Applications for impulse programme open until early March
Alumni from impulse, the University of Cambridge’s entrepreneurship programme, have been instrumental in critical advancements in battery technology.
The quest for ever smaller, lighter, safer batteries is driving constant innovation across the field – and the need for efficient, longer-lasting, faster-charging reliable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) has become even more critical.
In response, impulse has helped a raft of pioneering battery innovators commercialise their critical advancements in battery technology.
Sanzhar Taizhan, founder and CEO of TaiSan and Emma Antonio, who aims to spin out of Imperial College London this summer, are just some of the most recent impulse graduates pushing the boundaries of what the humble battery can do, and bringing the chemistry to the next level.
They follow in the super-charged footsteps of impulse alumni, Jean de La Verpilliere, co-founder and CEO of Echion Technologies, and Kieran O’Regan, co-founder and CGO of About:Energy.
Last June, Echion – whose revolutionary XNO niobium-based anode material is enabling lithium-ion batteries to fast-charge safely in less than 10 minutes – raised £29million in a Series B investment round and, five months later, landed a further £10m to power commercial growth. Battery technology company, About:Energy, has raised more than £4m to scale its hardware-integrated software solutions, enabling advanced digital twins for the automotive and industrial sectors.
Sanzhar Taizhan – who was awarded an impulse fellowship, sponsored by automobile parts manufacturer, MAGNA International – is similarly progressing his quasi-solid state sodium technology for battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs). TaiSan has developed a novel polymer electrolyte and anode material able to boost the energy density of sodium whilst keeping costs low.
Last year, TaiSan received a Best Growth Potential award from the Department for Transport (DfT), as well as a £1.3m pre-seed fund raise (EIT InnoEnergy, TSP Ventures, Heartfelt VC and Exergon).
Sanzhar said: “Sodium batteries are traditionally very heavy and big in size. We have developed a brand-new electrolyte material, and a first-of-its-kind quasi-solid-state sodium battery, which makes batteries considerably smaller and lighter, with best-in-class energy density.”
Meanwhile, Emma Antonio, who only graduated from impulse last year, is focused on using waste materials to make biomass-based ‘hard carbon’ battery materials for sodium-ion batteries.
Emma says: “Sodium-ion batteries are a more sustainable, affordable and energy-secure alternative to existing lithium-based technologies, as they can eliminate the need for critical minerals. Current battery supply chains are heavily dependent on a few key regions, creating vulnerabilities in energy security.
“In contrast, sodium-ion batteries – made from low-cost, locally-sourced, abundant materials – are positioned to play a leading role in a sustainable, equitable and resilient energy future.”
Applications are open for impulse 2025 here until 3 March.
