Startups span entire spectrum of battery supply chain
by Katie Liu | Binghamton University | April 27, 2026
ChargeUp Accelerator welcomed its largest cohort April 13–17, hosting 10 companies spanning the breadth of the battery supply chain. Starting from the very beginning of the battery life cycle — lithium refining technology — to the various use cases awaiting its end, including mobile energy storage systems or decarbonized heating and cooling, ChargeUp’s 2026 cohort brings new innovations, perspectives and chemistries to the table.
“This is the first cohort where we have companies from material science and processing, to battery chemistry and application and recycling,” said Bandhana Katoch, associate vice president for technology commercialization and economic development, and executive director of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. “It’s great to showcase that we have capabilities to support companies in that entire length of the supply chain. But I also think that when you have companies in the upstream and downstream of the supply chain, there is a much higher probability for them to engage with and learn from each other at both a theoretical and strategic partnership level for the commercial milestones of their own companies.”
ChargeUp Accelerator, under Binghamton University-led coalition New Energy New York, is the one and only accelerator program in the nation to focus exclusively on battery and energy storage startups. Over the next six months, companies will receive mentorship from industry experts, more than 200 hours of virtual curriculum, as well as in-person meetings throughout upstate New York.
Working in the battery sector entails particular challenges that might not necessarily arise in other industries, whether that lies in reshoring supply chains or improving upon existing battery chemistries. Likewise, the specific tools, skills and mindsets needed to succeed in the energy storage landscape are also unique.
ChargeUp’s specific focus on batteries was a draw for founders who are working to establish footholds in what can be a special and constantly moving industry.
“Going to a more generalist accelerator, I think the advice that you might get may not really make sense,” said Aaron Garg, co-founder of WattUp Energy, a startup using earth-abundant materials to make high-performance batteries targeting aviation, maritime and terrestrial transportation. “That, in particular, was something we were really looking forward to: receiving advice tailored to our own industry. That was very attractive.”
Throughout the week, company leaders embarked on tours of Binghamton University’s state-of-the-art labs and facilities, allowing them to pinpoint potential opportunities for future collaborations or use. They also met with subject matter experts for sessions including topics like financial planning and grant writing.
For Scott Calhoun, COO and President of Power Up Connect, one highlight of the week was hearing Binghamton Distinguished Professor of Chemistry M. Stanley Whittingham’s lecture on both the history of batteries as well as future trends for the industry. Whittingham’s work on lithium-ion batteries, which won him a Nobel Prize in 2019, is foundational for Binghamton’s battery initiatives — which includes NENY, the U.S. National Science Foundation Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, and the NENY Battery Tech Hub.
“It was incredible, to watch the journey and for him not to just teach as he’s going through the process of his presentation, but also give us insight on what’s real and what’s not,” Calhoun said. “We tend to look at press releases and things that come out about this new battery technology, where somebody is saying, ‘This is the greatest next thing.’ To have that real insight from somebody that’s been in the industry from the beginning and having the understanding of what is really true [is helpful.]”
Many of the companies come to ChargeUp at critical stages of early development. The ultimate goal of the program is to get them investment-ready by the end of the year, while also integrating them into the fabric of upstate New York’s existing battery ecosystem.
“We can challenge a lot of Silicon Valley startups and AI companies, but being in New York and building a technology which is as good as — if not better than — a Silicon Valley company’s is not an easy task,” said Prasenjit Bhadra, founder and CEO of Ranial Systems, whose product is a computing platform that integrates artificial intelligence to monitor and predict real-time operations. “The kind of support that we have received from the state, and from these initiatives, definitely helped us to be where we are right now.”
ChargeUp does not just offer opportunities for company growth, but also personal development as well. For Brian Mendoza, founder and CEO of specialty biochemical startup Molhill, he hopes to find his footing and niche in a space that can be notoriously treacherous for new startups.
“This has been an area of scientific and commercial passion for me. I’ve been in batteries since I graduated college in 2012, but it’s a really scary place to start a business,” Mendoza said. “I hope I can grow and feel confident about my place in building a business.”
For some technical founders, this is also their first foray into the entrepreneurial enterprise. Mert Akin, CEO of EELI Technology, which aims to access low-grade lithium sources directly in the U.S., said he hopes to bolster his business acumen, through ChargeUp’s finance and company building-focused programming.
“On the other side, I personally would like to be part of the community, and also contribute to it as much as I can,” he said.
This collaborative atmosphere was laid into the groundwork of ChargeUp, particularly in the decision to put together a group of companies each with their own innovations and approaches — all with the common vision of building and bettering the future of reliable energy.
“One of the beautiful things about an accelerator, particularly a program like this that’s relatively small, is that you get to share and learn from other companies in the cohort and build that relationship over six months,” said Clare Doyle Dowd, head of partnerships at MicroEra Power, a startup focused on long-duration thermal energy storage. “We can share lessons learned, what’s working, what’s not working. That’s part of the network effect.”
ChargeUp will be continuing to host meetings throughout the upstate New York region, including Albany and Rochester, but the program is centered at Binghamton’s Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. To Doyle Dowd, the Incubator represents not only the potential for a more advanced future, but also the long regional history that NENY is trying to build upon.
“The Koffman’s location in the city of Binghamton is, I think, essential for the economic development of the city. It’s also a beautiful building,” Doyle Dowd said. “To have a beautiful building that’s focused on growth and innovation in an older, industrial type of city is really hopeful for people.”