Best Energy Tech Companies in Chicago, United States
The 84 best Energy Tech companies in Chicago, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: SMS Assist.
Our analysis of 79 Energy Tech companies
$38.9b in tracked funding; 92% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Energy Tech companies in Chicago
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMS Assist 🦄 Provider of SaaS-driven maintenance management solutions for commercial spaces | $255M | 120 mo ago | Acquired | 782 | Jay McKee CEO | Apple iCloud MailEnvoyBootstrap+8 | 4 patents Software algorithms for defining and managing geographic service area boundaries | — |
| 2 | Anovion Provider of synthetic graphite anode material | $117M | 35 mo ago | Funding Raised | — | Clay Kiefaber CEO | — | — | — |
| 3 | NanoGraf Developer of silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion battery performance enhancement | $70M | 21 mo ago | Acquired | 40 | Samir Mayekar Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+19 | 65 patents Silicon‑oxide anodes with metal‑oxide coatings and carbon nanomaterial composites for Li‑ion batteries | — |
| 4 | Azumo Manufacturer of front-lit liquid crystal technology for displays | $56M | 49 mo ago | Series B | 41 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | 43 patents Film-based lightguide backlighting and edge‑light management for displays and privacy modes | — |
| 5 | Cohesion Provider of a platform for smart building management and operations 48Growth top 20%Funding top 35%Tech top 37%Talent top 38% All 12 signals ▾Growthtop 20% Fundingtop 35% Techtop 37% Talenttop 38% Moattop 41% Producttop 47% Globalbottom 40% Innovationbottom 36% Marketbottom 35% Patentsbottom 34% Newsbottom 21% Customersbottom 9% Growth: Headcount 21 → 44 (+110%) across vintages · 1 acquisition/expansion move in 24 mo Funding: Raised $30.2M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 6 yrs (0.7/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 48/100 | $30M | 6 mo ago | Series A | 44 | Nick Lawrence Co-Founder | WebflowZohoZepto+25 | 3 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | — |
| 6 | NuCurrent Developer of chip modules for wireless charging 69Innovation top 10%Patents top 13%Funding top 17%Moat top 21% All 10 signals ▾Innovationtop 10% Patentstop 13% Fundingtop 17% Moattop 21% Techtop 39% Growthtop 43% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 41% Globalbottom 40% Newsbottom 22% Innovation: 728 patents (top 3% of patent-holders) · 541 filings since 2022 vs 133 in 2017-21 Patents: 728 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 541 filings since 2022 vs 133 in 2017-21 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 69/100 | $22M | 9 mo ago | Series C | 37 37 → 45 (+22%) | Jacob Babcock CEO and Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+33 | 728 patents Wireless power transfer integrated with data communication for industrial IoT sensors | 1 launch |
| 7 | TruMarx Cloud based online transaction platform for energy products | $16M | 91 mo ago | Series B | 12 | Jon Olson Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer | — | — | — |
| 8 | ElectronX Provider of grid management solution | $15M | 7 mo ago | Series A | — | Evan Caron Co-Founder | SanityApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+19 | — | 1 launch · 1 expansion |
| 9 | Bedrock Developer of materials for sodium-ion batteries | $9M | 25 mo ago | Seed | — | Rafael Vila Co-Founder | — | 9 patents Integrated standby fuel storage systems combined with data analytics and security solutions | — |
| 10 | Grid Status Cloud based dashboard creation software for energy industry | $8M | 22 mo ago | Series A | — | Connor Waldoch Co-Founder | GhostNode.jsVarnish+14 | — | 2 launchs |
| 11 | Buildings As Batteries Developer of thermal energy storage system for commercial building applications | $8M | 95 mo ago | Series A | — | Gregor Henze Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 12 | Goby SaaS-driven platform offering energy management solutions | $7M | 64 mo ago | Acquired | 33 | — | — | 2 patents Modular hygienic inductive charging stands for handheld electronic devices | — |
| 13 | Mezo Provider of AI-powered property maintenance software | $6M | 42 mo ago | Acquired | 29 | Mike Travalini Co-Founder & CEO | SentryFirebasestyled-components+15 | 4 patents AI-powered chatbot platforms for automated maintenance diagnostics and repair troubleshooting | — |
| 14 | Celadyne Manufacturer of nano based fuel cells | $5M | 28 mo ago | Seed | 8 | Gary Ong Founder & CEO | — | 3 patents Advanced ion‑exchange polymer‑ceramic membranes for electrochemical separation and energy devices | — |
| 15 | Intelligent Generation Virtual power plant networked software platform | $4M | 49 mo ago | Seed | 9 | Paul Gazzolo Co-founder and Board Member | — | — | 1 job opening · 1 partnership |
| 16 | Volexion Developer of graphene encapsulation technology for lithium-ion cathode active materials | $3M | 12 mo ago | Seed | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Sigora International Provider of smart micro grid platform and smart meters | $3M | 102 mo ago | Seed | 36 | Andy Bogdan Bindea Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 18 | Eta Vision Offers data center energy management solutions | $2M | 95 mo ago | Seed | 8 | Michael Lingle CEO & Cofounder | — | — | — |
| 19 | Digital H2O Online oilfield water management and marketplace platform. | $1M | 146 mo ago | Acquired | 11 | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | AllCell Technologies Lithium-ion battery packs and thermal management solutions | $1M | 79 mo ago | Acquired | 30 | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | PVPower An online marketplace for solar PV equipment | $1M | 174 mo ago | Acqui-Hired | 14 | Dan Kuthy Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 22 | Everpurse Wire-free charging purses blending fashion and technology for the modern woman | $1M | 145 mo ago | Seed | 4 | — | — | 6 patents Wireless power transfer mats for personal electronic device charging | — |
| 23 | Celadyne Developer of advanced hydrogen membrane technology for fuel cells and electrolyzers | $450K | 1 mo ago | Seed | — | Gary Ong Founder & CEO | Webflow EcommerceWebflowPlausible+12 | 3 patents Advanced ion‑exchange and protective polymer‑ceramic membranes for electrochemical separations | — |
| 24 | Influit Energy Nanoelectrofuel technology for liquid fuel | $225K | 114 mo ago | Funding Raised | — | Carlo Segre Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer | — | — | — |
| 25 | Syndem Democratizing smart grids with synchronized inverters for stable, reliable power systems | $206K | 71 mo ago | Funding Raised | — | Qing-Chang Zhong Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 26 | SmarterShade Developer of user-controlled, powerless, affordable smart glass for privacy and energy | $200K | 157 mo ago | Seed | 2 | Will McLeod Founder | — | 14 patents Smart adaptive windows using mechanically actuated variable light transmission technology | — |
| 27 | Route SaaS-driven business management platform for the building services industry | $100K | 47 mo ago | Funding Raised | 11 | Ricardo Regalado Founder & CEO | WordPress Site EditorElementorWordPress+32 | 5 patents Remote desktop access solutions and email message rerouting technologies | — |
| 28 | NETEnergy Provider of thermal energy storage solutions | $100K | 134 mo ago | Funding Raised | 6 | Said Al-Hallaj CEO | — | — | — |
Top 12 Energy Tech companies in Chicago
#1
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2018 · 44 employees$30.2Mraised▾
Provider of a platform for smart building management and operations. The platform offers solutions for access control, experience enhancement, and maintenance. It consolidates data from building systems, software, and sensors into a unified platform. The platform also provides advisory services for planning, solution design, and system integrations.
- Nov 2025Series A$250K
- Nov 2021Series A$15M
- Jul 2021Seed$7M
- Jul 2020Seed$8.2M
#2
Series C · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2009 · 37 employees$22.1Mraised▾
NuCurrent is a fabless semiconductor company which develops high-efficiency antennas for wireless charging applications. It sells both pre-designed / customized antenna modules to OEMs to be integrated into their devices. Their product range also covers surface-mount inductors or induction heating coils.
- Sep 2025Series C$982.4K
- May 2024Series C$100K
- Sep 2023Series C$1.1M
- Nov 2022Series C$3.5M
#3
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2022$15Mraised▾
Provider of grid management solution. It offers solutions to enable precision risk management, volatility hedging opportunities, and the monetization of power assets. It offers derivative products that capture the intraday price fluctuations of the changing electrical grid helping to smooth the financial path of clean energy adoption across the nation.
- Nov 2025Series A$36.5M
- Feb 2025Seed$10M
- Jun 2024Seed$15M
#4
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2012 · 40 employees$70.5Mraised▾
Developer of silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion battery performance enhancement. The company’s technology aims to replace graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. This replacement is intended to improve performance for applications ranging from military to consumer uses. The silicon oxide-based anode materials are designed for extended electric vehicle range.
- Sep 2024Grant (prize money)$60M
- Jan 2023Series B$65M
- Jul 2020Grant (prize money)$1.6M
- Feb 2019Series A$5.5M
#5
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2013$449.6Kraised▾
Developer of advanced hydrogen membrane technology for fuel cells and electrolyzers. This technology improves fuel cell and electrolyzer efficiency and durability, lowering hydrogen production costs and expanding its use in defense, industry, and heavy-duty transport. The company offers membranes designed for both fuel cells and electrolyzers, addressing key challenges in hydrogen production and utilization. It also participates in collaborative initiatives to develop tailored electrolyzer solutions for various sectors.
- May 2026Seed$250K
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$199.6K
#6
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2018 · 5 employees$3.2Mraised▾
Developer of graphene encapsulation technology for lithium-ion cathode active materials. The company's composite material is commercially manufactured with bio-based capability. It offers cathode active material encapsulation delivering increased cycle life. The materials are drop-in and compatible with current and next-generation lithium-ion manufacturing. Applications include consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and next-generation materials.
- Jun 2025Seed$1.4M
- Mar 2025Grant (prize money)$1.5M
- Apr 2023Seed$961.2K
- Apr 2021Seed$2.2M
#7
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2021$117Mraised▾
Provider of synthetic graphite anode material. It employs graphitization technology to produces high crystallinity and low impurities by heating the product at very high temperature.
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$117M
- 2021PE—
#8
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2023$8Mraised▾
Cloud based dashboard creation software for energy industry. It is a real-time monitoring platform that provides data and insights on the electric grid. It offers a centralized hub for tracking energy supply, demand, and pricing across independent system operators. It allows users to visualize the data using graphs. The platform provides insights that assist teams to make data-driven decisions.
- Aug 2024Series A$8M
#9
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2023$9Mraised▾
Developer of materials for sodium-ion batteries. It designs, engineers, and manufactures sodium-ion cathode materials based on earth abundant metals.
- May 2024Seed$9M
#10
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2003 · 782 employees$255Mraised▾
Provider of SaaS-driven maintenance management solutions for commercial spaces. It integrates clients, affiliates, and employees in one online tech-enabled platform. It offers various managed like vendor management, facility management, work order management, call center management, quality assurance, and asset management. It also offers training and education programs to its technicians.
- Jun 2016Series D$150M
- May 2015Series C$45M
- Oct 2013Series B$45M
- Jun 2011Series A$15M
#11
Series B · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2004 · 41 employees$56.1Mraised▾
Manufacturer of front-lit liquid crystal technology for displays. It develops front-lit reflective LCDs that consume low power. Its features include a thin display stack, power efficiency, ambient light utilization, colour enhancement, and low-powered light-emitting diodes. It has applications in medical, educational, industrial, wearables, automotive, consumer electronics, and IoT systems.
- May 2022Series B$30M
- Dec 2020Series B$9M
- Nov 2018Series B$9M
- Aug 2017Series A$3.1M
#12
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2018 · 8 employees$4.6Mraised▾
Developer of nanocomposite membranes designed to be used in high-performance electrolyzes and fuel cells with simple heat and water management. The company's membrane uses various technologies to offer many benefits of a ceramic separator such as lower hydrogen crossover and also works at low humidity and elevated temperature conditions, enabling users to get hydrogen economy for better catalyst durability at a low cost.
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Energy Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Energy Storage in Chicago is moving
A read on the academic research around Energy Storage in Chicago — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 58 papers.
- University of Chicago44
- University of Illinois Chicago18
- Electrochemistry1→9
- Cathode1→3
- Electrolyte13
- Battery (electricity)12
- Electrochemistry10
- Nanotechnology5
- Anode4
- Cathode4
- Electrolyte4
- Anode4
- Electrochemistry3
- Battery (electricity)3
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.