Cleantech start-up Aceleron, specialising in battery processing and technology development, has been crowned New Business of the Year at the Birmingham Post Business Awards 2017 held last night at the ICC Birmingham.

Having joined the Cleantech for Acceleration programme in March 2017, powered by Climate-KIC and delivered at the Innovation Birmingham Campus, the company has made significant progress towards improving lives in a sustainable way through business and knowledge of the energy sector.

Providing social and renewable access to energy, Aceleron competed against two other ventures in the ‘New Business of the Year’ category, including On the Tools, community built for the construction industry, and Thalamus AI, solving real-world problems through artificial intelligence. Amrit Chandan, CEO and Founder of Aceleron and expert in Fuel Cell Technology said:

“I’ve had an interest in sustainability for a long time. Enough energy to power 11,000 homes is thrown away in the UK, we are recovering what we can from that waste stream.

Our repairable products are designed with the circular economy in mind as you can replace bits of the battery. For me growing up in Birmingham, it’s really nice having the nomination for a home award.”

The Birmingham-based company currently employs eight people in its bid to revolutionise low cost battery energy storage with an international focus and hopes to raise £250,000 through its current investment round by the end of October. Amrit added:

“The Cleantech for Acceleration programme has been great, it’s given us some early stage small grant money to help us pay for some things that we wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. The training and mentorship from the entrepreneurs in residence has been excellent.”

The Birmingham Post Business Award is not the first form of recognition received by the cleantech company, with founder Amrit being named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in January 2017.

Due to recent successes, Aceleron now plans to establish a pilot facility in Birmingham and penetrate the East African market.