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ZincFive
ZincFive develops nickel-zinc batteries for mission-critical backup power in data centers, industrial engines, and transportation.
ZincFive
ZincFive was co-founded by Tim Hysell, who previously worked with Siemens and Philips, and later brought in CEO Tod Higinbotham from PowerGenix, where he had pioneered nickel-zinc battery technology. The company has no disclosed direct family-office affiliation; its structure is that of a venture-backed technology firm. The company focuses on three asset-class verticals: data-center UPS battery cabinets, industrial engine-starting batteries, and transportation backup power. It sells direct products including BC Series cabinets, NiZn retrofit kits (drop-in replacements for lead-acid batteries), monobloc batteries, and cylindrical cells. Named products are aimed at AI dynamic power loads and traditional IT uptime. The firm holds over 80 patents and claims its chemistry scored a 9.4/10 on Climate Impact compared to lead-acid or lithium-ion alternatives (per firm, 2025). ZincFive lists no AUM, team headcount, or office count publicly. Its board includes directors from Climate Investment (an oil-and-gas consortium-backed cleantech VC), Jeff Bornstein (former GE CFO), and Ron Hynes (former Mastercard executive). Climate Investment is a named shareholder, and the company has received recognition from TIME (America’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025) and CleanTech Breakthrough Awards (per firm, 2025). In 2025 the company published an "Annual Data Center Energy Storage Industry Insights Report" surveying global data-center operators (per firm, 2025). ZincFive’s structural differentiator is its patent-protected nickel-zinc chemistry, which it claims eliminates thermal-runaway risk — a safety advantage over lithium-ion that is especially relevant for dense data-center racks. The company sells both standalone batteries and direct drop-in retrofit kits, reducing switching costs for legacy lead-acid customers.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Tualatin
Corporate office
Tualatin, Oregon, United States
Principals
Tod Higinbotham
CEO
Marty Heimbigner
CFO
Tim Hysell
Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who leads investment decisions at ZincFive?
Tod Higinbotham serves as CEO and leads strategic direction. The board includes directors from Climate Investment, Jeff Bornstein (former GE CFO), and Ron Hynes (ex-Mastercard). No external CIO or investment committee is disclosed.
Is ZincFive a family office or a venture-backed company?
ZincFive is a venture-backed technology company, not a family office. Its primary shareholder is Climate Investment, an oil-and-gas consortium-backed cleantech VC. The company has no disclosed family-office affiliation.
What investment stages does ZincFive target?
ZincFive does not invest in other companies; it is an operating company seeking customers, not portfolio companies. Its growth-stage activity is limited to product development and commercial sales.
How does ZincFive source deal flow for its products?
ZincFive sells directly to data-center operators, industrial engine manufacturers, and transportation infrastructure providers. It does not source proprietary investment deal flow.
Which sectors does ZincFive explicitly avoid?
ZincFive does not publicly disclose avoided sectors, but its product line is limited to stationary and industrial backup power for data centers, engine starting, and transportation. It does not target consumer electronics or electric-vehicle traction batteries.
How is ZincFive related to Climate Investment?
Climate Investment is a named shareholder and holds a board seat via Director Hannah-Mei Andrews. Climate Investment is a cleantech venture capital firm backed by major oil-and-gas companies, not a family office.
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