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Flint’s Paper Battery Technology Secures US$2 Million in Seed Funding to Revolutionize the Sustainable Energy Storage Space
“This funding milestone represents years of technical breakthroughs, and now, with real-world applications on the horizon, we are laser-focused on delivering our solutions to market,” said Mr. Carlo Charles, Founder and CEO of Flint, who has been recognized by the US State Department, the European Union, Google, TechCrunch, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Singapore government, and other esteemed institutions. “Our batteries are engineered to excel where traditional technologies fall short, and we believe they will transform industries that demand superior safety, sustainability, and flexibility.”
The funding supports commercial expansion, pilot production, and intellectual property development, positioning Flint to challenge legacy battery technologies like lithium-ion and lead-acid with cleaner, safer, and adaptive alternatives. The company is also set to roll out its first paid pilot project in the immediate future with an international customer in a diversified industry sector.
Key Highlights:
- US$2 million seed funding raised from private investors across nine countries and AI-driven VC firm Hatcher+.
- First commercial pilot project secured with a global enterprise, validating Flint’s market readiness.
- Stealth mode exit after intensive R&D and proprietary battery designs now ready for commercialization.
- Funds allocated toward pilot production, key hires, and intellectual property development.
Deep Tech Innovation: Rethinking Energy Storage
Flint’s cellulose-based paper batteries are engineered from the ground up to solve critical challenges in modern energy storage. These next-generation batteries are:
- Highly Sustainable: Using natural and non-toxic materials such as cellulose paper, zinc and manganese, Flint eliminates hazardous components used in conventional battery technologies and are fully compostable at the end of their lifecycle, making recycling easier and cheaper, minimizing electronic wastes, and reducing environmental impact.
- Inherently Safe: Explosion-proof, leak-proof, and immune to combustion risks, ensuring near-zero fire hazards even under extreme conditions.
- Flexible and Durable: Flexible and designed to maintain functionality even when punctured, bent, or damaged, allowing new form factors for various applications.
- Cost-Efficient: Leveraging low-cost input materials and scalable production processes, Flint addresses pricing concerns that have traditionally hindered the adoption of sustainable technologies.
- Scalable for Rapid Adoption: Seamlessly integrates into existing manufacturing infrastructure, lowering barriers to industrial adoption and allowing for quick scaling.
These innovations represent a fundamental shift in energy storage, laying the groundwork for smarter, safer, and more environmentally sustainable batteries. Flint’s core technology addresses both anode and cathode breakthroughs, with proprietary electrolytes and separators enhancing performance, stability, and safety under extreme conditions.
Furthermore, Flint’s proprietary innovations not only address sustainability challenges but also remove the traditional “green premium” — the higher cost often associated with environmentally friendly products. For standard battery types and applications, Flint’s inexpensive input materials and efficient production processes enable competitively priced solutions. These solutions not only match the performance of conventional batteries but also provide a “green discount”: a more sustainable product at a lower price.
Strong Market Traction with High-Value Customers
With a global energy storage market valued at US$500 billion by 2030, Flint is strategically positioned to disrupt the industry. The company’s first paid pilot project with a diversified international enterprise validates its value proposition and underscores early market traction. Flint has already attracted interest from more than 20 companies across sectors, including:
- Defense and Security
- Energy Storage Systems
- Critical Power Supply
- Consumer Electronics
- Space Applications
- Electric Vehicles (EVs)
“These discussions highlight a growing appetite for next-generation energy solutions,” said Mr. Carlo Charles. “Our cost-effectiveness is key to driving adoption at scale. We’re not just offering a sustainable option; we’re offering a better, safer, and more affordable alternative to unsustainable batteries.”
“A lower production cost is at the core of creating demand, scaling quickly, and increasing adoption rates while ensuring profitability,” said Mr. Jeremy Wee, Co-Founder of Flint. “We are no longer confined to the lab — our commercial pilots are already demonstrating the tangible impact of our innovations in real-world applications.”
Investor Confidence and Funding Roadmap
The US$2 million seed funding round which closed in October was driven by private angel investors from France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. It also saw participation from Hatcher+, a venture capital firm recognized for leveraging machine learning and AI-driven insights to identify high-potential ventures. The capital infusion will be deployed to:
- Scale pilot production capabilities
- Secure intellectual properties to safeguard proprietary technologies
- Build a world-class team of engineers and scientists
- Drive commercialization efforts with pilot customers
“This announcement marks a major milestone for us as a company, and we are very humbled by the support from our investors, who, like us, believe in a better and greener future,” said Mr. Carlo Charles.
This funding builds on Flint’s national and international recognition from TechCrunch, the Techblazer Awards, the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES), and accelerator programs by Shell and OPPO, along with grants from the Singapore government — further validating the company’s breakthrough potential.
Upcoming CES 2025 Global Launch
Flint will also showcase its prototypes and products at CES 2025 in Las Vegas from January 7th–10th, presenting to global tech leaders and strategic partners. CES is labelled the most powerful tech event in the world with more than 130,000 attendees expected.
At the end of 2023, Flint made its debut on the global stage of TechCrunch’s flagship event in San Francisco, standing out as the only company from Asia among just 20 start-ups selected worldwide out of a total of more than 3,200. Building on that momentum, Flint is now ready to leverage CES 2025 as a strategic launchpad for accelerated international expansion.
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Technology
“At Flint, we aim to do more than build better batteries — we’re changing the way the world envisions energy storage,” said Carlo Charles. “By positioning ourselves at the intersection of advanced technology and sustainability, we’re addressing the climate crisis head-on. Our paper battery technology isn’t just about better performance; it’s about creating a safer, greener standard that industries can rely on. This is the future of energy, and we’re proud to be leading the way.”
Our goal is simple: to create batteries that work great and are better for the planet,” added Mr. Jeremy Wee. “We’re not just solving today’s problems — we’re preparing for tomorrow and setting new standards for what’s possible in sustainability.”
Hashtag: #Flint #FlintPaperBattery #GreenEnergy #DeepTech #SustainableInnovation #CleanTech #FutureOfEnergy #PaperBattery #EnergyStorage #StartupFunding #SeedFunding #TechInvestment #GlobalInnovation #ClimateTech #CES2025 #TechCrunchDisrupt #MadeByFlint #TechLeaders
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First female pilot in China’s Xizang (Tibet): Breaking boundaries in a male-dominated sector
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China, the labor force participation rate of Chinese women has risen from 7.5 percent in 1949 to 61.1 percent in 2023. In recent years, a large number of women have played important roles in manufacturing, service, high-tech, and green industries, etc. They not only promote economic development in traditional fields but are also doing “male jobs”, with the number of female pilots, academicians, entrepreneurs, and diplomats on the rise.
Kelsang Pedron, a woman of the post-2000 generation, i.e., youths born from 2000 to 2009 in China, is the first female pilot from Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region recruited by the PLA Air Force. She has had a dream of “flying into the blue sky” since childhood. In Kelsang Pedron’s eyes, gender is no longer an obstacle on the road for women to pursue dreams. She went through the same rigorous selection and training as her male classmates before becoming a qualified fighter pilot.
“I had undergone an entire selection process and procedures to get this far, and I was determined to excel and not to be eliminated, so I studied very hard,” she said.
Kelsang Pedron has successfully completed a single test flight for a fighter aircraft, delivering excellent results in this stage of training. She said that flying has become a goal from merely a passion at the very beginning.
“I should train hard to become a fighter pilot to protect the blue skies of our motherland,” said Kelsang Pedron.
At present, there are more and more female college graduates like Kelsang Pedron. For their diverse employment needs, the Chinese government has also put forward many support measures. In September 2024, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council unveiled a set of guidelines to promote high-quality and sufficient employment by implementing the employment-first strategy, which proposed to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of women in employment and entrepreneurship, career development, skills training, occupational health, and safety, etc., and build a birth friendly employment environment.
Hashtag: #ChinaNewsService
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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GWM’s Hi4 Off-Road Family Takes Over LIWA: A Journey Through Adventure and Innovation
In the golden sands of the Liwa Desert, where the dunes stretch as far as the eye can see, the 2024 Liwa Hero Festival became the stage for Great Wall Motor (GWM) to redefine off-road excellence. With the TANK 500 leading the charge, GWM once again demonstrated its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, proving that Chinese engineering is a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
This year’s festival brought together off-road enthusiasts, automotive experts, and influencers from across the globe. Amid the desert’s demanding terrain, the TANK 500 emerged as a star, showcasing its advanced Hi4-Z hybrid platform and delivering an awe-inspiring performance that sparked global conversations across social media.
The Liwa Desert: A Test of True Off-Road Prowess
The Liwa Desert, nestled in the UAE, is home to some of the world’s most challenging off-road terrains. Renowned for its towering sand dunes like the iconic Moreeb Dune, also known as the “Tall Hill,” this desert offers a unique blend of natural beauty and extreme difficulty. Moreeb Dune rises to over 300 meters, with a slope gradient exceeding 50 degrees, making it a true test of any vehicle’s capability. Other formidable challenges include: Sabkha (Salt Flats): These deceptive, flat surfaces demand high traction control and stability due to their soft, shifting layers. Slip Faces: Sudden drops and steep inclines require precise torque distribution and power management. Deep Sand Traps: These stretches test a vehicle’s ability to maintain momentum without losing traction. Each of these features makes the Liwa Desert an unforgiving environment, ideal for proving the mettle of GWM’s off-road vehicles.
The TANK 500 turned heads at the festival, not only for its commanding design but also for its revolutionary Hi4-Z hybrid platform, which has redefined what an off-road vehicle can achieve. As the first platform of its kind, Hi4-Z combines raw power with cutting-edge hybrid efficiency, tailored specifically for extreme conditions.
Moreeb Dune, one of the most famous and steepest dunes in the Liwa Desert, rises at an almost vertical angle of 50 degrees. It’s here that the TANK 500’s Hi4-Z system truly shines, effortlessly climbing steep inclines and tackling the toughest sand conditions with its strong torque and power output. The Hi4-Z system delivers a combined power output of 715 kW, allowing the TANK 500 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds. This power, paired with a 3-speed DHT transmission, ensures seamless gear shifts and optimal performance across various terrains.
As the convoy ventures through the desert, deep sand pits, sand dune valleys, and rapid dune crossings test both the vehicles’ capabilities and the drivers’ skills. The TANK 500, with its advanced suspension system and Hi4-Z hybrid system, absorbs the shock of the deep sand valleys, providing a smooth and stable ride even in the most unpredictable conditions. The Hi4-Z platform’s torque distribution between the electric and combustion engines ensures that no terrain is too difficult to navigate. With a pure electric range of 200+ km, the TANK 500 offers an eco-friendly yet powerful solution for extended adventures. Its fast-charging capability adds 120 km of range in just 15 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime during long off-road expeditions.
Next, the spotlight shifts to the Moresha Dune Challenge, where the TANK 500 leads the pack, charging ahead with its striking red exterior. As it takes on the famous dunes, KOLs drove TANK 500s to take on some of the most challenging off-road conditions. The TANK 500’s remarkable performance is on full display, easily outpacing other vehicles, thanks to the TANK 500’s body-on-frame body structure and high-strength chassis, as they were critical in tackling steep inclines and uneven surfaces, providing unmatched durability and stability in the harsh desert environment. Meanwhile, a high-density 234 Wh/kg lithium-ion battery, the Hi4-Z platform supports superior energy efficiency and discharge power, outperforming other plug-in hybrid vehicles in its class.
Celebrating the Off-Road Family: A Festival of Innovation and Unity
The Liwa Hero Festival also provided a platform to showcase GWM’s full range of off-road vehicles, including the TANK 300, HAVAL H9, and POER series. Each model highlighted GWM’s commitment to creating vehicles that cater to diverse off-road needs, from family-friendly adventures to professional-grade challenges.
One of the event’s most anticipated moments is the User Gala, where key GWM executives, take the stage to discuss the brand’s achievements and future. As the leaders highlight the impact of GWM’s off-road family and the success of the TANK 500, KOLs share their thoughts, recapping the most memorable moments of the event.
The festival kicked off with a comprehensive exhibition of GWM’s off-road family. Influencers and KOLs provided real-time reviews, delving into the design, performance, and technological advancements of the TANK 500 and its siblings. Attendees also had the chance to interact with GWM’s technical experts, gaining insights into the mechanics behind the Hi4-Z and Hi4-T platforms.
Over 28 GWM vehicles formed a convoy, parading through the dunes and creating an awe-inspiring spectacle. The convoy’s finale featured the vehicles forming the GWM logo, symbolizing unity and innovation—a moment that quickly went viral online. The highlight of the festival saw the TANK 500 take on the legendary Moresha Dune. With its iconic red finish, the vehicle led the pack, climbing the steep incline effortlessly, thanks to its exceptional torque and power distribution. This feat solidified the TANK 500’s reputation as a true off-road champion. GWM invited enthusiasts and vehicle owners to share their personal off-road stories, creating a sense of community and global connection. Their tales, combined with live demonstrations, showcased the TANK 500’s versatility in real-world scenarios. The festival concluded with a vibrant gala, featuring local music, cuisine, and a campfire gathering. GWM executives emphasized the company’s vision for global collaboration and cultural exchange, ensuring that the TANK 500 represents not just technology but also a bridge between diverse communities.
The success of the TANK 500 at the Liwa Hero Festival marks a turning point in how Chinese vehicles are perceived globally. GWM is not merely exporting products; it is sharing a vision of off-road culture that resonates with enthusiasts worldwide.
From the deserts of the Middle East to the rugged trails of Australia and the forests of North America, GWM is integrating localized insights into its vehicle designs. This global approach ensures that each model meets the unique demands of its market while preserving its core identity as a high-performance off-road machine. As GWM continues to innovate, the TANK 500 and the Hi4-Z platform represent only the beginning of a broader strategy to lead the global off-road market. By embracing a philosophy of long-termism and professional dedication, GWM is setting new standards for hybrid technology, sustainability, and user experience.
What’s Next for GWM?
– Diverse Powertrain Options: Expanding the Hi4-Z platform to include more solutions in the Hi4 Tech Family, catering to a wide range of user preferences and environmental needs.
– Global Expansion: Establishing localized manufacturing and service centers, ensuring that GWM’s vehicles and expertise are accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.
– Community Building: Strengthening the bond between GWM and its users through immersive experiences like the Liwa Hero Festival, fostering a global community of off-road enthusiasts.
The TANK 500’s triumphant performance at the Liwa Hero Festival is more than just a milestone for GWM; it’s a call to action for off-road enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you’re scaling dunes, navigating forests, or embarking on urban adventures, GWM invites you to be part of a journey where innovation meets passion and where every terrain is a new opportunity to push boundaries.
Stay connected with GWM for more updates on its groundbreaking vehicles and initiatives. Together, we’re not just driving change—we’re redefining the future of off-roading.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/Dq3Ffni3-OU?si=Bm7JKMfYl_me9GK2
Hashtag: #GWM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Malaysia Global Business Forum membership to unlock a suite of strategic solutions
In this exciting move, timed to be part of the deeper focus on ASEAN in Malaysia, individual business people can now leverage the access and advocacy efforts of MGBF. The first 118 members will also be known as founding members. These members will receive priority access to meetings and events along with an exclusive MGBF merchandise.
The companies, trade associations and governments will still be able to engage with the MGBF on a project-by-project basis or by sponsoring a dedicated event, research project or engagement programme. This approach will ensure that the objective of each corporate sponsor is met and that the MGBF is part of a sustainable future.
Nordin Abdullah, Founding Chairman of MGBF, said, “We have seen many chambers of commerce and business councils struggle over the past few years with issues around membership renewal. It is not something we want our members to face, so we have created a lifetime membership programme for individuals. This allows individual business people and those in the corporate sector to have access to the membership benefits and have a sense of loyalty.”
MGBF empowers stakeholders at the intersection of international and Malaysian business. Through government relations, business intelligence, advocacy, media engagement, market research, networking, advisory and business matching, MGBF delivers results for individuals, corporations, trade and business associations, and national and state governments.
“This comes at an important time with Malaysia taking on the chairmanship of ASEAN. The country will see a host of high-level political visits that will be accompanied by business leaders and government officials. Business people need to be kept abreast of these developments at the ASEAN level and the other bilateral and multilateral developments which impact their business and supply chains,” continued Nordin who is a frequent speaker in international business events.
The Malaysia Global Business Forum advocates for successful outcomes for its members while providing a powerful platform to communicate with stakeholders in government, community and the broader business community. This together with an attention to detail ensures that members will see the MGBF as part of its “suite of strategic solutions” in the dynamic business environment that is Malaysia and ASEAN.
“We will take a strategic view of the various states in Malaysia. Businesses need access to the high-level decision makers in the various states. At the same time, state governments are looking to energise their business ecosystem and attract real investors to set up operations. This is a critical gap that the Malaysia Global Business Forum will endeavour to address for its members,” concluded Nordin who is also a regular commentator in the media.
The next event will be the MGBF Roundtable that will focus on the emerging area of “Corporate Community Involvement in Sports”. The goal of the roundtable is to understand the gaps in the corporate-community ecosystem and how involvement in sports by the corporate sector will create value in terms of community engagement, communication, stakeholder management and meeting corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. To sign up for this engaging event visit https://www.linkedin.com/events/mgbfroundtable-corporatecommuni7279369593976975360/.
The Malaysia Global Business Forum lifetime membership fee is RM500 plus SST for Malaysian residents and USD150 for international members. To sign up, follow this link: https://forms.gle/zquSwAXGWukZWNAw6
For more information about the Malaysia Global Business Forum, visit www.MalaysiaGlobalBusinessForum.com.
Hashtag: #MalaysiaGlobalBusinessForum
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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