Cellmates by Lumicity

Mike Norton and Jackson Lyons
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Cellmates provides a focused, expert-led exploration into battery tech, energy and storage in the US renewable energy sector - whether materials, manufacturing, testing & analytics, business models, policy, or recycling. Co-hosts Mike and Jackson talk with the brightest minds in battery tech; featuring in-depth conversations with engineers, founders, researchers, and experts shaping the energy transition. Key topics include battery innovation, grid-scale storage, clean energy policy, supply chain challenges, and the role of energy storage in decarbonization. www.linkedin.com/company/lumicity/

  1. Chaitanya, Nascent Materials - Building the Battery Supply Chain the West Actually Needs

    5D AGO

    Chaitanya, Nascent Materials - Building the Battery Supply Chain the West Actually Needs

    Battery cathode materials startup Nascent Materials: founded by a former Tesla Gigafactory engineer fixing the supply problem he saw from the inside. Mike Norton and Jackson Lyons kick off Series 8 with Chaitanya Sharma, founder and CEO of Nascent Materials - a battery cathode materials startup based in Newark, New Jersey, that just closed its seed round. Chaitanya's CV is unlike most founders in this space. He was one of the first engineers hired at Tesla's original Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada - the facility where the term Gigafactory was literally coined. From there: a stint at Lithium Americas working on novel lithium extraction from soil deposits in Nevada, then co-building Imperium 3 New York - a ground-up Gigafactory startup in upstate New York. Every step pointed to the same problem: getting hold of consistently high-quality cathode materials is one of the hardest things a battery startup has to do. Nascent Materials exists to change that. In this episode: Why materials control ~80% of a battery cell's cost - and yet get a fraction of the attention The brutal reality of scaling up from lab to production - why a process that works perfectly in a small container can fail completely in a larger one Why the Western world can't simply copy the Chinese manufacturing model - the raw materials, labor structures, and government support systems are fundamentally different How Nascent is designing cathode materials with the end-use case embedded from day one, drawing on Chaitanya's experience running factories that consume these materials Closing a seed round in a tough investment climate - and why the technology spoke for itself What it actually means to be a CEO: speaking every department's language and aligning your whole team behind the mission If you work in battery manufacturing, materials supply chains, or you're building a deep tech startup and want a masterclass in thinking from the ground up - this is the episode. Chaitanya Sharma | LinkedIn (35) Nascent Materials: Overview | LinkedIn

    31 min

  2. 12/16/2025

    CIBI Episode 7: What’s Next for CIBI

    In this closing episode, we sit down with Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri to reflect on the major themes of the series and look ahead to the future of CIBI. We cover: Key learnings from across the series Why the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation is central to South Carolina's energy strategy The power of partnerships and ecosystem building A vision for the future of US Battery InnovationCIBI University of South Carolina

    31 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    CIBI Ep.6 - Phenogy and the Power of Partnerships

    This episode spotlights Phenogy, with CEO PeterBraun and Director North America Suzanne Dickerson,exploring how industry partnerships accelerate energy storage innovation. CIBI University of South Carolina

    35 min

  4. 11/18/2025

    CIBI Episode 5: Strategic Partnership Spotlight: Siemens

    In this week's episode, we speak with Sam Phillips, Digital Strategies Lead at Siemens, about the company’s role in driving innovation at the intersection of research and industry.  We cover: CIBI University of South Carolina

    30 min

  5. 11/04/2025

    CIBI Episode 4: Building South Carolina’s Clean Energy Ecosystem – Inside SC Nexus with Cristina Paredes

    This week's exciting episode spotlights SC Nexus, a key player in building the collaborative ecosystem surrounding CIBI.   We talk with one of the most informed and influential women in South Carolina, Cristina Paredes (Executive Director of SC Nexus) covering: How SC Nexus connects research, industry, and investment The strategic importance of ecosystem thinking for energy innovation South Carolina's role in strengthening US clean energy leadership CIBI University of South Carolina

    26 min

  6. 10/21/2025

    CIBI Episode 3 - Alumni Success: Guiding a Fast Growing Industry

    This week's episode highlights how USC alumni are driving impact across national labs and industry. We hear from: Drew Pereira, NREL – early-career researcher at the frontline of battery R&D Will Rigdon, Stanley Black & Decker – mid-career leader bridging engineering and real-world deployment Venkat Srinivasan, Argonne National Lab – late-career visionary shaping the national research agenda for energy storage Key themes: How USC talent is contributing to global battery leadership Bridging academic research, government labs, and industry Alumni insights on scaling innovation in a fast-moving sector CIBI  University of South Carolina

    1h 2m

  7. 10/07/2025

    CIBI Episode 2 – USC Research: Faculty at the Forefront of Innovation

    In Episode 2 of our CIBI Series, we turn the spotlight on the University of South Carolina (USC) faculty driving battery and energy storage research forward. This episode explores how researchers at different career stages — from early-career innovators to established leaders — are shaping the growth of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation (CIBI). You’ll hear insights from: Goli Jalilvand – early-career researcher leading fresh approaches in energy storage innovation Xinyu Huang – mid-career faculty member advancing applied battery science and technology Ralph White & Adel Nasiri – late-career experts whose decades of research, mentorship, and leadership continue to influence global energy storage research Key themes covered include: How diverse perspectives strengthen USC’s research community The role of faculty in connecting cutting-edge science with industry needs USC’s long-standing leadership in energy storage research and its central role in CIBI’s growth This conversation highlights why the University of South Carolina remains a cornerstone of U.S. battery research and how faculty expertise is powering the future of clean energy innovation.

    50 min
  8. NENY Charge Up Series: Part 1 - The cohort

    09/25/2025

    NENY Charge Up Series: Part 1 - The cohort

    In this episode, we speak with the leaders of 6 companies driving innovation in battery technology and energy storage, and carefully selected for the NENY Charge Up Accelerator. Amel Energy – non-toxic solvents and PFAS-free binders for sustainable lithium-ion manufacturing Valgotech – developing lithium–sulfur batteries to diversify and secure supply chains FastLion Energy (FLE) – improving performance and efficiency of next-generation batteries vsNew – scaling solutions for U.S. battery manufacturing capacity Coulomb Technology – advancing smarter tools for battery monitoring and integration LiBAMA Power – innovating new approaches in energy storage and power systems The NENY Charge Up Accelerator provides funding, lab access, mentorship, and ecosystem connections, supporting startups across four pillars: Innovation, Workforce Development, Equity & Justice, and Supply Chain.

    1h 15m
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About

Cellmates provides a focused, expert-led exploration into battery tech, energy and storage in the US renewable energy sector - whether materials, manufacturing, testing & analytics, business models, policy, or recycling. Co-hosts Mike and Jackson talk with the brightest minds in battery tech; featuring in-depth conversations with engineers, founders, researchers, and experts shaping the energy transition. Key topics include battery innovation, grid-scale storage, clean energy policy, supply chain challenges, and the role of energy storage in decarbonization. www.linkedin.com/company/lumicity/

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Norton and Jackson Lyons
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mike Norton and Jackson Lyons
  • Show Website
    Cellmates by Lumicity