C-Motive Technologies
C-Motive Technologies develops the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system, the only commercially available electric motor using electrostatic rather than electromagnetic force, targeting industrial material conveyance, fans, and pumps. It sells engineering samples on a quote basis to enterprise industrial customers from its Middleton, Wisconsin headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What C-Motive Technologies does
C-Motive Technologies is a Middleton, Wisconsin-based cleantech hardware company developing the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system, the world's only commercially available electric motor that operates on electrostatic force rather than electromagnetic induction. The system is designed for high-torque, low-speed stationary industrial applications in the 1-4 hp, sub-400 rpm range — primarily conveyor material handling, HVLS industrial fans, positive-displacement pumps, and other stationary industrial equipment that traditionally requires a gearbox-coupled electromagnetic motor. The company targets industrial customers seeking to eliminate gearboxes, rare-earth permanent magnets, electrical steel, and approximately 90% of the copper used in conventional motors, while improving system efficiency versus the typical 65% combined motor-gearbox efficiency baseline.
The core technology combines printed circuit board (PCB) rotor and stator plates with a proprietary dielectric fluid developed in-house that acts as a high-voltage insulator, enabling the electrostatic machine to operate at voltages and energy densities not achievable in air. A custom integrated drive (the Control POD) bundles motor, VFD, control, safety (including STO), and SCADA-compatible communications into one architecture, with daisy-chain capability for up to eight motors per circuit. The company backs the platform with seven combined PhDs in electrostatic machine technology, patents and trade secrets, and a published 87% rated efficiency and 80,000-hour MTBF specification on its current 1.5 kW product.
C-Motive operates an enterprise field-sales model, selling engineering samples on a quote basis with dedicated engineering consulting for integration. The company has raised roughly $34 million across multiple rounds from 2013 to 2025, with strategic investment from Rockwell Automation and pilots with FedEx and Summit Brewing. As of late 2025 it employs approximately 30 people, is building a new production facility to transition from engineering samples to pilot production, and has expanded its board and senior leadership in preparation for commercial scale-up.
C-Motive Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- C-Motive Technologies
- Legal name
- C-Motive Technologies, Inc.
- Website
- https://c-motive.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- C-Motive Technologies develops the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system, the only commercially available electric motor using electrostatic rather than electromagnetic force, targeting industrial material conveyance, fans, and pumps. It sells engineering samples on a quote basis to enterprise industrial customers from its Middleton, Wisconsin headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
C-Motive Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Electric Motors
- NAICS
- Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- DC Motors (Brushed, Brushless DC) (IMAGACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Power Electronics Manufacturing (Inverters/DC-DC/Onboard Chargers) (IMACACAD)
Keywords
Where C-Motive Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
C-Motive Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Electrostatic Motor Hardware Sales: C-Motive generates revenue through the sale of ZeroMag electrostatic motors and integrated drive systems. Each engineering sample includes a fully integrated electrostatic motor and drive. The company sells directly to industrial customers for applications including conveyor systems, industrial fans, and pump/compressor applications. Pricing is quote-based with lead times for engineering samples.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | ZeroMag Electrostatic Motor - 1.5 kW (2 hp) engineering sample |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
C-Motive Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
C-Motive Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system for stationary industrial applications. The integrated hardware replaces traditional gearmotors by combining an electrostatic motor, variable frequency drive, controls, and safety functions in one unit. The motors are sold as engineering samples to industrial customers for conveyor systems, HVLS fans, and positive displacement pump applications.
Product overview
C-Motive Technologies offers a single unified product portfolio centered on the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system. ZeroMag is an integrated motor and drive platform that eliminates the need for gearboxes, rare earth magnets, and conventional cooling systems. The product is designed for stationary industrial applications including conveyors, industrial fans/HVLS fans, positive displacement pumps, and other material handling equipment. C-Motive's electrostatic motors use printed circuit board plates and a proprietary dielectric fluid as core technology components.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZeroMag: C-Motive's electrostatic motor product line. ZeroMag motors achieve high efficiency while maintaining a compact design with high torque density, removing the need for conventional cooling systems or gearboxes. Designed for high-torque and low-speed operation (1-4hp, under 400rpm).
Products and services
- ZeroMag Electrostatic Motor-Drive System Integrated electrostatic motor and variable frequency drive system designed for high-torque, low-speed stationary industrial applications (1-4 hp, under 400 rpm). Combines PCB-based rotor/stator plates, proprietary dielectric fluid insulation, and a Control POD integrating motor, VFD, control, safety (STO), and communications into one architecture with daisy-chain capability for up to eight motors per circuit. Targets replacement of gearmotors in conveyor systems, HVLS industrial fans, and positive displacement pumps for industrial customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- A 1.5 kW (2 hp) C-Motive machine could save up to $1,400 a year in energy costs in a typical industrial application.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use C-Motive Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
C-Motive Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
C-Motive Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.
- John Mulliken (Board Director)supportingJohn Mulliken joined C-Motive's board of directors in November 2025, bringing experience in climate innovation and technology. He was added to support the company's next phase of growth.
- Grant Allen (Board Director)supportingGrant Allen joined C-Motive's board of directors in November 2025, bringing expertise in applying new technologies to foundational industries. He was added to support the company's next phase of growth.
- Grid CatalystsupportingGrid Catalyst, a Minneapolis-based clean energy accelerator, selected C-Motive for its 2025 cohort of startups working on innovative clean energy technologies. C-Motive completed a demonstration project with Summit Brewing in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
C-Motive Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Infinitum Electric: Infinitum Electric manufactures PCB-stator motors for industrial and HVAC applications. It is the closest direct peer to C-Motive, sharing a non-traditional stator architecture (PCB-based), focus on industrial efficiency, and integrated motor/drive design philosophy.
- SEW-Eurodrive: SEW-Eurodrive is a leading manufacturer of gearmotors, drive electronics, and integrated drive systems for industrial conveyors, fans, and pumps. It directly competes with C-Motive's value proposition of replacing gearmotor-plus-drive systems with a single integrated unit.
- Oriental Motor: Oriental Motor produces BLDC motors, gearmotors, and integrated motor/control products for industrial applications in the low-horsepower range (overlapping with C-Motive's 1-4 hp focus). It is a direct competitor in industrial conveyor, fan, and pump OEM segments.
Emerging players
- Turntide Technologies: Turntide makes smart electric motors (reluctance-based) primarily for HVAC and commercial building applications. It targets similar end-use pain points around efficiency and supply chain resilience as C-Motive and competes in the HVLS fan and industrial motor replacement market.
- H3X Technologies: H3X is an emerging motor startup building high-power-density electric motors for aerospace and eVTOL, using integrated motor/inverter designs. While its market is mobility rather than stationary industrial, it shares C-Motive's emphasis on integrated power electronics and unconventional motor topologies.
Broad incumbents
- Nidec Corporation: Nidec is one of the world's largest manufacturers of electric motors, including BLDC, gearmotors, and integrated motor/drive systems for industrial applications. It represents the incumbent scale player that C-Motive aims to disrupt in the low-power industrial motor segment.
- Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation is a global industrial automation incumbent and a strategic investor in C-Motive. Its Allen-Bradley motor control and VFD product lines address the same industrial motor control market; its investment validates C-Motive's technology and could create partnership-driven competition.
- Regal Rexnord: Regal Rexnord is a major manufacturer of industrial motors, gearmotors, and power transmission products serving conveyors, fans, and pumps. It is a primary incumbent competing for the same replacement/retrofit opportunities C-Motive targets.
- ABB: ABB manufactures industrial motors, drives (VFDs), and integrated motion solutions globally. It is the dominant incumbent in industrial motors and drives; C-Motive's integrated motor/drive architecture directly challenges ABB's separate motor and ACS drive product lines.
- WEG: WEG is a major global manufacturer of industrial electric motors, gearmotors, and variable frequency drives. It competes in many of the same end-use industrial segments C-Motive targets and represents the standard incumbent option for material conveyance and pump applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
C-Motive Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceC-Motive Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
C-Motive Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
C-Motive Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
C-Motive Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about C-Motive Technologies
What does C-Motive Technologies do?
C-Motive Technologies designs, manufactures, and sells the ZeroMag electrostatic motor-drive system for stationary industrial applications. The integrated hardware replaces traditional gearmotors by combining an electrostatic motor, variable frequency drive, controls, and safety functions in one unit. The motors are sold as engineering samples to industrial customers for conveyor systems, HVLS fans, and positive displacement pump applications.
Is C-Motive Technologies a public or private company?
C-Motive Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was C-Motive Technologies founded?
C-Motive Technologies was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is C-Motive Technologies based?
C-Motive Technologies is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does C-Motive Technologies make money?
One revenue line is on record: electrostatic Motor Hardware Sales.
Who are C-Motive Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Infinitum Electric, SEW-Eurodrive and Oriental Motor. Emerging players are Turntide Technologies and H3X Technologies. Broad incumbents are Nidec Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Regal Rexnord, ABB and WEG.
Does C-Motive Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for C-Motive Technologies.
What industry is C-Motive Technologies in?
C-Motive Technologies's product category is Industrial Electric Motors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGACAB, DC Motors (Brushed, Brushless DC), with a secondary code of IMACACAD, Power Electronics Manufacturing (Inverters/DC-DC/Onboard Chargers). Its NAICS code is 335312 and its SIC code is 3621.