When he enrolled in graduate school in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Tennessee in 2020, Brian Washington never imagined he would create a startup company. But after working on a project with the Army Research Lab over the last few years involving battery technologies, it became a realistic opportunity.
Professor Tom Zawodzinski, UT-ORNL governor’s chair for electrical energy conversion and storage, encouraged Washington and his lab partner Colt Griffith to consider going the start-up route, and they both agreed it was worth pursuing.
Last spring, they formed AluminAiry, a company that specializes in aluminum-air battery technology for electric vehicle (EV) applications. AluminAiry batteries, which use recyclable aluminum and air to generate energy, promise to significantly reduce range anxiety and recharge times, making EVs more marketable. These systems will also aid in the production of renewable, clean, uninterrupted energy for the grid.
Washington is the founder and chief executive officer of AluminAiry, while Griffith, a fourth-year PhD student, is the chief technical officer.
“The target audience for our startup is basically any type of electrification source, whether it’s grid scale or eMobility, that has applications with high energy demands, but also companies interested in the adoption of clean and sustainable energy produced from recycled materials,” said Washington, who is scheduled to graduate with his PhD in December.
“That’s basically where we feel like our batteries have the most success. They are safe battery systems that can possibly double the energy density of current lithium-ion technology. Not only can we extend the range of energy intensive electric vehicles and speed up the actual recharge process, but we can also supply constant uninterrupted energy supply to commercial and residential areas. Aluminum-air batteries, if properly implemented, can change the landscape of battery technology as we see it today.”
Spark Acceleration Process
Washington’s timing on forming the startup was fortuitous. A few weeks after AluminAiry launched, he received a notification about the Spark Cleantech Accelerator program. Washington submitted an application and was accepted for the 2024 cohort.
The Spark Cleantech Accelerator is a 12-week program at the UT Research Park that provides mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping services, and business acceleration services to early stage cleantech entrepreneurs to help commercialize new innovations.
Spark graduates such as SkyNano and Holocene have secured millions in funding, built laboratories in the Knoxville area, and hired employees in Tennessee. Between the Spark Cleantech Accelerator and Spark Incubator, Spark has supported 29 companies that have collectively raised $77 million, hired 108 full-time employees, and supported 44 interns.
“It’s going to help the company and I tremendously. They are setting us up to be around multiple different entrepreneurial streams in Knoxville,” Washington said. “It’s a lot of insight into the day-to-day lives of entrepreneurship and the struggles that some people have faced. I think it gives us a good leg up of what we’ll be looking at in the future and how we can overcome some of those challenges.”
Starting Small Thinking Big
Although AluminAiry wants to tackle current limitations of lithium-ion technology, Washington knows it will be a long process that will require patience and strategical planning.
“Obviously electric vehicles have a lot of capital that’s been invested into lithium-ion technology, so that’s going to be a barrier that we have to overcome,” he said. “Convincing companies to get rid of all that technology is going to be tough, so we’re going to have to start small and target small scale markets in need of better energy solutions, to gain validity and some traction for our product development. Along the way, we may find out that these batteries have more optimal use cases that can help propel us to the next level.”
But Washington has faith in AluminAiry’s potential and what they can offer clients as they begin building their brand.
“We have the best performing, lab-scale aluminum air batteries of anyone else that has reported these systems up until this point,” Washington said. “We want try to develop that product and initially partner with battery manufacturing companies that can help scale the company. The first five years of our company will consist of product and research development, small scale order securement, and pilot scale demonstrations.”
Local Connections
Washington enrolled at UT knowing about the quality of the graduate programs, professors, and lab facilities on campus. But the Alabama native was surprised by how much else the area had to offer.
“I think one of the things a lot of people outside of Knoxville don’t know about is just the amount of resources that Knoxville has as far as UT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the entrepreneurial landscape,” he said. “The amount of engineering minds and smart people around that can get stuff done at all different times is so impressive. I think Knoxville is one of the best places to try to build a business. This ecosystem is a fantastic place to be.”
Given all that has transpired in the last few months, Washington is still trying to settle into his new reality. Although he couldn’t have forecasted his path to startup founder, he’s ready to make the most of his future journey.
“It honestly feels like a dream. I’m waiting to wake up any day now,” he said. “It’s all happened so fast and it’s all very exciting.”