Generalist climate funds often panic during the 18-month design-for-manufacturing phase and push for premature revenue.

What traction do seed-stage battery investors expect?

Lab-scale proof of concept with third-party validation. Most want to see your cells tested at an independent lab like Intertek or UL. Some will invest on compelling founders plus strong technical advisors.

How important is IP for battery fundraising?

Critical for novel chemistries, less important for manufacturing innovations. Investors will do deep patent landscaping—expect 2-3 months of IP diligence if you're claiming breakthrough energy density.

When should I set up a technical data room?

Before your first investor meeting. Battery diligence requires dozens of documents—cell test reports, material safety data sheets, manufacturing cost models, supply agreements. Having it organized speeds up the process by months.

Do battery investors actually use pitch deck analytics?

The serious ones do. If an investor reviews your manufacturing roadmap 5+ times and forwards your deck to technical advisors, they're doing real diligence. If they spend 90 seconds total, they're passing but being polite.