Zhaona raises $14.7M angel+ round for solid-state sodium batteries
What's the deal? Shanghai Zhaona New Energy Technology has raised nearly 100 million CNY (about $14.7 million) in an angel+ round. Investors include Jiangyin Future Industrial Investment, Xinguolian, Jiangyin Industrial Development, and Xichuangtou.
What does it do? Zhaona supplies key materials and system solutions for sodium-ion batteries. It focuses on commercialising all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries pitched as higher-performance, safer, and lower-cost.
Who buys it? The company targets battery and end-product makers across two segments: chemical storage for homes and businesses, and power applications spanning construction machinery, electric two-wheelers, low-speed EVs, eVTOL, and AGV/RGV systems.
What's the money for? The funds will go toward continued research on core all-solid-state technology, capacity expansion, and market growth. The goal is to move the batteries toward large-scale commercial use.
Why it stands out: The round ranks among the largest angel-stage energy deals in China, sitting in the top percentile by size in a sample of 70 comparable rounds.
The signal: The size of this early-stage cheque points to investor appetite for sodium-ion technology as a cheaper alternative to lithium — and to backers willing to commit heavily before a startup has scaled.
Read more: ITjuzi
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
