UNIGRID

What UNIGRID does

UNIGRID Inc. is a San Diego-based, privately held sodium-ion battery developer founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the University of California, San Diego. The company designs and manufactures ultra-safe sodium-ion battery cells using a proprietary NCO (sodium copper manganese iron oxide) cathode chemistry paired with an alloy-based anode, deliberately eliminating lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper from its supply chain. Its product portfolio includes the Power Cell Series spanning four form factors (cylindrical 3270 and 33140 cells, prismatic 50160118 and 72173207 cells, ranging from 4 Ah to 210+ Ah), plus two sub-branded application products: Na+ Fleet (12V starter batteries for vehicles) and Na+ Casa (48V residential energy storage systems). Key performance claims include 10,000-cycle lifespan, -40°C to 60°C operating range, 15-minute full charge / 5-minute discharge capability, and zero fire risk as validated by UN 38.3 and UL 9540A third-party certifications.

UNIGRID generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of sodium-ion cells and packs, with no recurring consumption model. Its go-to-market combines a product-led growth motion (direct sample ordering via the company website for SMB and evaluation use) with enterprise field sales for large-scale deployments. Current production capacity stands at 100 MWh/year (2025), with a stated target of 1 GWh/year by 2026, achieved through capital-light foundry partnerships rather than owned fabrication. Named enterprise customers include Indexel (India-based EPC firm, 50 MWh deployment agreement for stationary energy storage) and Blue Whale Energy (Singapore-based virtual power plant operator, Southeast Asia rooftop storage partnership). Operating geographies span the United States, India, Singapore, and broader Southeast Asia.

The company has raised approximately $12 million in Series A equity (June 2024, co-led by Transition VC and Ritz Venture Capital with participation from Union Square Ventures, Foothill Ventures, and LG Technology Ventures), supplemented by a $2.9 million California Energy Commission RAMP grant (2025) and an earlier NSF grant (2022). Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, and the company is led by co-founders Darren H. S. Tan (CEO) and Erik A. Wu (CTO), with strategic advisory from Zheng Chen and scientific advisory from Shirley Meng. Board advisors include Fred Wilson, founder of Union Square Ventures.

Name

UNIGRID

Legal name

UNIGRID Inc.

Website

https://unigridbattery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UNIGRID is a San Diego-based sodium-ion battery developer founded in 2021, producing proprietary NCO-chemistry battery cells and packs for stationary energy storage, residential ESS, vehicle starters, and industrial EVs. The company sells hardware directly to enterprise customers across the US, India, and Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sodium-ion Batteries

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Sodium-ion batteries
• Energy storage systems
• Stationary battery cells
• E-mobility batteries
• Residential energy storage

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sodium-ion Battery Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from selling sodium-ion battery cells and packs. The company manufactures and sells battery hardware for stationary energy storage systems (ESS), UPS applications, vehicle starters, and industrial electric vehicles. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware purchases with no recurring consumption model.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

UNIGRID manufactures and sells proprietary sodium-ion battery cells and packs built on NCO (sodium copper manganese iron oxide) cathode chemistry and alloy-based anodes that eliminate lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. The portfolio includes the Power Cell Series (cylindrical and prismatic cells from 4 Ah to 210+ Ah) plus application-branded product lines Na+ Fleet (12V starter batteries) and Na+ Casa (48V residential energy storage systems).

Product overview

UNIGRID offers a portfolio of ultra-safe sodium-ion batteries with multiple form factors and capacities. The core Power Cell Series includes four cylindrical and prismatic cell models (3270, 33140, 50160118, 72173207) ranging from 4 Ah to 210+ Ah, designed for stationary ESS, UPS backup, vehicle starters, and industrial EVs. The company also offers two sub-branded product lines: Na+ Fleet™ (12V starter batteries for mobility applications) and Na+ Casa™ (48V residential energy storage systems). All products share UNIGRID's proprietary sodium-ion chemistry featuring zero fire risk, wide operating temperatures (-40°C to 60°C), and up to 10,000 cycle life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Na+ Fleet: 12V starter battery product line for fleet applications ranging from two wheels to heavy duty vehicles.
• Na+ Casa
• Power Cell Series

Products and services

• Power Cell Series 3270 Compact cylindrical sodium-ion battery cell with >4.0 Ah capacity, 2.0-3.4V voltage range, 10,000 cycle life, and -40 to 60°C operating temperature range, targeted at applications requiring small-format cells.
• Power Cell Series 33140 Cylindrical sodium-ion battery cell with >9.0 Ah capacity, 2.0-3.4V voltage range, 10,000 cycle life, and high power charge/discharge capabilities for high-power applications.
• Power Cell Series 50160118 Large-format prismatic sodium-ion battery cell with >70 Ah capacity designed for stationary energy storage systems (ESS), UPS power backup, and industrial electric vehicle applications.
• Power Cell Series 72173207 Large-capacity prismatic sodium-ion battery cell with >210 Ah capacity built for utility-scale stationary energy storage applications.
• Na+ Fleet™ 12V sodium-ion starter battery product line for fleet applications ranging from two-wheelers to heavy-duty vehicles, positioning a single battery solution across mobility use cases.
• Na+ Casa™ 48V sodium-ion residential energy storage system (RESS) designed for behind-the-meter use in homes and buildings, delivering consistent performance across extreme climates with a long-life, fire-safe chemistry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 cycle life compared to 3,000-5,000 cycles for typical lithium-ion batteries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• IndexelflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Indexel is an India-based EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) firm that signed a 50 MWh battery energy storage system deployment agreement with UNIGRID in April 2025. This represents UNIGRID's first major commercial deployment and entry into the Indian energy storage market.
• Blue Whale EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Whale Energy is a Singapore-headquartered VPP (Virtual Power Plant) company partnering with UNIGRID for deployment of rooftop battery energy storage systems in the Southeast Asia market. This partnership enables UNIGRID's entry into the distributed energy resources market in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Natron Energy: US-based sodium-ion battery manufacturer using Prussian blue analog chemistry for data center backup and industrial applications. Closest direct competitor to UNIGRID, targeting overlapping stationary and UPS markets with similar safety-focused value proposition.
• Altris: Swedish sodium-ion battery company developing Prussian white cathode cells for stationary storage and mobility. Comparable technology focus on sodium-ion with comparable cycle life and safety claims; similar early commercial stage.
• Faradion: UK-based sodium-ion battery pioneer (acquired by Reliance Industries in 2022) developing cells for mobility and stationary storage. Directly comparable sodium-ion technology and end-market overlap, though now backed by a large strategic.
• HiNa Battery: Chinese sodium-ion battery company affiliated with Li-Fun Technology, one of the first commercial sodium-ion producers. Direct peer in sodium-ion cells with significantly more manufacturing scale, putting pressure on UNIGRID's pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Northvolt: Swedish lithium-ion battery manufacturer with significant European gigafactory footprint that has publicly explored sodium-ion chemistries. While primarily Li-ion, represents a well-funded Western battery incumbent competing for similar ESS and mobility customers.
• CATL: World's largest battery manufacturer, already producing sodium-ion cells (Naxtra brand) at scale for Chinese EV and ESS markets. Sets the pricing and scale benchmark UNIGRID must compete against, especially in international markets.
• BYD: Chinese battery and EV giant with sodium-ion cell development and a small-form-factor sodium-ion product in production. Vertically integrated with massive scale; competes on price and supply security in the same end markets UNIGRID targets.

Emerging players

• Form Energy: US-based iron-air battery developer for long-duration grid storage (100+ hours). Targets overlapping utility-scale storage customers with UNIGRID's 72173207 cell, though with a fundamentally different chemistry optimized for multi-day discharge.
• ESS Inc. US-based iron flow battery manufacturer for long-duration grid storage. Competes with UNIGRID's stationary ESS products in the utility and C&I storage market, with similar safety and longevity positioning but different chemistry.
• QuantumScape: US-based solid-state lithium-metal battery developer (publicly traded). Comparable as a US next-generation battery play, although targeting EV traction applications; UNIGRID's NSF grant for solid-state sodium batteries connects them loosely on R&D direction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unigrid-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors10 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 UNIGRID