Infinion Technology

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Industry: Battery Recycling

MBA Founding Student Name(s): Joseph Kao & Yutong Zhu

Brief Description of Solution: Infinion offers a comprehensive B2B marketplace that helps sellers of used lithium-ion batteries—such as EV dealers, junkyards, and stationary battery owners—maximize the value of their assets. Our machine learning-driven platform quickly assesses battery worth, providing resale options beyond traditional recycling to optimize financial returns and environmental impact.

What sets us apart is our on-site pre-sorting services, which use advanced diagnostics and disassembly solutions to assess battery health and enable efficient disassembly. By sorting batteries based on condition at pickup, we direct each type to the highest-paying buyers, eliminating warehousing, cutting logistics costs, and speeding up transactions. This real-time validation builds trust between buyers and sellers, streamlining the resale process and unlocking the full financial and environmental potential of used batteries.

Funding Dollars: $110,000 grant & $100,000 SAFEs

What led you to launch this venture? Recycling may be about sustainability today, but for my grandmother, it was about survival. Growing up, I listened to her stories of turning trash into resources during the Chinese Civil War. She taught me that waste could be transformed into something valuable, a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life. Her resilience inspired me to become a materials scientist, always searching for ways to turn what we discard into something useful.

That belief deepened during my work advising Apple’s Zero Waste Initiative. I saw firsthand how businesses can reduce waste and transform materials into resources. However, I also realized that one of the next great environmental threats is lithium-ion battery waste. Millions of batteries, used to power electric vehicles and renewable energy projects will be ending up in landfills, contributing to toxic pollution. I knew we didn’t have to sacrifice carbon reduction for environmental harm—we can solve both.

That’s why I founded Infinion. Our mission is to divert 1 million lithium-ion batteries from landfills by 2033, repurposing and recycling them to create a more sustainable future. Inspired by my grandmother’s lessons and leaders like JB Straubel, Infinion is my way of turning waste into opportunity—just as she did.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far with venture? Our biggest accomplishment so far has been diverting more than 200 kWh of lithium-ion battery waste from landfills to recyclers and repurposers. This has allowed us to provide affordable energy storage solutions to local communities in the U.S. and renewable project developers in the developing world. While this is just the beginning of what we hope to achieve, we are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve already made in promoting community health and energy justice. By ensuring that these batteries are reused instead of becoming toxic waste, we’re proving that sustainable solutions can also drive equitable access to clean energy.

What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced in creating your company and how did you solve it? The most significant challenge in creating Infinion has been defining our product in a rapidly-evolving lithium-ion battery recycling market. As we interviewed stakeholders across the value chain, we often encountered vague responses since the market direction remains uncertain. To address this, we focused on deepening and narrowing our research, conducting over 300 interviews to uncover pain points in the current supply chain. This process helped us develop our unique value proposition and solidify our vision for Infinion. It also allowed us to realize our role as pioneers in shaping how lithium-ion battery waste will be managed in the coming decades.

How has your MBA program helped you further this startup venture? The GSB’s tight-knit entrepreneurship community has been pivotal in advancing my startup. At the GSB, there’s a unique culture where “GSB founders help GSB founders.” This network connected me to invaluable mentors, funding, and accelerator resources, all of which have helped me navigate the complexities of building a business. The continuous support from peers, faculty, and alumni provided real-time feedback that has been crucial in refining and strengthening my business model.

In addition, courses like Startup Garage and Stanford Climate Ventures equipped me with essential design thinking skills—engaging customers, understanding their needs, developing prototypes, and even securing letters of support. This combination of practical tools and a deeply supportive network has positioned my venture for long-term success.

What founder or entrepreneur inspired you to start your own entrepreneurial journey? How did he or she prove motivational to you? I still remember reading about JB Straubel’s journey in founding Redwood Materials during the pandemic, which has since inspired me greatly. His groundbreaking vision to create one of the first lithium-ion battery recycling startups in the U.S. was bold, especially when many considered him crazy. His commitment to a sustainable future aligns with my belief in circular economies and motivates me to confront the challenges of battery waste and drive meaningful change in the industry.Top of Form

Which MBA class has been most valuable in building your startup and what was the biggest lesson you gained from it? The most valuable class in building Infinion has been Stanford Climate Ventures. This course emphasized the crucial role that a strong team plays in the success of a startup. We were required to form a team of at least five members and lead them through an intense 10-week sprint, where various challenges arose. My experience leading Infinion in this class highlighted that, in addition to complementary skill sets, the values and culture we cultivate within our startup team significantly impact performance. It was also during this class that I met my co-founder, which further underscores the importance of collaboration and shared vision in entrepreneurship.

What professor made a significant contribution to your plans and why? Professor Debbie Senesky and Professor Simona Onori have been instrumental in my journey. They have been providing invaluable support as I develop innovative hardware and software battery diagnostics solutions that set us apart from competitors while delivering the value propositions. Additionally, Professor Stefan Reichelstein’s research on the second-life battery market has deepened my understanding of lithium-ion battery waste management beyond recycling, which is critical to our business model. Lastly, the encouragement and support from Professors Jane Woodward, Dave Danielson, Dave McColl, and Joel Moxley have empowered me to be bold and take risks to take Infinion to the next level.

How has your local startup ecosystem contributed to your venture’s development and success? The entrepreneurship ecosystem in the San Francisco Bay Area is unparalleled, playing a crucial role in my venture’s development. Climate entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners regularly host events that promote collaboration and support among innovators. These interactions have enabled me to connect with advisors and potential customers, improving Infinion’s operational and go-to-market strategies. This experience has underscored the power of networking and the importance of leveraging diverse resources, reinforcing the idea that building a company is a collective journey, not a solitary endeavor.

What is your long-term goal with your startup? My long-term goal for Infinion is to establish it as the leading company for used lithium-ion battery resale and management. We aim to divert over one million lithium-ion batteries from landfills by 2033, focusing on recycling, reuse, or repurposing to ensure community health, promote energy justice, and reduce carbon emissions associated with mining. Furthermore, I aspire to collaborate with industry partners to shape battery recycling and battery passport regulations at both the state and federal levels to ensure a more sustainable future.

Looking back, what is the biggest lesson you wished you’d known before launching and scaling your venture? Looking back, the biggest lesson I wish I had known is the importance of having a “just do it” mindset and diving in to gain hands-on experience. While iterating the prototype with customers is a key step in design thinking, it’s not always the most efficient way to understand market needs, especially in an emerging industry. I found that even completing one trade of used batteries taught me more than countless interviews or theoretical exercises. That real-world experience was invaluable and gave me the insights I needed to better shape and scale the venture.

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