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§ Private Profile · San Jose, CA, USA
Battery technology company developing flexible, non-flammable solid-state batteries for wearables, medical devices, and consumer electronics.
Based in San Jose, California, Anthro Energy is an advanced materials company that develops flexible, non-flammable solid-state lithium-ion batteries using proprietary polymer electrolyte technology. The technology allows battery cells to be safely bent or integrated directly into structural components for use in consumer electronics, wearable medical devices, prosthetics, and electric vehicles. To support its business-to-business sales model, the organization operates a dedicated 20,000-square-foot pilot manufacturing facility to scale commercial production for original equipment manufacturers. The enterprise has secured over $27 million in total funding, which includes a $20 million Series A round led by Collaborative Fund, alongside investments from Union Square Ventures, Emerson Collective, and research grants from the Department of Defense. Anthro Energy was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from Stanford University by co-founders David Mackanic, Joe Papp, and Zhenan Bao.
Anthro Energy has raised $27.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Anthro Energy has raised $27.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Anthro Energy has raised $27.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Anthro Energy's investors include Collaborative Fund, 8090 Industries, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Sophie Bakalar, Energy Revolution Ventures, Gigascale Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, Presight Capital, Union Square Ventures, Emerson Collective, Nor'easter Ventures, Overlap Holdings.
Anthro Energy has raised $27.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series A in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2024 | $20M Series A | Collaborative Fund | 8090 Industries, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Sophie Bakalar, Energy Revolution Ventures, Gigascale Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, Presight Capital, Union Square Ventures, Emerson Collective, Nor'easter Ventures, Overlap Holdings, Ultratech Capital Partners, Voyager Ventures | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2022 | $7M Seed | Energy Revolution Ventures, Union Square Ventures | Dreamit Ventures, Presight Capital, Ultratech Capital Partners, Emerson Collective, Nor'easter Ventures, Stanford President's Venture Fund, Voyager Ventures | Announced |
Anthro Energy is a Silicon Valley-based technology company specializing in advanced electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, primarily through its proprietary Anthro Proteus™ platform, a polymer-based, phase-change electrolyte that replaces flammable liquids to enhance safety, energy density, and stability.[1][2][3][5] The company serves industries including electric vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics, micromobility, defense, and renewable energy storage by solving the critical tradeoff between high energy density and battery safety, enabling new cell designs, chemistries like silicon anodes, and drop-in compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure.[1][2][3][4][5] Founded as a Stanford spinout, Anthro has demonstrated strong growth momentum: securing $20M in Series A funding, $43M+ in government grants and incentives (including $18.4M in federal tax credits and a $42M Kentucky facility investment), shipping initial commercial products, and developing a 25 GWh production site in Louisville, KY, to bolster U.S. supply chain resilience.[2][3][4][5]
Anthro Energy emerged as a Stanford University spinout in 2020-2021, founded by innovators addressing lithium-ion battery limitations, with Joe Papp as chief technology officer and a Kentucky native driving domestic manufacturing efforts.[1][2][3][4] The idea stemmed from reimagining the flammable liquid electrolyte—the most dangerous component in batteries—leading to the development of Anthro Proteus™, a patented, injectable phase-change electrolyte for superior safety and performance.[3][4][5] Early traction was rapid: the company delivered prototype cells to customers in its founding year, established a California production facility, achieved key battery certifications, and shipped first commercial products while attracting world-class investors, Tier 1 global customers, and substantial government support.[1][2][4]
Anthro Energy stands out in the battery materials space through these key advantages:
Anthro Energy rides the explosive growth of electrification and renewable energy storage, where demand for safer, higher-density batteries is propelled by EV adoption, grid-scale storage, and defense needs amid global supply chain vulnerabilities.[1][2][3] Timing is ideal: U.S. policy pushes (e.g., DOE grants, tax credits) align with reshoring critical materials, positioning Anthro to fill a domestic gap in advanced electrolytes as China dominates legacy supply—its Kentucky facility creates a vital link in the EV battery chain.[4][5] By enabling "chemistry on command" and structural batteries, Anthro influences the ecosystem, empowering manufacturers to innovate without tradeoffs, accelerating next-gen mobility, and reducing reliance on foreign tech.[1][5]
Anthro Energy is poised for breakout scale, with its Kentucky facility ramping to 25 GWh production, recent federal incentives unlocking gigafactory-ready output, and partnerships with Tier 1 customers driving commercialization across automotive and beyond.[2][4][5] Trends like silicon-anode adoption, solid-state transitions, and U.S. manufacturing mandates will amplify its edge, potentially evolving it into a cornerstone of domestic battery independence. As the first U.S.-operated advanced electrolyte hub, Anthro could redefine safe energy storage, turning battery barriers into breakthroughs for global progress—echoing its mission to unlock next-gen potential.[1][3]