LiNova Energy Secures $15.8 Million Series A to Advance Polymer Cathode Battery Technology
LiNova Energy, a California-based battery technology company developing polymer cathode batteries, has secured $15.8 million in Series A financing to accelerate the development and commercialization of its next-generation energy storage technology. The funding round was led by Catalus Capital, with participation from Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, Chevron Technology Ventures, and a syndicate of additional investors. The investment marks a significant milestone for the Monrovia, California-headquartered company as it seeks to transform battery manufacturing through a metal-free polymer cathode platform.
The company said the new capital will be used to expand research and development efforts, scale operations, and advance the commercialization of its battery technology. LiNova’s approach is designed to replace conventional cathodes that rely on critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel, materials that have become increasingly expensive and vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. By utilizing a proprietary polymer cathode, the company aims to deliver batteries that are safer, lighter, and less costly while maintaining competitive energy density and performance.
LiNova’s technology is centered on a metal-free polymer cathode manufactured from widely available precursor materials. According to the company, the technology can significantly reduce cathode costs while supporting domestic manufacturing and lowering dependence on imported battery materials. The company also states that its batteries are designed to eliminate thermal runaway risks, a critical safety concern associated with many conventional lithium-ion battery systems.
The funding arrives at a time when demand for advanced battery technologies is growing across electric vehicles, stationary energy storage, aerospace, and industrial applications. As governments and corporations invest heavily in electrification and energy transition initiatives, companies developing alternatives to traditional battery chemistries have attracted increasing interest from strategic and financial investors. LiNova believes its polymer cathode platform can address several industry challenges simultaneously, including cost reduction, supply chain resilience, safety improvements, and sustainability.
Alongside the financing announcement, LiNova disclosed that it had entered into a joint development agreement with Saft. The collaboration is intended to support the commercialization of LiNova’s battery technology in key markets served by Saft. Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to advance the development and integration of the polymer cathode technology into battery systems targeted at commercial applications.
Saft Chief Executive Officer Cedric Duclos said the company was pleased to collaborate with LiNova in scaling the technology, leveraging Saft’s research capabilities, prototype production lines, and industrial battery manufacturing expertise. The partnership is expected to provide LiNova with access to technical resources and market knowledge that can help accelerate its path toward commercial deployment.
Investors highlighted the technology’s potential to contribute to the broader energy transition. Jim Gable, Vice President of Innovation and President of Technology Ventures at Chevron, noted that LiNova’s battery technology is designed to provide higher energy density while delivering a safer, lighter, and lower-cost solution for the battery market. The investment was made through Chevron’s Future Energy Fund II, which focuses on areas including industrial decarbonization, emerging mobility, energy decentralization, and the circular economy.
Catalus Capital, which led the round, expressed confidence in the company’s commercial prospects and its ability to bring the technology to market. The firm’s participation reflects growing investor interest in battery innovations that can reduce reliance on critical minerals while supporting domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Since closing the Series A financing, LiNova and Saft have continued their collaboration. In 2025, the companies announced progress to the second stage of their joint development agreement, building on the work enabled by the funding round and advancing efforts to commercialize the polymer cathode technology in aerospace, defense, and rail applications.
With fresh capital, strategic industry backing, and an ongoing commercialization partnership, LiNova is positioning itself to become a significant player in the evolving battery technology landscape. The company’s focus on lower-cost, safer, and domestically sourced battery materials could help address some of the most pressing challenges facing the global energy storage industry as demand for electrification continues to accelerate.
