About:Energy Commercialising world-leading battery design software 

Introduction 

Founded in 2022 by Dr. Gavin White and Dr. Kieran O’Regan, About:Energy is a cutting-edge battery data and software company and a university spinoff from two world-renowned research groups at the University of Birmingham and Imperial College London. Focused on transforming the battery testing and design space, About:Energy specialises in advanced battery measurement and modelling capabilities.  

The company’s initial goal was to develop a Software as a Service (SaaS) battery data platform for the automotive sector, capable of driving innovations in battery performance and longevity. However, as a young company fresh from university, the founders realised they needed additional support to develop and build their business into a proposition that could be exploited commercially, especially to attract investment and establish strategic partnerships within the mobility sector. 

The challenge 

As a spinout operation with groundbreaking technology the challenge was always going to be commercialising their solution.  

In 2022, to support their market-readiness ambitions, About:Energy joined the sixth wave of the Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP).  

During their time on the programme, they focused on refining their business model and preparing their SaaS platform for commercial launch. In addition to the funding, they made use of the strategic advice offered from phase one of the programme particularly on product-market fit, business strategy, and connection-building. 

Support to turbo-charge investment and market-readiness  

One of the standout elements of the programme was the “Fresh Eyes” business development sessions. This collaborative activity is led by hands-on, expert mentors, who help analyse and assess technology value propositions from different perspectives. This provides the clarity to identify the best path forward including understanding product-market fit, identifying customer types and high-value propositions. Through this process, the company’s business model underwent a significant transformation. The feedback led them to pivot their target market and re-shape their approach, ultimately refining their platform and service offering to cater to a broader audience. 

Launching ‘The Voltt’ platform 

Following the support of TDAP, About:Energy successfully launched their comprehensive battery data platform, ‘The Voltt’. The platform is designed to amalgamate battery expertise and lab-testing facilities, helping optimise battery design, improve efficiencies, and extend battery life. It serves as a powerful tool for automakers looking to enhance battery performance as well as improve their ROI on existing engineering software. 

Building strategic partnerships 

One of the most valuable outcomes was About:Energy’s ability to expand their network and establish key partnerships within the automotive sector. By attending industry events and engaging with the APC’s network, their team connected with potential partners, advisors, and investors who helped validate their future ambitions. 

A notable partnership formed during the programme was with Eatron Technologies. Eatron provides artificial intelligence (AI) battery management software to improve the lifetime of vehicle fleets, helping them with scalable and accurate EV battery modelling and testing. By joining forces and securing Faraday Battery Challenge funding, they are working to develop Eatron’s battery management software solution using precise, advanced battery data. This will enable more accurate, valuable predictions for battery degradation and thermal propagation, which will in turn lower the development costs of battery management system (BMS) and improve battery performance and safety.  

A significant technical partnership emerged with McMurtry Automotive Limited, a company specialising in the manufacture of high-performance electric vehicles and hypercars. About:Energy collaborated with them to enhance the battery technology of their Spéirling PURE hypercar, conducting battery testing and modelling on the ultra-high-power Molicel P50B lithium-ion battery cell to characterise the cell’s performance and further enhance the battery pack. This enabled McMurtry engineers to incorporate data into the design and simulations of the battery packs, allowing the team to maximise battery lifetime and performance and reduce development time. This collaboration has further established About:Energy as a leader in battery testing and modelling solutions with an extended offering of battery development software for high-performance applications in motorsports and hypercars.  

Key outcomes:  

• Received vital strategic advice, enabling the company to refine its business model and pivot its target market. The Fresh Eyes sessions were instrumental in helping the founders see their business from different perspectives and adapt accordingly. 

• Successfully built and nurtured a strong network of connections within the automotive industry, leading to new partnerships with Eatron Technologies and McMurtry Automotive.  

• Through the grant funding and mentorship provided they were able to further develop ‘The Voltt,’ and prepare it for market entry. 

• Attracted further investment and successfully raised seed funding, securing an additional £4 million to support their ongoing growth since 2022. 

• Participated in international events and exhibitions as part of the UK Government Pavillion including the Battery Show America and Europe, providing valuable exposure to potential global customers and partners. 

 As Kieran O’Regan, Co-Founder and CGO explains, the real value of the programme was the combination of funding and expert advice:  

“The grant funding was important in getting us to the next stage, but it was the guidance on strategy that truly propelled our growth. We were able to refine our business model, connect with key partners, and position ourselves for future success in the mobility sector.” 

Progress post-TDAP 

Since completing the programme, About:Energy has advanced from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to 8, a significant leap in their development journey. This progression, combined with the strategic connections and business development insights gained throughout, has positioned them for continued growth within the automotive sector. 

The company’s recent seed-funding success, increased headcount from 2 to 20 employees, growing partnerships, and the opening of a new state-of-the-art battery testing facility in Central London, reflect the positive momentum that the accelerator helped catalyse. The company left the programme ready to make a significant impact on the future of battery software and data, with plans to further expand the team, refine its product offering, and continue driving innovation in battery performance and longevity. 

TDAP was instrumental in helping About:Energy transition from an early-stage, research-driven start-up to a market-ready business. With grant funding, strategic advice, and access to valuable industry connections, they are poised for continued success and growth. 

The Technology Developer Accelerator Programme has recently rebranded to Mobilise, joining forces with Zenzic, to offer a combined early-stage accelerator programme focused on delivering zero-emission and smart, connected mobility solutions for the future. 

The programme builds on the award-winning features of the Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) and combines them with the technical validation opportunities currently provided by Zenzic’s CAM Scale-Up UK initiative; namely unparalleled access to an extensive network of world-leading Testbed facilities.