Jälle Technologies, a company located in Tallinn, has obtained €2 million in pre-seed capital to further its material upcycling and battery recycling operations. In addition to grants from Enterprise Estonia (EIS) and the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK), the round also included equity investments from angel investors Andrus Purde and Priit Viru, Kiilto Ventures, 2C Ventures, EIS, and KIK (Environmental Investment Centre). Jälle specializes in turning waste graphite into materials that resemble graphene and recovering vital raw materials from lithium-ion batteries that are nearing the end of their useful lives. The money will be used by the firm to increase its technical staff, test its unique technology on an industrial scale, and expand pilot-scale manufacturing.
With lithium-ion battery end-of-life expected to reach over 230 kilotonnes yearly by 2030—a significant rise from 2020 figures—Europe is preparing for a spike in battery trash. Demand for more sophisticated and environmentally friendly recycling techniques has increased as a result of revised EU regulations that now call for a minimum recycling efficiency of 70%.
Erki Ani, CEO of Jälle Technologies: “While the whole world is geared towards electrification, energy storage needs are inevitably on the rise. What happens with these batteries once they’ve reached end of life? With Jälle we are looking a few steps ahead of the curve to be ready for the tidal wave of dead batteries. By achieving very high battery recycling efficiencies and enabling advanced applications through our graphene-like materials, we contribute to addressing Europe’s critical raw materials challenge. We’re extremely glad to have investors who share our vision. It’s not just about funding, it’s about working together to take our technology from the lab to industry.”
A science-led strategy based on studies from the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics is being used by Estonian firm Jälle Technologies to tackle this problem. Kerli Liivand, Martin Jantson, Reio Praats, Erki Ani, and Ivar Kruusenberg, the founding team, have created exclusive methods to recover vital raw elements and recycle graphite waste into products that resemble few-layer graphene. Because of their strength, conductivity, and flexibility, these ultra-thin materials are well suited for applications in industries including composite manufacturing, electronics, and energy storage.
Kerli Liivand, CTO of Jälle Technologies: “Recovering critical materials at scale is a real challenge. Our focus is on making sure what we build isn’t just great science but something the industry can rely on. Producing graphene-like materials could improve everything from composites to construction, making materials stronger, lighter, more conductive, and more efficient.”
Matti Rönkkö, Managing Partner at Kiilto Ventures: “Jälle Technologies’ vision to turn battery waste into valuable resources through cutting-edge recycling is exactly the kind of scalable, sustainability-driven innovation we want to champion.”
Hendrik Reimand, Founding Partner at 2C Ventures: “Battery recycling is no longer optional. Jälle’s team combines deep technical expertise with a clear commercialization strategy, making them exactly the type of founder-led, high-impact company we strive to support from our fund.”
Priit Viru and Andrus Purde, angel investors, also provide a great deal of experience. While Viru has a background in technology and finance and a wealth of expertise in senior leadership and growth strategies, Purde is a seasoned marketer and entrepreneur who co-founded Outfunnel.
With this additional financing, Jälle Technologies will concentrate on developing a top-tier team in Estonia, increasing pilot-scale manufacturing, and industrially testing our recycling procedures.
