Offgrid Energy Labs, an IIT Kanpur-incubated deep-tech startup, has raised $15 million in Series A funding to accelerate the commercialization of its ZincGel® battery technology. The round was led by Archean Chemical Industries Ltd., with strong participation from returning investor Ankur Capital. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Offgrid’s mission to redefine stationary energy storage and reduce reliance on lithium-ion systems.

A Safer, More Sustainable Lithium Alternative

At the heart of Offgrid’s innovation is ZincGel®, a zinc-bromine gel battery designed for safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting energy storage. Unlike lithium-ion batteries that pose fire hazards due to flammable electrolytes, ZincGel® leverages a water-based electrolyte, drastically improving safety.

Beyond safety, these batteries boast discharge durations of 6-12 hours, making them ideal for renewable integration and grid balancing. They are expected to last up to twice as long as conventional lithium systems, with 80-90% round-trip efficiency. Just as critical, ZincGel® significantly reduces production costs by cutting dependence on graphite and rare minerals that are subject to volatile supply chains.

As India sets ambitious goals - 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and an estimated 236 GWh of storage by 2031 - solutions like ZincGel® are positioned to play a central role in the energy transition.

Funding Utilization and Expansion Plans

The $15 million raise will fuel multiple growth priorities. A 10 MWh demonstration facility will be established in the U.K. by early 2026, serving as a showcase for international partners. Offgrid is also intensifying R&D and certification work to prepare ZincGel® for global commercialization. Plans are underway to design a blueprint for a gigafactory in India, scaling production to meet domestic and export demand.

Why This Round Stands Out

Archean Chemical Industries, which secured a 21% stake in Offgrid through this round, brings domain expertise in bromine production and global supply chain management - an invaluable advantage for a company scaling a chemistry-heavy technology. This alignment goes far beyond capital; it ties the startup’s growth trajectory to an established industrial player with decades of operational know-how.

And this is where a crucial insight for founders emerges: the true leverage in fundraising often comes not from the size of the check but from the strategic alignment between capital and capability. Offgrid didn’t just find an investor; it found a partner embedded in the very materials ecosystem that underpins its product. For deep-tech founders, the lesson is clear - seek investors who de-risk critical bottlenecks in your roadmap. If your biggest hurdle is supply chain, backers with logistics or raw material expertise can accelerate time to market. If certification and compliance are challenges, an investor with regulatory networks can slash your go-to-market friction. Choosing funding partners with this kind of strategic fit transforms a financing event into a business catalyst.

Intellectual Property and Market Positioning

Founded in 2018 by Tejas Kusurkar, Brindan Tulachan, Rishi Srivastava, and Ankur Agarwal, Offgrid has already built one of the strongest IP portfolios in the alternative battery sector. The company holds 25+ IP families and over 50 assets filed across major global markets, including the U.S., U.K., EU, China, Australia, and Japan.

This emphasis on IP not only safeguards ZincGel® from copycats but also strengthens its positioning with potential licensing opportunities. For investors and strategic partners, such defensibility signals long-term viability - a critical factor in the competitive clean-tech landscape.

Early Industry Validation

Offgrid’s pilot deployments with industry leaders like Shell and Tata Power demonstrate the technology’s credibility. Ongoing discussions with European utility giant Enel Group indicate that ZincGel® is attracting serious interest on the global stage. These collaborations serve a dual purpose: validating the technology in real-world conditions and providing commercial footholds for scaling.

A Broader Context in Energy Transition

The rise of Offgrid comes at a time when the world is rethinking its over-reliance on lithium-ion batteries. Supply chain constraints, safety risks, and environmental concerns have created urgency for alternatives. ZincGel® enters this space with the promise of scalability, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

For India, which is projected to invest nearly $60 billion in storage infrastructure by 2032, Offgrid’s success represents not just a corporate win but also a national opportunity to lead in next-generation battery technologies.

Final Thoughts

Offgrid Energy Labs’ $15 million Series A is more than a funding headline - it’s a blueprint for how deep-tech founders can bridge the gap from invention to commercialization. By aligning with strategically capable investors, building defensibility through IP, and demonstrating early proof at industrial scale, Offgrid is carving a path other science-driven startups can emulate.

Its ZincGel® batteries may soon become a cornerstone in the global clean energy transition, but equally powerful is the lesson the company offers: growth is not just fueled by capital - it’s catalyzed by the right kind of capital, paired with vision, timing, and execution.