Power 3D, a Pittsburgh-based battery technology startup spun out of Carnegie Mellon University, has secured backing from a combination of university, federal, and accelerator programs as it advances its proprietary 3D-printed lithium-ion battery technology designed to deliver higher energy density, faster charging, and longer battery life for next-generation devices.

Founded in 2023, Power 3D is developing a novel manufacturing process that uses additive manufacturing to create ultrathick battery electrodes with controlled porosity. By increasing the proportion of energy-storing material within a battery while reducing non-energy-storing components such as current collectors, separators, and packaging, the company aims to improve overall battery performance for applications including wearables, medical devices, IoT sensors, hearing aids, unmanned aerial vehicles, and defense technologies.

The company has attracted support from several organizations that have helped fund its early development. According to startup investment databases, Power 3D has received backing from Carnegie Mellon University, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Program. These organizations have provided critical non-dilutive funding and commercialization support as the startup works to bring its battery technology from the laboratory to market.

Power 3D’s development has also benefited from participation in the Pittsburgh startup ecosystem. Publicly available company profiles identify AlphaLab as an investor and accelerator supporter, providing the company with access to mentorship, business development resources, and early-stage commercialization assistance. The accelerator backing reflects growing investor interest in advanced energy storage technologies that can address power constraints across emerging electronics markets.

The startup was founded by battery and manufacturing experts including Rahul Panat, Chunshan Hu, and Peter Scott. The team’s work centers on combining additive manufacturing with semiconductor fabrication techniques to create compact batteries capable of storing more energy while maintaining small form factors. The approach is intended to solve a growing challenge faced by device manufacturers that require increased power capacity without increasing size or weight.

Power 3D’s technology comes at a time when battery performance is becoming an increasingly important factor across multiple industries. Wearable electronics, remote sensors, medical monitoring devices, and autonomous systems all require longer-lasting energy sources capable of supporting advanced functionality. Traditional battery manufacturing approaches have struggled to keep pace with these requirements, creating opportunities for new technologies that can improve energy density and charging performance.

A significant milestone for the company came when it received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation. The award supports development of a manufacturing platform that integrates 3D printing of battery cathodes with semiconductor fabrication processes to construct complete battery architectures, including current collectors, separators, and packaging layers. The funding is intended to accelerate commercialization efforts and help validate the technology for broader market adoption.

The company believes its manufacturing process can enable batteries with substantially improved performance characteristics compared with conventional lithium-ion designs. By creating three-dimensional micro-lattice electrode structures, Power 3D aims to increase energy density while reducing charge times and extending battery life. These advantages could prove particularly valuable for compact electronic devices where battery limitations often constrain product capabilities.

Investor and institutional support reflects confidence in the commercial potential of advanced battery manufacturing technologies. As industries increasingly rely on connected devices, robotics, autonomous systems, and portable medical equipment, demand for higher-performance energy storage solutions is expected to continue growing. Power 3D’s focus on scalable manufacturing and next-generation battery architectures positions it within a rapidly expanding market for innovative energy technologies.

With funding and support from Carnegie Mellon University, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Program, and AlphaLab, Power 3D is advancing toward commercialization of its 3D-printed battery platform. As development progresses, the company aims to provide manufacturers with energy storage solutions capable of powering the next generation of compact, high-performance electronic devices.

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