Long Beach Startup Powers California Industries With Off-Grid Energy

Long Beach startup Critical Loop has raised $26 million to address California’s ongoing power constraints through rapid deployment of battery and grid management systems.

The company, founded in 2023 by veterans of SpaceX and Tesla, provides container-sized battery units that can be transported and installed on-site within days or weeks—far quicker than the years-long timelines typically associated with utility infrastructure upgrades.

Critical Loop’s systems enable businesses to store electricity from the grid during off-peak hours and deploy it during periods of high demand, helping companies avoid costly peak-demand charges and maintain uninterrupted operations despite local grid limitations.

The technology integrates multiple power sources, seamlessly switching between the public grid, on-site batteries, solar panels, and backup generators based on real-time availability and cost efficiency.

This capability is particularly valuable in California, where grid congestion and permitting delays have constrained power access for fast-growing industries, including AI data centers and advanced robotics warehouses, which require substantial and reliable electricity supplies.

The $26 million funding round was led by Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover, according to company disclosures and verified through multiple industry reports.

Since its founding, Critical Loop has grown from an initial team of eight employees to 35, with new hires recruited from prominent technology and energy firms including SpaceX, Palantir, and Tesla.

The company’s headquarters is located in an office overlooking Long Beach Airport, a detail consistently referenced in its public communications and media coverage.

Critical Loop is already serving major clients at Los Angeles ports, logistics hubs, and manufacturing sites, providing power solutions for industrial facilities facing grid constraints.