Rishi Srivastava (Offgrid Energy Labs): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Rishi Srivastava is a prominent Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of Offgrid Energy Labs, an innovative battery technology startup focused on developing safe, sustainable, and cost-effective energy storage solutions. Founded in 2018 alongside a team of engineers from IIT Kanpur, including Tejas Kusurkar, Brindan Tulachan, and Ankur Agarwal, Srivastava has played a pivotal role in pushing the frontiers of clean energy with proprietary ZincGel® zinc-bromine gel battery technology. This breakthrough technology offers a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, aiming to reduce reliance on scarce and expensive materials while enhancing sustainability for stationary energy storage applications. Explore the story behind Srivastava’s venture and discover key facets about his contributions, innovations, and vision for a renewable, electrified future.

1. Co-Founder of Offgrid Energy Labs

Rishi Srivastava is a co-founder of Offgrid Energy Labs, established in 2018 with fellow IIT Kanpur alumni. The startup emerged from a shared vision to reinvent energy storage technology by addressing the safety, environmental, and cost challenges posed by conventional lithium-ion batteries. Srivastava's leadership has helped steer Offgrid Energy Labs from an initial tinkering lab in Noida to securing significant funding and global recognition. His role encompasses driving business strategy and championing the startup's mission to support India’s renewable energy goals through breakthrough battery technology.

2. Development of ZincGel® Battery Technology

Under Srivastava’s stewardship, Offgrid Energy Labs has developed ZincGel®, a zinc-bromine gel battery system that serves as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for stationary applications. This technology is distinguished by its use of abundant, non-toxic materials and patented electrolyte formulations, providing scalable, durable, and environmentally friendly energy storage. ZincGel batteries offer up to 6 to 12 hours of discharge capability with a lifecycle significantly longer than current solutions. This innovation is positioned to tackle critical energy storage challenges for grids, industry, and off-grid applications.

3. Strategic Fundraising and Growth

Rishi Srivastava played a key role in raising $15 million in Series A funding in 2025, led by Archean Chemical Industries with participation from Ankur Capital and others. This investment is catalyzing Offgrid Energy Labs’ expansion, including the establishment of a 10 MWh demonstration manufacturing facility in the UK, a precursor to a gigafactory-scale plant in India. The funding milestone validates the commercial potential and investor confidence in Srivastava’s vision of a lithium-independent battery ecosystem.

4. Vision for Reducing Lithium Dependence

A core motivation for Srivastava is minimizing global reliance on lithium-ion batteries, which currently dominate but face supply chain risks, high costs, and environmental concerns. The zinc-based chemistry in Offgrid’s ZincGel offers a safer, more affordable, and geopolitically democratic alternative using locally abundant materials. Srivastava emphasizes that ZincGel’s design supports India’s targeted 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 by facilitating grid stability and clean energy integration without heavy dependence on imports.

5. Emphasis on Environmental Sustainability

Rishi Srivastava advocates for battery technologies that prioritize environmental sustainability. ZincGel batteries developed under his guidance require less energy to manufacture and incorporate recyclable components, reducing the ecological footprint of energy storage systems. Furthermore, the company's manufacturing approach aims to cut carbon emissions by approximately 50% compared to traditional lithium battery gigafactories, reflecting Srivastava’s commitment to embedding sustainability at the core of innovation.

6. Overcoming Technical and Market Challenges

Srivastava’s leadership has navigated technical challenges inherent in developing new battery chemistries, such as ensuring temperature stability, self-healing electrolytes, and fast charge-discharge cycles. Offgrid Energy Labs’ patents—more than 50 intellectual property assets globally—highlight their innovative solutions. Srivastava stresses designing batteries that operate effectively even under extreme temperatures (down to -10°C), making them suitable across diverse geographic and industrial applications.

7. Supporting India’s Energy Transition

Offgrid Energy Labs and Srivastava are instrumental in supporting India’s ambitious energy transition. With India projected to need over 236 GWh of battery storage by 2032, Srivastava’s work directly contributes to meeting this demand. His efforts in commercializing ZincGel suggest a future where sustainable, local energy storage solutions play a decisive role in India’s renewable integration, industrial net-zero ambitions, and decentralized off-grid energy access.

8. Industry Recognition and Partnerships

Srivastava has positioned Offgrid Energy Labs as a key player in the Indian and global energy storage sector by forging partnerships with investors, chemical manufacturers, and clean-tech ecosystems. Collaboration with Archean Chemical Industries, a global bromide manufacturer, and support from Ankur Capital and Shell Ventures are examples reflecting confidence in Srivastava’s team. These alliances accelerate scaling ZincGel technology and expanding market reach.

9. Future Prospects: UK and Indian Manufacturing

Srivastava is spearheading plans to commercialize ZincGel at scale by first establishing a demonstration manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. This site will showcase the technology’s performance and manufacturing efficiency with a small carbon footprint. Following this, a gigawatt-scale plant is planned in India, reflecting Srivastava’s vision to create an indigenous, scalable battery production infrastructure capable of serving both domestic and global demand.

10. Commitment to Deep Tech Innovation

Rishi Srivastava embodies the spirit of deep technology entrepreneurship, combining scientific rigor with commercial strategy. His journey highlights how sustained research and development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and intellectual property development can lead to breakthrough innovations. Srivastava’s work signals a new era in energy storage technology, with the potential to transform the global energy landscape and inspire a more sustainable future.

Conclusion

Rishi Srivastava stands out as a visionary entrepreneur driving transformative change in the energy storage sector through Offgrid Energy Labs. His commitment to sustainable, affordable, and scalable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries reflects a profound response to the world’s pressing energy and environmental challenges. By pioneering ZincGel technology, raising significant capital, and preparing manufacturing footprints across continents, Srivastava is helping usher in a future where renewable energy is more accessible, reliable, and green. His work continues to inspire innovation and signals the critical role of Indian deep-tech ventures in the global clean energy transition. How will innovations like Srivastava’s reshape the energy economies of tomorrow?