TaiSan
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About
TaiSan is a Cambridge, UK–based deep-tech startup developing solid-state sodium-ion batteries for mass-market applications including e-bikes, scooters, power tools, and vehicles. Founded by CEO Sanzhar Taizhan — a former Jaguar Land Rover engineer and Kazakh national chess champion — TaiSan’s core innovation is a proprietary gel polymer electrolyte paired with a sodium-metal anode. Following its 2026 seed round, the company plans to establish manufacturing operations in Coventry alongside its existing Cambridge laboratory and begin pilot testing with manufacturers 123.
Funding History
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead | Co-investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-06 | Seed | £4.65M | Eos Advisory, Mercia Ventures (Midlands Engine Investment Fund II) | AFI Ventures, EverQuest Capital Partners, Adeline Arts & Science, Techmind, François Badelon, InnoEnergy, TSP Ventures, Exergon, Heartfelt, Innovate UK (grant) 123 |
The £4.65M announcement pivots TaiSan’s near-term focus from automotive customers to e-bikes, scooters, and power tools, backed by letters of intent with prospective customers 2.
What Investors Say
No independently sourced investor quotes for the 2026 seed round incorporated at this time.
What Founders Say
“At TaiSan, we are pushing the limits of electrochemistry in our mission to create more sustainable energy storage. While we’ve kept our most exciting breakthroughs in stealth, this funding will help us enhance the performance of sodium-ion batteries and bring the benefits to a mainstream audience.” — Sanzhar Taizhan, Founder and CEO, TaiSan 2
Sources
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Tech.eu, “UK battery materials startup TaiSan founded by chess champion raises £4.65M,” July 6, 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://tech.eu/2026/07/06/uk-battery-materials-startup-taisan-founded-by-chess-champion-raises-ps465m/↩↩
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Tech Funding News, “Sodium battery startup TaiSan, founded by a Kazakh engineer, raises £4.65M to target e-bikes over EVs,” July 6, 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://techfundingnews.com/taisan-raises-4-65m-sodium-ion-batteries/↩↩↩↩
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FinSMEs, “TaiSan Raises £4.65M in Funding,” July 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://www.finsmes.com/2026/07/taisan-raises-4-65m-in-funding.html↩↩
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Sodium Battery Hub, “TaiSan secures £4.65m for sodium-ion growth,” July 6, 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://sodiumbatteryhub.com/2026/07/06/taisan-secures-4-65m-for-sodium-ion-growth/↩