Kiilto Ventures invests in a startup that develops advanced recycling methods for batteries

The rapid growth of electric vehicles and energy storage systems is driving the rapid increase in the number of lithium-ion batteries. In Europe, the volume of batteries reaching the end of their lifecycle is projected to grow 70 times by 2030 compared to 2020, creating an urgent need for local and scalable recycling solutions.

Estonian deep tech startup Jälle Technologies is at the forefront of developing innovative recycling methods for end-of-life batteries. Its technology enables recovery of lithium and other critical raw materials with lower energy consumption than conventional processes. In addition, the company has developed a method to refine graphite from the recycled batteries into graphene-derivatives, which can be used in composites, coatings and adhesives to enhance their performance.

Kiilto Ventures led Jälle Technologies’ latest investment round which was joined by a group of investors including Norrsken Evolve and 2C Ventures. In addition, Jälle Technologies received grant funding from Enterprise Estonia (EIS), Environmental Investment Centre (KIK) alongside the equity funding.

“We have been actively following the battery recycling sector for some time and are well aware of the magnitude of the challenge. Jälle Technologies’ vision of transforming battery waste into valuable resources through advanced recycling is a prime example of scalable, sustainability-driven innovation that we are eager to support. The team’s strong academic foundation provides an excellent platform for scaling the technology globally, and we are excited about the potential applications of their end products in the construction materials of the future” says Matti Rönkkö, Managing Director of Kiilto Ventures.

Erki Ani, CEO of Jälle Technologies, highlighted the importance of bringing on investors who share the company's mission:

“While the whole world is geared towards electrification, energy storage needs are inevitably on the rise. What happens with these batteries once they’ve reached end of life? With Jälle we are looking a few steps ahead of the curve to be ready for the “tidal wave of dead batteries”. By achieving very high battery recycling efficiencies and enabling advanced applications through our graphene-like materials, we contribute to addressing Europe's critical raw materials challenge. We’re extremely glad that we have such investors who share our vision. It’s not just about funding, it’s about working together to take our technology from the lab to industry.”

With this new funding, Jälle Technologies will focus on expanding pre pilot-scale production, validating their recycling processes at industrial scale, and building a world-class team in Estonia.