Energy storage investors electrifying clean energy startups in 2026

Energy storage venture capital hit $2.8 billion across 56 deals in the first nine months of 2025. That's a 4% increase from last year. The sector attracted serious money because the Inflation Reduction Act made standalone storage projects viable with investment tax credits.

Battery tech is expensive. Long development cycles mean most founders need patient capital. Hardware requires more cash than software at every stage. Finding investors who actually understand energy storage economics matters - most generic VCs will push you toward pure software plays that don't work for grid-scale deployment.

Quick list

Picking the right energy storage investor

Technical understanding: Find investors who've backed hardware companies through manufacturing scale-up before. Most software VCs don't understand capex-intensive businesses or 18-month equipment procurement cycles. Ask if they've funded companies that built factories. Make sure your shared documents follow proper GDPR guidelines when sending technical data.

Patient capital: Energy storage startups take 7–10 years to exit, not 5. Seed to Series A alone is 18–24 months because you need working prototypes and pilot customers. Funds with 15-year horizons work better than those expecting quick flips. When sharing sensitive materials, review how to send confidential files.

Stage alignment: Corporate VCs like GE Vernova write $20–80M checks at Series B–C. They won't lead your seed round. Climate funds like Prelude or Breakthrough Energy do early stage but expect deep tech validation. Match your development stage to their check size and focus. If you're sending large technical appendices, check our guide for large PDF sending.

Regulatory knowledge: Battery storage projects face different regulations than consumer electronics. Investors who understand utility procurement, interconnection queues, and ISO markets add real value. Generic clean tech investors often don't. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your regulatory strategy slides versus skipping to financials.

Manufacturing connections: Hardware investors bring introductions to contract manufacturers, supply-chain partners, and testing facilities. That matters more than another advisory board seat. Ask their portfolio companies if they actually made useful intros or just showed up to board meetings. Review our pricing plans to choose the right setup as you scale.

Exit strategy: Energy storage exits happen through acquisitions by utilities, industrial companies, or strategic acquirers - not IPOs. Investors expecting to take you public in 5 years don't understand this market. Check their portfolio for realistic exits, not aspirational unicorn hunting. Capture investor emails with Ellty, whenever they view your deck.

How to approach energy storage investors

Research their thesis on Crunchbase first: Battery materials investors won't back grid software. Long-duration storage funds rarely invest in lithium-ion improvements. Climate funds want gigaton-scale CO2 reduction potential. Don't pitch the wrong investor type.

Show actual pilot data in your deck: Lab results don't count. Investors want to see your system running at a real site with actual performance data. Include cycle degradation, round-trip efficiency, and any failures you've debugged. Honesty about technical challenges builds credibility.

Upload to Ellty and send trackable links: Monitor which pages investors spend time on. If they skip your supply chain slides but spend 10 minutes on unit economics, that tells you what matters to them. Most founders learn investors care less about TAM and more about manufacturing costs.

Get warm intros through portfolio founders: Energy storage is a small world. Message someone from their portfolio on LinkedIn and ask about response times during technical problems. Most will tell you if the investor actually helps or just collects board seats.

Attend Energy Storage Association or ARPA-E summits: Generic tech conferences are useless. Real deals happen at sector-specific events where investors actually understand battery chemistry and grid integration. Skip TechCrunch Disrupt. Go to places where people argue about C-rates.

Connect on LinkedIn after getting introduced: Cold DMs to energy investors rarely work. They get 100+ pitches monthly from battery startups. A warm intro from a credible source cuts through the noise. Reference the portfolio company that made the connection. When sending follow-up materials, use our analytics to see who actually reviews them.

Set up an Ellty data room before they ask: Have your financial model, supply chain strategy, and pilot customer contracts ready. Energy storage diligence takes 4-6 months minimum. Investors will want detailed BoM costs and manufacturing timelines by week 2. Being organized speeds everything up.

Lead with your technical differentiation: Don't waste 15 minutes on market size. They know energy storage is huge. Show why your chemistry is better, your manufacturing costs are 40% lower, or your degradation curve beats lithium-ion. Technical credibility matters more than market slides.

Why 2026 matters for energy storage

The IRA changed everything. Standalone storage projects over 5 kWh now qualify for investment tax credits. That made grid-scale battery storage economically viable without being paired with solar. Corporate funding hit $11.2 billion across 85 deals in 9M 2025.

AI data centers are driving unprecedented electricity demand. Data center power consumption is expected to triple from 4.4% in 2023 to 12% by 2028. That creates massive demand for backup power and grid stability - exactly what battery storage solves. Companies like Redwood Materials are pivoting to serve this market.

Long-duration storage is finally getting funded. Form Energy's $405M Series F proves investors believe in 100-hour iron-air batteries. The technology moved from concept to real utility contracts. When Xcel Energy commits to two 10MW/1,000MWh projects, that signals the market is ready for multi-day storage beyond lithium-ion.

20 top energy storage investors

1. Eclipse Ventures

Silicon Valley VC backing industrial-scale companies with focus on manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials ($350M Series E, October 2025 at $6B valuation)
• LinkedIn: Eclipse Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Recycling, Energy Storage, Critical Materials, Industrial Scale
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Series D, Series E
• Location: Palo Alto, United States
• Website: eclipse.capital

2. Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bill Gates-founded climate fund with $3.5B+ AUM backing technologies that can reduce global emissions by 0.5+ gigatons annually.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy ($405M Series F, October 2024), Commonwealth Fusion Systems ($863M, August 2025), Fourth Power ($20M Series A, September 2025)
• LinkedIn: Breakthrough Energy LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Long-Duration Storage, Iron-Air Batteries, Fusion Energy, Grid Storage, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Kirkland, United States
• Website: breakthroughenergy.org

3. Energy Impact Partners

Utility-backed VC with $4.5B AUM partnering with 80+ global energy and industrial companies for strategic access.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy (portfolio company), generates $3B+ in revenue bookings for portfolio
• LinkedIn: Energy Impact Partners LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Grid Storage, Utility-Scale Projects, Industrial Energy, Long-Duration Storage
• Stage Focus: Venture, Growth, Private Equity, Credit
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: energyimpactpartners.com

4. Prelude Ventures

Climate-focused VC with $2B AUM investing since 2009 in startups with highest potential to mitigate climate change.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy (early investor), Quaise Energy ($21M Series A1, 2025), Thea Energy ($20M Series A, 2025)
• LinkedIn: Prelude Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Long-Duration Storage, Iron-Air Batteries, Geothermal, Clean Energy, Grid Tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: preludeventures.com

5. NVentures

Nvidia's corporate venture capital arm investing in companies at the intersection of AI and energy infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials ($350M Series E, October 2025)
• LinkedIn: Nvidia LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: AI Data Center Energy, Battery Storage, Energy Infrastructure, Critical Materials
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Series D, Series E, Growth
• Location: Santa Clara, United States
• Website: nvidia.com

6. T. Rowe Price

Global investment management firm with dedicated clean energy investment team backing breakthrough technologies.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy ($405M Series F co-lead, October 2024)
• LinkedIn: T. Rowe Price LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Long-Duration Storage, Grid-Scale Batteries, Clean Energy Infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Late Stage
• Location: Baltimore, United States
• Website: troweprice.com

7. GE Vernova

General Electric's energy business corporate VC backing grid infrastructure and energy storage technologies.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy ($405M Series F participant, October 2024)
• LinkedIn: GE Vernova LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Grid Storage, Utility Projects, Energy Infrastructure, Power Generation
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Cambridge, United States
• Website: gevernova.com

8. Temasek

Singapore sovereign wealth fund with substantial clean energy and battery technology portfolio.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy, Sila Nanotechnologies ($375M), Ascend Elements (battery materials)
• LinkedIn: Temasek LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Materials, Energy Storage, Grid Infrastructure, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Growth, Late Stage, Private Equity
• Location: Singapore, Singapore
• Website: temasek.com.sg

9. Lowercarbon Capital

Climate-focused VC with $2B capital backing companies removing carbon and deploying clean energy at scale.

• Recent Deals: Vaulted Deep ($32.3M Series A, November 2024), battery recycling and storage startups
• LinkedIn: Lowercarbon Capital LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Storage, Carbon Removal, Clean Energy, Climate Tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Jackson, United States
• Website: lowercarboncapital.com

10. Khosla Ventures

Deep tech VC with $13.6B AUM backing breakthrough energy technologies including batteries and fusion.

• Recent Deals: QuantumScape (solid-state batteries), Helion Energy (fusion), energy storage portfolio
• LinkedIn: Khosla Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Solid-State Batteries, Energy Storage, Nuclear Fusion, Deep Tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, United States
• Website: khoslaventures.com

11. Congruent Ventures

Early-stage climate fund with $1B+ AUM focusing on seed and Series A in North American startups.

• Recent Deals: Active in energy storage and grid infrastructure early-stage deals throughout 2024-2025
• LinkedIn: Congruent Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Energy Storage, Grid Tech, Clean Energy, Hardware, Software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: congruentvc.com

12. Pale Blue Dot

Sweden's first dedicated climate investor with early-stage, thesis-driven approach to European startups.

• Recent Deals: European battery and energy storage companies throughout 2024-2025
• LinkedIn: Pale Blue Dot LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Energy Storage, Battery Tech, Climate Tech, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Pre-Seed, Seed
• Location: Malmö, Sweden
• Website: paleblue.vc

13. World Fund

Europe's leading climate VC with $347M first fund backing entrepreneurs with 100M+ tonne CO2e reduction potential.

• Recent Deals: cylib (battery recycling), European energy storage startups
• LinkedIn: World Fund LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Recycling, Energy Storage, Deep Tech, Circular Economy
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Malmö, Sweden
• Website: worldfund.vc

14. Munich Re Ventures

Insurance group's VC arm investing in energy tech through HSB Fund II with focus on risk management.

• Recent Deals: Litmus (industrial AI), energy storage companies for grid stability
• LinkedIn: Munich Re LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Grid Storage, Risk Management, Energy Infrastructure, Industrial IoT
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Munich, Germany
• Website: munichre.com

15. SOSV

Global venture capital firm with climate tech accelerator backing hardware-intensive battery startups.

• Recent Deals: Ranked as most active climate tech investor by Pitchbook, backed food-tech unicorn Upside Foods
• LinkedIn: SOSV LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Hardware, Energy Storage, Climate Tech, Deep Tech
• Stage Focus: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
• Location: Princeton, United States
• Website: sosv.com

16. Coatue Management

Growth-stage technology investor with energy and battery materials portfolio companies.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials (previous rounds), growth-stage energy storage companies
• LinkedIn: Coatue Management LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Energy Storage, Battery Materials, Technology, Growth Stage
• Stage Focus: Series C, Series D, Series E, Growth
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: coatue.com

17. Bossa Invest

Brazilian venture capital firm investing in sustainable energy and battery technology companies.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials investor, Latin American energy storage startups
• LinkedIn: Bossa Invest LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Energy Storage, Battery Tech, Sustainable Energy, Clean Tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: São Paulo, Brazil
• Website: bossa.vc

18. Good Capital

Impact investor backing sustainable energy storage and circular economy battery solutions.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials investor, battery recycling and storage companies
• LinkedIn: Good Capital LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Battery Recycling, Energy Storage, Circular Economy, Impact Investing
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: goodcap.com

19. CPP Investments

Canadian pension fund with substantial clean energy and battery technology investments globally.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy co-investor, large-scale energy infrastructure projects
• LinkedIn: CPP Investments LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Grid Storage, Energy Infrastructure, Long-Duration Batteries, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Growth, Late Stage, Infrastructure
• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Website: cppinvestments.com

20. Insight Partners

Global software investor with $90B+ AUM expanding into energy infrastructure and industrial software.

• Recent Deals: Clean tech and industrial software portfolio across 800+ companies
• LinkedIn: Insight Partners LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: Energy Software, Grid Management, Industrial Infrastructure, Enterprise SaaS
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Buyout
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: insightpartners.com

Track your fundraising properly

These 20 investors closed energy storage deals from 2023 to 2026. Before you start pitching, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your battery chemistry or manufacturing strategy. Most founders are surprised when investors skip their technology slides but spend 15 minutes analyzing supply chain costs and capex requirements.

When investors ask for technical documentation, share an Ellty data room instead of email attachments. Your BoM, performance data, and pilot results in one place with view analytics. You'll know when they actually review your technical specs versus just claiming they will.

Energy storage fundraising takes time. Average seed to Series A is 18-24 months because you need working prototypes. Series A to B takes another 18-24 months while you prove manufacturing can scale. Without tracking, you won't know which investors are seriously engaged versus just staying warm. Ellty shows you who's actually reading your updates.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor is still active?

Check their last announced deal on Crunchbase. If it's from 2023 or earlier, they might be between funds or winding down. Energy storage investors should have deals in the last 6-12 months. Look at their portfolio page - active funds announce new investments regularly.

Should I cold email investors or get introductions?

Get introductions for energy storage investors. The sector is small and everyone knows everyone. Cold emails work for consumer apps. They don't work for hardware requiring $50M+ in capex. Message founders from their portfolio and ask for intros. Most are helpful if you're not competing directly.

What's the difference between climate funds and corporate VCs?

Climate funds like Breakthrough Energy and Prelude move faster and focus on gigaton-scale CO2 reduction. Corporate VCs like GE Vernova and NVentures write bigger checks but want strategic alignment with the parent company. Climate funds are better for early-stage. Corporate VCs work well at Series B-C when you need customer intros.

How many investors should I reach out to?

Start with 10-15 that actually fit your technology and stage. Energy storage is specialized - don't waste time on generalist VCs who've never funded hardware. Research each fund's thesis and recent deals. Add more to your pipeline as conversations progress, but focus on quality over quantity.

When should I set up a data room?

Before your first meeting if possible. Energy storage investors will ask for your performance data, manufacturing costs, and supply chain strategy by the second meeting. Having it ready shows you're organized and serious. Use Ellty so you can track which technical documents they actually review.

Do investors actually care about pilot customers?

Yes. Lab results don't count in energy storage. Investors want to see your system running at a real facility with actual performance data over time. Include degradation curves, efficiency measurements, and what broke during testing. Honesty about technical challenges builds more credibility than perfect lab conditions that don't reflect reality.