Kiilto Ventures leads funding in Estonia’s Jälle Technologies to advance
scalable lithium-ion battery recycling and graphene innovation.
Tallinn,
Estonia: Jälle
Technologies, an Estonian deep-tech startup developing advanced recycling
methods for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, has secured new funding in a
round led by Kiilto Ventures. The round also saw participation from Norrsken
Evolve, 2C Ventures, and support through grant funding from Enterprise Estonia
(EIS) and the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK).
The startup addresses the growing
challenge of lithium-ion battery waste, driven by the rapid expansion of
electric vehicles and energy storage systems. In Europe alone, the number of
batteries reaching end-of-life is projected to grow 70-fold by 2030 compared to
2020, underscoring the urgent need for scalable and sustainable recycling
solutions.
Jälle Technologies’ proprietary
technology enables efficient recovery of lithium and other critical raw
materials with lower energy consumption than conventional recycling processes.
The company has also pioneered a method to convert graphite waste into high-value
graphene-like derivatives, which can be used in composites, coatings, and
adhesives to enhance performance.
“We have been actively following the
battery recycling sector for some time and are well aware of the magnitude of
the challenge,” said Matti
Ronkkö, Managing Director of Kiilto Ventures. “Jalle 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."
Erki Ani, CEO of Jälle Technologies, emphasized
the importance of mission-aligned investors: “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
Jalle 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 the fresh capital, Jälle
Technologies plans to expand its pre-pilot scale production, validate its
processes at an industrial level, and strengthen its team in Estonia to support
global scale-up.
According to TechSci
Research, the
investment in Jälle Technologies holds significant implications for the
chemical industry, both in the immediate and long term. The company’s advanced
recycling processes enable the recovery of critical raw materials such as
lithium, cobalt, and nickel—key inputs for various chemical applications. By
reducing reliance on primary extraction, this innovation supports the chemical
sector in securing a sustainable and localized supply of essential resources,
mitigating risks related to raw material scarcity and price volatility.
Moreover, Jälle’s ability to upcycle graphite waste into graphene-like
derivatives opens new opportunities for the specialty chemicals market,
particularly in high-performance composites, coatings, and adhesives. These
graphene-based materials can enhance strength, conductivity, and durability in
chemical formulations, driving innovation across multiple industrial segments.
The technology’s lower energy consumption compared to conventional recycling also
aligns with the industry’s ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and adopt
greener production methods. As demand for batteries continues to rise globally,
scalable recycling solutions like Jälle’s will play a pivotal role in
strengthening the chemical industry’s supply chain resilience, sustainability,
and capacity for advanced material development.