Swiss battery startup BTRY AG has secured a USD 5.7 million seed round to push its ultra-thin solid-state cells from lab validation to industrial output. The company positions its thin-film batteries as a new category that marries fast charging, high temperature stability, and intrinsic safety in formats starting at 0.1 millimeters. Target devices include connected labels, wireless sensors, and wearables where conventional lithium-ion cells struggle to fit or perform.
Funding and Backers
The oversubscribed round was led by Redstone VC, with participation from Bloomhaus Ventures, Linear Capital, Kickfund, the Kick Foundation, and CustomCells founders Leopold König and Torge Thönnessen via Wijdefjorden. Existing investors High-Tech Gründerfonds and Zürcher Kantonalbank re-upped, signaling confidence in BTRY’s technology and commercialization path. CEO and co-founder Dr. Moritz Futscher said the consortium brings deep industrial networks and will help convert years of research into scalable products.
From Lab to Line
BTRY will channel the capital into building roll-to-roll manufacturing that adapts semiconductor-style processes to battery production. The immediate focus is factory setup, advancement of industrial workflows, and securing offtake agreements with customers preparing next-generation devices. Management says these steps are designed to close the gap between pilot output and market-ready integration at volume.
Performance and Differentiation
The company’s all-solid-state design removes liquid electrolytes, reduces layers, and enables non-flammable behavior, a combination that outperforms standard lithium-ion cells on safety and thermal resilience. BTRY reports operation up to 150 °C where many conventional cells fail, swell, or ignite, while still supporting one-minute charging that can power wireless transmissions without external capacitors. Investors argue this profile sets a new performance bar for miniature energy storage that must be both durable and instantly responsive.
Use Cases and Sustainability
Early demand signals point to active logistics badges, high-temperature industrial sensing, medtech devices, and light consumer electronics where longevity and miniaturization are critical. BTRY emphasizes solvent-free processing and low material waste, tying the manufacturing approach to sustainability goals as the company scales. Backers from Europe and Asia, including Linear Capital, see scope for collaboration that blends Asian manufacturing depth with European advances in materials and precision processes.
Founded in 2023 as a spin-off from Empa and ETH Zurich, BTRY has grown to a 14-person team combining battery science, scale-up expertise, and commercial focus. With fresh funding, the startup aims to industrialize thin-film solid-state cells and lock in customer integrations that validate real-world performance at scale. If execution matches claims on temperature tolerance, safety, and fast charging, BTRY could mark a pivotal moment for ultra-thin batteries built in Switzerland for global impact.