What Conamix does

Conamix Inc. is a privately held, pre-commercial battery materials company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ithaca, New York (Delaware-incorporated), developing lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology as a cobalt-free and nickel-free alternative to conventional lithium-ion chemistries. The company's integrated technology portfolio comprises four layers: high-energy, high-rate cathode active materials with reduced electrolyte requirements; proprietary low-cost electrolyte formulations; NMP-free, water-based cathode engineering; and a cell and system engineering platform using multilayer coatings and advanced charging algorithms to suppress active-material loss and promote smooth lithium plating. Conamix cites performance targets including charging to 80% in under 20 minutes, higher energy density, and lower cost via sulfur-based chemistry, and claims to have overcome historical barriers to Li-S commercialization.

The company targets three primary use-case segments — drone manufacturers (longer flight time and heavier payloads), micromobility OEMs (extended range and fewer charging cycles), and electric vehicle manufacturers (cobalt/nickel-free, lower-cost batteries) — and pursues an enterprise field-sales GTM motion through direct engagement with OEM customers and strategic co-development partners. Conamix licenses foundational IP from Cornell University and the University of Waterloo and operates R&D out of its Ithaca lab, which leverages Cornell facilities. Leadership comprises CEO Nabil Elkouh (25+ years of battery industry experience, founder of Erigo) and CTO Stephen Burkhardt (16+ years of energy storage experience at DuPont Energain/Solvay and GE Durathon). The company has raised approximately $14.5M across four disclosed rounds (2016–2021) from investors including Volta Energy Technologies, Hegemon Group International, New York Ventures, Excell Partners, Empire State Development, Volta.vc, and Catalus Capital. Conamix is positioned by third-party sources as advancing toward commercial availability alongside industry peers such as Solid Power, BMW, Toyota, and Tesla, with a referenced 2026–2028 commercial window; however, it has not yet disclosed revenue, named customers, or commercial pricing.

Name

Conamix

Legal name

Conamix Inc.

Website

https://conamix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conamix is a pre-commercial, Ithaca-based battery materials company developing cobalt-free, nickel-free lithium-sulfur battery technology targeting drone, micromobility, and electric vehicle manufacturers through an enterprise OEM sales motion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Materials

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591), Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cathode Active Materials (CAM) Manufacturing (EUAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery & Energy Storage High-Purity Chemicals (Electrolyte salts/solvents, additives) (IMAEAKAM)

Keywords

• Lithium-sulfur batteries
• Cobalt-free batteries
• Battery cathode materials
• Energy storage technology
• EV battery chemistry

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Battery Technology Licensing and Development: Pre-commercial stage battery technology company focused on developing and commercializing lithium-sulfur battery technology. Revenue model not yet established as the company is in development phase, with plans to address markets including drones, micromobility, and EV applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Conamix develops and commercializes proprietary Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) battery technology, including cathode active materials, low-cost electrolyte formulations, water-based cathode engineering, and cell & system engineering platforms. Its technology targets drone, micromobility, and electric vehicle applications as a cobalt-free, nickel-free alternative to conventional lithium-ion chemistries. The company is pre-commercial and leverages licensed IP from Cornell University and the University of Waterloo.

Product overview

Conamix is a battery technology company developing Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries as its core product. The company's portfolio includes multiple integrated technology components: Cathode Active Materials (high energy, high rate), proprietary Electrolyte Solutions (improved energy, rate, and cycle life), Cathode Engineering Technology (water-based NMP-free processing), and a Cell & System Engineering Platform (multilayer coatings and advanced charging algorithms). These components work together to address the Li-S battery performance challenges across drone, micromobility, and EV applications, delivering high endurance, fast charging (80% in under 20 minutes), and high power output.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) Battery Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• Charging to 80% in less than 20 minutes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cornell UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationConamix has licensed IP from Cornell University and utilizes Cornell's laboratory equipment and facilities for R&D operations in Ithaca, NY.
• University of WaterloocoreTechnology or IntegrationConamix has licensed technology from the University of Waterloo as part of their intellectual property portfolio.
• Battery, Defense, Industrial, and Automotive Industry LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConamix actively collaborates with technical leaders across the battery, defense, industrial, and automotive industries to advance their lithium-sulfur battery performance through novel material combinations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Amprius Technologies: Amprius produces silicon-anode lithium-ion batteries with very high energy density, targeting aviation, defense, and EV applications. Both companies sell into similar drone and EV markets with differentiated next-gen chemistries, though Amprius is closer to commercial scale.
• Alsym Energy: Alsym Energy is developing non-lithium, cobalt-free batteries for stationary storage, marine, and EV applications. Like Conamix, Alsym pursues cost reduction through elimination of critical minerals and targets adjacent applications to mainstream Li-ion.
• ESS Inc. ESS Inc. manufactures iron-flow batteries for long-duration energy storage. While the chemistry and use case differ, both companies pursue non-lithium and non-cobalt alternatives targeting applications where conventional Li-ion is suboptimal.

Broad incumbents

• CATL: CATL is the world's largest battery manufacturer, with leading positions in LFP and emerging sodium-ion chemistries. CATL's sodium-ion roadmap directly competes with Conamix's value proposition of cobalt-free, low-cost batteries at lower energy density tiers.
• Samsung SDI: Samsung SDI is a major global battery manufacturer producing Li-ion cells for EVs, ESS, and micromobility. As a broad incumbent, Samsung SDI competes with Conamix for OEM customers across all three of Conamix's target segments and represents both a potential competitor and exit partner.
• Mitsubishi Chemical (or MU Ionic Solutions): Mitsubishi Chemical is a major battery materials supplier (electrolytes, cathode materials) with deep R&D in next-generation chemistries. As a component supplier to global battery cell makers, it represents both a potential customer for Conamix's materials and a competitor in advanced electrolyte development.

Direct peers

• Solid Power: Solid Power is a publicly listed next-generation battery developer (sulfide-based solid-state) partnered with BMW and SK On. Although chemistry differs, both target cobalt-free, high-energy EV batteries and compete for the same OEM design slots.
• Lyten: Lyten is a direct competitor developing lithium-sulfur battery cells targeting EV, aerospace, and defense applications. Both companies pursue sulfur-based chemistries to displace cobalt/nickel and emphasize cycle life improvements, making them the closest technology peer to Conamix.
• Sion Power: Sion Power is a long-standing lithium-sulfur battery developer with deep IP and aerospace/defense customer engagements. Like Conamix, Sion Power pursues Li-S chemistry for high energy density applications, making it a direct technology peer despite different go-to-market emphasis.
• QuantumScape: QuantumScape is a publicly listed solid-state lithium-metal battery developer with Volkswagen backing. Both companies aim to displace conventional Li-ion in EVs with novel chemistries, competing for similar capital and OEM partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conamix