‘Building a Sustainable Future for All’ is the vision of the Cologne-based start-up Alteva Technologies. Created in 2023 from the Institute of Materials Research at the German Aerospace Centre, it aims to commercialise a new approach to the production of lithium-sulphur (LiS) batteries, which is specifically intended for applications in aviation, heavy goods vehicles and other areas of transport. This is to be achieved using an innovative carbon-sulphur composite material. Using the ‘carbon cage’, the battery technology achieves higher energy densities than usual and avoids dependence on critical raw materials from non-EU countries. The NRW.Europa team was able to help with the acquisition of funding in 2024.

Although the basic functionality of the battery has already been proven on a laboratory scale, the entire production process needs to be industrialised and scaled up in order to achieve production volumes and economies of scale that are relevant for pilot customers. As this is an extremely capital-intensive project, the alteva team turned to ZENIT to find suitable funding programmes.

The team identified a suitable opportunity in the NRW-EFRE/JTF Green Start-ups funding programme, which supports prototype and development activities of young companies that focus on green and climate-friendly innovations. In a series of consultations, the funding experts supported the start-up in designing the project structure, provided coaching tips for preparing the application and feedback on the draft application in order to optimise the final version before submission. The result was a funding amount of 800,000 euros with a project funding rate of 90 per cent for the prototype development of several key elements of an industrial pilot production line for the LiS batteries. alteva can now pave the way for a complete system with which the company can address customers and produce and sell batteries for the market. The introduction of the technology will help to decarbonise the mobility sector in Europe.

This is because the innovative batteries are not only lighter, but also safer and more cost-effective than currently available alternatives, can be used in aircraft, long-haul trucks, construction and mining machinery and agricultural vehicles and make a significant contribution to reducing annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

In autumn 2024, the battery start-up also closed a pre-seed financing round of €1.7 million. The round was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators, NRW.BANK and several business angels. With the new capital, alteva plans to further develop its prototypes and go into series production within the next few years.

‘The funding brings us a lot closer to our vision of making a contribution to a better future by producing more sustainable batteries. We can only advise all start-ups to make use of the expertise of the NRW.Europa team at ZENIT GmbH.’
Aiko Bernehed and Ida Milow, alteva founding team

Contact to NRW.Europa
Marcus Collier-Wright
ZENIT GmbH / Enterprise Europe Network
für Nordrhein-Westfalen NRW.Europa
Telefon: 0208 30004-54
E-Mail: Marcus.Collier-Wright@zenit.eu

Contact to the Company:

Alteva Technologies GmbH  
https://alteva.tech/
 

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