Grant
$7.9m
Next generation battery manufacturing gets funding boost
ARENA awards Li-S Energy $7.86 million to advance lithium-sulfur battery production studies toward a proposed large-scale cell facility.
Startup · $31.5m raised
Li-S Energy
Geelong, VIC
Funding history
-
IPO : $34,000,000
-
Grant : $1,900,000
-
Grant : $7,860,000
-
Grant : $1,700,000
-
Unnamed stage : $20,000,000Reported valuation $300,000,000 post-money per the original report, not confirmed by the company.
Investors
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round Li-S Energy raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) | Grant · Grant · Grant | $9,560,000 |
| Industry Growth Program | Grant | $1,760,000 |
Who bought Li-S Energy
The transaction that ended Li-S Energy's run as a startup, per published coverage. It closes the funding history too, where it is the ladder's last rung.
| Bought by | Kind | Announced | Price | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | IPO | 28 Sep 2021 | $544m | @AuManufacturing (Mon 25 Oct 2021), @AuManufacturing (Wed 29 Sep 2021), Startup Daily |
What Li-S Energy bought
Companies Li-S Energy acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
People
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Francis | Non-executive Director | @AuManufacturing |
| Marc Fenton | Non-executive Director (former) | @AuManufacturing |
| Dr Steve Rowlands | CTO | @AuManufacturing (Fri 11 Jul 2025), @AuManufacturing (Mon 28 Oct 2024) |
| Dr Lee Finnlear | CEO | @AuManufacturing |
| Dr Lee Finniear | CEO and Managing Director (former) | ARENA, RenewEconomy (Thu 19 Feb 2026), RenewEconomy (Thu 19 Feb 2026), RenewEconomy (Tue 18 Nov 2025), RenewEconomy (Tue 18 Nov 2025), @AuManufacturing (Fri 11 Jul 2025), @AuManufacturing (Mon 28 Oct 2024), RenewEconomy (Mon 12 Aug 2024), @AuManufacturing (Sun 11 Aug 2024), @AuManufacturing (Wed 29 Sep 2021), Startup Daily |
| Ben Spincer | Chair | @AuManufacturing |
Coverage
Stories naming Li-S Energy. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
5 deals
Arena backs Australian factory featuring “breakthrough” in battery storage powders
VSPC, Livium's battery subsidiary, wins a $30 million ARENA grant toward a cathode powder demonstration plant; the piece also recalls funding for AnteoTech, Li-S, Novonix and Energy Storage Industries, plus Redflow's administration.
Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy
Funding announcement
Li-S Energy reports breakthrough in drone battery technology
An Australian battery maker shared drone flight test results for its lithium-sulfur cells, alongside mentions of two earlier grants, a new Geelong plant and its cash position.
Key hire
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Roundup of manufacturing briefs: FBR's US venture option with CRH lapses, Li-S Energy appoints Rick Francis to its board as a director departs, plus sponsorship, TAFE funding, rate commentary and a hydrogen collaboration.
Funding announcement
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Manufacturing roundup: Noizend's grants and UTS work, PPK's planned Li-S share distribution, a Bathurst recycling trial, Aurecon's CETRI role, an ELA regulatory hire, BioPak's OzHarvest support, and ANSTO's reactor restart.
5 deals
Australian battery maker opens first facility in Victoria, lands federal funds for expansion
Battery maker Li-S Energy has opened its Geelong pouch cell facility and won a $1.7 million federal Industry Growth Program grant for a lithium foil line; four other firms also received IGP grants.
Grant
Industry Growth Program funds flow to commercialise technology
First grants from the federal Industry Growth Program include battery developer Li-S Energy, announced as Minister Ed Husic opened its Geelong facility. The $392 million program feeds the National Reconstruction Fund.
Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy
Funding announcement
Three businesses from a single entrepreneurial company get federal grants
Three unnamed subsidiaries of listed technology company PPK Group have received federal grants through Deakin University's renewable energy commercialisation hub, with market valuations noted for PPK and its Li-S subsidiary.
2 deals
Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: Hemideina's $10 million raise, ARENA funding an electric bus fleet trial, Pure Hydrogen taking a stake in H2X, plus updates on Carbon Revolution, Li-S Energy and Lynas.
Exit / M&A
Shares in battery tech company Li-S Energy jumped more than 250% on debut
Battery developer Li-S Energy debuted on the ASX, with shares surging as much as 250% intraday, after its IPO raised $34 million at a $544 million valuation, ending the day worth about $1.5 billion.
Unnamed stage
$20m+
Li-S energy plans lithium sulphur battery production in Geelong
Deakin University and Li-S Energy will produce lithium-sulphur batteries in Geelong at a new $20 million facility; the startup recently raised over $20 million and plans a public listing.
Also @AuManufacturing
Unnamed stage
$20m
Li-S Energy raises cash before planned listing
Battery developer Li-S Energy collected $20 million from sophisticated investors ahead of a planned stock market float, valuing the business at $300 million, with PPK, Deakin University and BNNT Technology involved in development.
Also @AuManufacturing