COnovate announces growth

Milwaukee power pioneer COnovate has announced a number of scaling milestones. The company was founded in 2016 by UW-Milwaukee professors Dr. Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska and Dr. Carol Hirschmugl, based on their 2010 discovery of the first known form of solid carbon monoxide at room temperature.

The company is working to bring the world’s only solid form of carbon monoxide to market for use as battery anode material. The substance, when added to lithium-ion anode batteries, results in faster charge times, greater capacity and improves safety.

The growing company has expanded its professional staff, adding a Director of Process Development and Director of Lab Operations to its team. Both new hires are battery industry veterans. Additionally, the company will move from the UW-Milwaukee campus, where it has spent the last five years. In need of more space to produce greater quantities of COphite material, the startup has relocated to the Technology Innovation Center in Wauwatosa.

COnovate raised $948,000 of capital in 2021. The company was able to secure an additional $125,000 in grants during the first quarter of 2022. It received a $50,000 Bridge Grant from the UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation earmarked for equipment. COnovate also qualified for $75,000 in SBIR Advanced Phase I match funding.

To connect with this scaling startup, find them here.