Qkera has closed a seven-figure pre-seed financing round led by cleantech investor InnoEnergy, supported by UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators and several angel investors. The capital will be used for industrial validation and the development of large-scale prototypes.
Qkera was founded in 2024 as a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The founding team, led by Managing Director Andreas Weis and Chief Strategy Officer Jennifer Rupp, is developing ceramic solid electrolytes for next-generation batteries. These materials make batteries safer, more efficient, and more powerful. With its technology, the startup already won the Energy Startup Bavaria start-up competition.
Qkera's goal: scaling and industrialization
With the funding, Qkera aims to advance industrial validation, large-scale prototypes, and the construction of a pilot line by 2026. White explained:
"Within our first year of business, we have found a solution to arguably the most significant pain point in producing ceramic electrolytes for the battery industry: scalability and cost. With this funding, we plan to scale our process to larger formats and conclude our first development agreements to advance next-generation battery technology."
Rupp emphasizes the importance of the partnership:
"We are particularly pleased to have InnoEnergy on board. With its extensive portfolio of energy startups, strong network, and leadership role in the European Battery Alliance, we couldn't have asked for a better partner to scale our technology."
Christian Bauer, CEO DACH at InnoEnergy, adds:
"The electrolyte component developed by Qkera has the potential to help this key technology achieve a breakthrough in a rapidly growing market. With higher energy density, shorter charging times, and a flexible form factor, it offers decisive advantages for applications ranging from electric cars to smartphones. We are impressed not only by the technology but also by Qkera's excellent team. As a new investor, we will leverage our entire ecosystem of industry partners and more than 30 energy storage startups to actively support Qkera's move into the mass market."
Qkera is already collaborating with OEMs and battery manufacturers in Europe. With a patent family pending and more in preparation, the startup is laying the foundation for a resilient, independent energy ecosystem in Europe.
