Swiss battery startup BTRY AG has announced the closing of a USD 5.7 million oversubscribed seed funding round. The company, a spin-off from the research institutes Empa and ETH Zurich, aims to accelerate the industrialization of its ultra-thin solid-state battery technology.
European deep-tech venture capital firm Redstone VC led the financing round. It included participation from new investors, including Bloomhaus Ventures, Linear Capital, and Kickfund, as well as the founders of CustomCells, alongside renewed commitments from existing investors HTGF and Zürcher Kantonalbank.
Technology and ambitions
BTRY AG is developing a new category of energy storage based on thin-film, all-solid-state lithium-ion cells. According to the company’s press release from November 6, 2025, the technology offers several key features, including ultra-fast charging within one minute, operational stability at high temperatures up to 150°C, and an exceptionally thin form factor starting at just 0.1 mm.
The funds are earmarked for scaling production to an industrial roll-to-roll manufacturing process. This move is intended to transition the batteries from a lab-developed product to a market-ready component for integration into next-generation devices.
“The oversubscribed round confirms strong investor confidence from experienced deep-tech and industrial backers,” said Dr. Moritz Futscher, CEO and Co-Founder of BTRY AG, in the company’s press release. “Working closely with this international consortium will enable us to transform world-class research into a scalable product.”
Targeting specialized applications
Unlike mainstream battery manufacturers focused on electric vehicles or large-scale consumer electronics, BTRY is targeting high-value niche applications. These include connected smart labels for logistics, high-temperature industrial sensors, specific medical technology (MedTech) applications, and light consumer electronics where conventional batteries are not suitable due to size, temperature, or safety constraints.
For these markets, the value proposition rests on miniaturization, safety, and performance under extreme conditions rather than raw energy density for mass-market devices.
A critical look at the path forward
The announcement places BTRY in a competitive and challenging field. The concept of solid-state batteries is not new, with major corporations and well-funded startups worldwide racing to commercialize the technology. The primary hurdles for the sector have consistently been manufacturing scalability and cost-competitiveness.
While roll-to-roll production is a proven method in other industries, its application to solid-state batteries at an industrial scale remains a significant challenge. Success will depend on BTRY’s ability to navigate the complexities of high-volume manufacturing while maintaining performance and controlling costs.
Is this a game-changer or an incremental improvement for specific use cases? The technology’s impact on the broader consumer market appears limited for now. Its primary applications are in industrial and enterprise sectors, where the benefits of temperature resistance and a thin profile may justify a potential price premium over established lithium-ion solutions.
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The actual test for BTRY will be whether its specialized technology can find a large enough market to sustain its growth, especially as established battery technologies continue to improve and become more cost-effective. As one investor noted, the goal is to set a new standard.
“Potential customers are ready with their next-generation solutions, like active badges in logistics. What they need is a small, powerful, and safe battery, exactly what BTRY offers,” stated Mohamed Foulser, Investment Director at Redstone VC, in the press release. As BTRY transitions from the lab to the production line, the industry will be watching to see if its specialized approach can secure a foothold in the global battery market.
Photo credit: All imagery shown is owned by BTRY and has been provided as part of a press release.
Source: BTRY press release
