Binghamton, New York — The burgeoning landscape of energy innovation in Upstate New York received a significant boost with the announcement of the 2026 cohort for the ChargeUp Accelerator. This year, the program, a collaborative effort between Binghamton University, the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, and New Energy New York, welcomes an unprecedented 10 pioneering battery and energy storage startups, marking its largest cohort to date in its third year of operation.
The selected companies represent a diverse and critical cross-section of the battery and energy storage sector. Their innovations span the entire value chain, from advanced mineral extraction and cathode materials to novel thermal batteries, mobile storage systems, and sophisticated battery manufacturing software. This breadth underscores the comprehensive approach ChargeUp is taking to foster a robust ecosystem for energy storage innovation.
Catalysing Next-Generation Energy Solutions
The ChargeUp Accelerator is designed to fast-track the development and commercialization of groundbreaking technologies that address the escalating global demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage. By bringing together academic prowess, incubation support, and regional strategic initiatives, the program positions Upstate New York as a critical hub for future energy solutions.
Participating company leaders are set to embark on an intensive seven-month journey, running from April through October. This immersive experience includes over 200 hours of specialized curriculum, crucial access to investors, bespoke mentoring, and significant technical-development support. Each startup receives $25,000 in direct funding, with the potential for up to $100,000 allocated for technical development to refine their innovations.
The accelerator’s robust framework draws upon successful methodologies proven in two other esteemed NextCorps programs: Luminate and the Manufacturing Accelerator, ensuring a high-quality and impactful experience for the participating battery and energy storage startups.
Introducing the 2026 ChargeUp Cohort
The 2026 cohort comprises a diverse array of companies, each bringing unique capabilities to the fore in the realm of battery and energy storage technologies:
BUCKSTOP: Revolutionising Urban Mining
BUCKSTOP is at the forefront of urban mining, developing an advanced platform that leverages proprietary datasets and sophisticated machine learning models. This technology is poised to fundamentally transform how companies approach asset management and financial decision-making within the circular economy, specifically targeting valuable materials embedded in urban waste streams.
EELI Technology, Inc.: Sustainable Lithium Extraction
EELI Technology, Inc. presents an electrochemical breakthrough poised to revolutionise mineral extraction. Their proprietary process aims to unlock billions of tons of lithium trapped in previously unmineable sources. This innovative approach promises substantial reductions in carbon emissions, water usage, processing time, and overall costs, addressing critical environmental and economic challenges in the supply chain for battery and energy storage solutions.
MicroEra Power: Smart Thermal Battery Solutions
MicroEra Power introduces a first-generation thermal battery product architecture designed to provide enhanced control over heating and cooling systems. This technology offers the dual benefits of lower operating costs and a significantly reduced carbon footprint, making it an attractive solution for both commercial and industrial applications seeking sustainable energy management.
Molhill, Inc.: Enhancing Cathode Material Production
Molhill, Inc. specializes in the development of specialty biochemicals that improve mineral separation and processing techniques. These innovations are designed to reduce ecological footprints while facilitating the creation of synthesised or regenerative active cathode materials, crucial components in advanced battery technologies.
NDB, Inc.: Decades of Clean Nuclear Power
NDB, Inc. is pioneering a novel nuclear diamond battery that converts recycled nuclear waste into clean energy. This groundbreaking technology boasts a lifetime of several decades, offering a maintenance-free power source. Its applications are particularly impactful for industries such as medical devices, defense, aerospace, and the expansive Internet of Things (IoT), where continuous, long-term power is paramount.
Power 3D: Ultra-High Energy Density Batteries
Power 3D is advancing 3D-printed battery technology featuring ultra-thick electrodes. This design maximizes the amount of potential energy-storing material within a battery, leading to significantly higher energy density. Such advancements hold immense promise for compact, high-performance applications like wearables, IoT devices, and various medical instruments.
Power Up Connect: Versatile Mobile Energy Storage
Power Up Connect offers mobile, self-rechargeable, trailer-mounted battery energy storage systems (BESS). These flexible systems are designed for seamless integration with existing infrastructures and possess a wide range of potential use-cases. They are particularly well-suited for demanding environments such as construction sites, supporting microgrids, and providing essential power for emergency shelters.
QOR Technologies, Inc.: AI for Manufacturing Excellence
QOR Technologies, Inc. is leveraging artificial intelligence to create a platform that addresses manufacturing issues on the factory floor. From the initial stages to final production, their AI system corrects problems and implements measures to prevent future anomalies, significantly reducing human error and enhancing the efficiency and reliability of battery manufacturing processes.
Ranial Systems, Inc.: Predictive Energy Monitoring
Ranial Systems, Inc. has developed a unique computing platform that integrates artificial intelligence for predictive and real-time operational monitoring across multiple energy storage applications. This technology is designed to bolster the safety and resiliency of vital infrastructure, including microgrids and various renewable energy systems, ensuring their stable and efficient operation.
WattUP Energy: High-Performance, Earth-Abundant Batteries
WattUP Energy is focused on delivering a high-performance battery that boasts twice the energy density and three times the power density of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Critically, their technology utilizes earth-abundant materials, paving the way for sustainable and powerful battery and energy storage solutions across land, sea, and air transportation sectors.
Honorary Participant: Artemis Technologies
Joining the cohort as an honorary company, Artemis Technologies showcases its advanced zero-emission hydrofoil propulsion platform. This innovative system employs high-power electric drivetrains and hydrodynamic lift to elevate vessels above the water’s surface. By significantly reducing drag, Artemis Technologies is dramatically improving energy efficiency and redefining performance benchmarks for commercial maritime transport, aligning with the broader goals of sustainable energy use.
Fostering a Regional Innovation Hub
The ChargeUp Accelerator is more than just a startup program; it is a pivotal component of a larger regional strategy. New Energy New York has been diligently working to transform Upstate New York into a leading battery innovation hub. Programs like ChargeUp serve as crucial mechanisms to achieve this ambitious goal, by nurturing promising battery and energy storage startups and attracting further investment and talent to the region.
The ongoing success of this initiative is evidenced by the achievements of earlier cohort companies, which include Ateios Systems, Amel Energy, and Fermi Energy. Their progress underscores the accelerator’s effectiveness in cultivating groundbreaking energy technologies and contributing to the strategic development of a vital clean energy ecosystem.
As the 2026 cohort commences its journey, the collective efforts of these battery and energy storage startups, supported by the ChargeUp Accelerator, are set to drive forward critical advancements in energy independence, sustainability, and economic growth for the region and beyond.