BTRY

BTRY AG is a Swiss deep-tech firm, spun out from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and ETH Zurich in 2023, that is addressing fundamental limitations in current energy storage technology. The company was co-founded by CEO Dr. Moritz Futscher, a physicist with a background in solid-state batteries and hybrid solar cells, and CTO Dr. Abdessalem Aribia, a chemist specializing in thin-film materials. Their collaboration began at Empa's "Thin Films and Photovoltaics" laboratory, where, alongside scientific advisor Dr. Yaroslav Romanyuk, they leveraged over a decade of institutional research to transition from scientists to entrepreneurs. The venture was born out of discussions with industry stakeholders which revealed a significant market need for the advanced battery technology being developed.

BTRY is engineering a thin-film solid-state battery that bridges the performance gap between high-energy lithium-ion batteries and high-power supercapacitors. The core of its product is an ultra-thin, solid-state battery, less than 0.1 mm thick, that can be fully charged and discharged in just one minute. This is achieved by stacking multiple micro-thin battery cells on top of each other, a process that increases energy density without sacrificing the rapid charge capabilities inherent in thin-film architecture due to the short travel distance for ions. A key differentiator is the manufacturing process, which utilizes high-precision vacuum coating techniques from the semiconductor industry. This method is entirely solvent-free, eliminating hazardous materials and reducing energy consumption compared to traditional slurry-based battery production.

The resulting battery is non-flammable, flexible, and operates reliably across a wide temperature range (from -40°C to +150°C). The business model focuses on providing these customizable batteries to sectors where conventional batteries fall short. Initially, BTRY is targeting the Internet of Things (IoT) market, specifically for applications like remote sensors that demand high power bursts and operate in extreme conditions. The company plans future expansion into the MedTech, consumer electronics, robotics, and aerospace markets. Having secured CHF 1.8 million in funding from investors including High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), and Venture Kick, BTRY is using the capital to produce its first-generation products on pilot lines to gather client feedback for iterative product improvement.

Keywords: solid-state battery, thin-film battery, fast charging battery, Empa spin-off, ETH Zurich spin-off, high energy density, IoT batteries, MedTech batteries, aerospace batteries, semiconductor manufacturing, vacuum deposition, solvent-free manufacturing, Moritz Futscher, Abdessalem Aribia, Yaroslav Romanyuk, extreme temperature battery, lithium-ion alternative, supercapacitor, microbattery, energy storage solutions, Swiss cleantech, robotics power, drone batteries, smart cards