In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Evan M. Erickson, CEO of TexPower, to discuss how the company is commercializing cobalt-free lithium-ion battery technology that delivers higher energy density without sacrificing safety, cycle life, or compatibility with existing systems. Evan shares his journey from fuel cells to battery chemistry through UT Austin and world-renowned researcher Prof. Arumugam Manthiram, and how SBIR funding helped TexPower spin out of the university. We dive into why cobalt-free cathodes are so challenging and important, how the team managed technical, market, and funding risk, the role of Houston’s Techbridge in accelerating development, the impact of the IRA on U.S. battery deployment, and the realities of building a deep-tech startup while raising a young family.

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