From Engineer to Eco-Warrior: How Vishal Gupta, Co-Founder and CTO of MaxVolt Energy, is Revolutionising Lithium Battery Tech

In celebration of Engineer’s Day, StartupTalky explores the journey of Vishal Gupta, Co-Founder and CTO of MaxVolt Energy, as he transitions from engineering to entrepreneurship. Driven by a passion for eco-friendly innovations, Gupta entered the lithium battery industry, focusing on sustainable energy solutions. In this interview, he discusses MaxVolt Energy’s advanced technologies, including Active Balancers and recycling efforts, along with the strategies that helped secure their initial customers. Gupta also addresses the challenges faced early on and how MaxVolt Energy overcame them to become a key player in the evolving energy storage market.

StartupTalky: What motivated you to move from engineering to entrepreneurship, and what key steps did you take to start your company?

Mr. Gupta: The transition from being an engineer to becoming an entrepreneur was primarily driven by the urge to address particular concerns, making innovations that are eco-friendly and help sustain the environment. Engineering made me skilled in innovation, and more importantly, problem-solving, which steered me towards entrepreneurship. The necessary key steps include recognizing an issue, building a prototype or minimum viable product (MVP), formulating a business opportunity, performing some research, and devising a business strategy.

Finally, more focus was given to product development – starting with a minimum viable product, taking feedback, listening to the consumers, and building up the business. I have enjoyed utilising my technical abilities in managing a business and appreciate the complexity involved in the process.

StartupTalky: Why did you choose the lithium battery industry, and what trends or opportunities do you see shaping its future?

Mr. Gupta: The fact behind choosing this industry was my personal interest in Lithium Batteries and its manufacturing and recycling alongside the increasing market demand in the ecologically-friendly energy segment. Further, our expertise in this industry enables us to make new innovations in technical areas such as battery design and management.

While peeking into the future, one can notice trends such as the optimization of energy storage, advancements in recycling, and the constant developments in the EV sector. The opportunities I see in shaping the future to make our environment more eco-friendly will be helpful in controlling pollution caused by ICE vehicles. Additionally, by recycling lithium batteries, we can use them again and again by just charging.

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StartupTalky: What does MaxVolt Energy do, and what real-world problem does your technology solve?

Mr. Gupta: Our core business is the production and recycling of lithium batteries. We employ technologies that solve real-world problems in the energy storage domain through Heat Management, Active Battery Control, Battery Longevity, and Battery Endurance. Our goal is to minimize waste and improve the sustainability of the lithium battery packs by considering how these can be reused or recycled.

StartupTalky: Tell us about the core technology behind MaxVolt Energy's products or services and how it stands out from others in the market.

Mr. Gupta: The core technology behind our products and services includes Active Balancers which basically work to improve the battery capacity and its fire resistance. Our batteries are equipped with features like over-temperature alarms and a sleep switch, especially when the battery is not being charged. Our products stand out from others in the market when it comes to service. We have added propositions by offering onsite support to more than 19,000 pin codes and a take-back facility on old battery packs to our clients.

StartupTalky: How did you secure your initial customers, and what strategies worked best to gain their trust and business?

Mr. Gupta: The initial customers were obtained by creating product awareness among them and emphasizing the value of the technology. By using lithium batteries, they can save money, which they are going to spend on fuel if they have petrol or diesel vehicles. The strategies worked for us, like the use of success stories and customer references, providing exceptional support, building a strong online presence, and building healthy relationships. These are the major strategies for generating early leads.

StartupTalky: What were the main challenges you faced early on, and how did you overcome them?

Mr. Gupta: The main challenges faced in the early stages were limited availability of raw materials, high costs, and hefty investments in technological advancements. However, the government's focus on renewable energy presents significant opportunities like tax credits and tenders for energy storage projects. MaxVolt Energy Industries positions itself as a key player by leveraging these opportunities, particularly through strategic partnerships and innovations that address the cost and supply chain challenges, ensuring we remain at the forefront of this evolving industry.

StartupTalky: What tools or software are key to your business operations, and how do they help improve efficiency?

Mr. Gupta: Our production involves using a system called ERP, which assists in managing stocks, regulating waste in raw materials, and preparing reports. It has the ability to track inventory quantities of various warehouses and never let a particular material be below a specific level provided by this system. The application of the ERP solution has enhanced our day to day operations as it reduces time and cuts the cost involved.

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