Sthyr Energy: $1M Funding for Zinc-Air Battery Tech

Sthyr Energy was founded by Gunjan Kapadia, Akhil Kongara, and Muhammed Hamdan, all researchers from IIT Madras

IIT Madras-incubated startup Sthyr Energy has raised $1 million in seed funding, led by Speciale Invest and supported by Antares Ventures, reported Economic Times. The funding will accelerate the development of their novel mechanically rechargeable Zinc-Air battery system, designed for long-duration, grid-scale energy storage.

What Makes Sthyr Stand Out

Mechanically rechargeable Zinc-Air battery architecture
100+ hours of storage ideal for seasonal and remote grid use
Uses non-flammable, water-based electrolytes for safety
No rare earth materials; built from locally available resources
Decoupled energy and power components for modular scaling
Targets fossil-free peaker plant replacement and microgrids

Comparison with Other Energy Storage Solutions

Lithium-Ion Batteries

4–6 hour duration
Safety concerns due to thermal runaway
Dependence on imported metals like cobalt and lithium
Suited for EVs and short-duration balancing

Flow Batteries

6–12 hours duration, extendable
Generally safe but bulky systems
Uses vanadium or other redox materials
Costly upfront, best for frequent cycling

Green Hydrogen

Storage duration from days to weeks
Challenges with storage and flammability
Involves electrolyzers and fuel cells
Still expensive with energy conversion inefficiencies

Sthyr Energy was founded by Gunjan Kapadia, Akhil Kongara, and Muhammed Hamdan, all researchers from IIT Madras. Gunjan serves as the CEO, Akhil as the CTO, and Hamdan as the COO. Their collaboration stems from over five years of foundational research at IIT-M, where they set out to rethink battery architecture for long-duration energy storage.

The Deeptech founders are quite the powerhouse trio—each bringing technical depth and a mission-driven mindset to the table.

Sthyr’s Zinc-Air solution could prove transformative for India’s renewable grid, microgrids in remote areas, and as a cost-effective alternative to fossil-based peaker plants—marking a significant step toward energy independence and resilience.