Alexander Girau
Energy Transition Fellow at Energy Institute
Austin, Texas
Overview
Work Experience
CEO and Co-Founder
2021 - Current
Building America’s next battery platform — engineered for the AI era. Group1 is commercializing the world’s first potassium-ion battery: non-flammable, critical-mineral-free, and U.S.-made. We’re solving the power gap driven by AI and data center growth with the first battery platform built for national security, scale, and sustainability. Currently piloting systems with hyperscalers and industrial partners. This is more than a chemistry breakthrough — it’s a blueprint for reindustrializing energy storage in America. Our roots trace back to Nobel Laureate JB Goodenough. But what we’re building goes beyond: a safer, U.S.-made alternative to lithium-ion — designed to anchor the next energy future.
Advanced material and battery technology firm focusing on accelerated commercialization of Potassium-ion batteries
Raised $5,850,000.00 from NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR).
Energy Transition Fellow
2022
Bridging energy, deep tech, and industrial strategy at the national level. Serving as a senior fellow at UT’s Energy Institute, helping shape U.S. reindustrialization strategy through work on battery supply chains, grid modernization, and domestic energy policy — in the context of AI-driven infrastructure growth. I bring founder-level execution to national policy and energy systems design.
Advisor to the CEO
2025
Re-engaged to support Advano’s commercial reboot — focused on strategy, product, and positioning. Founded Advano to scale silicon anode tech from lab concept to pilot production. Raised $28M+, built a 30+ patent portfolio, and scaled the company to 40 employees. Now advising the CEO on rebooting the company for commercial relevance — including product refinement, technology roadmap, IP repositioning, and market strategy.
Founder
2013 - 2025
CEO and Founder
2017 - 2021
Advano is a New Orleans-based company delivering a scalable silicon solution for lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density.
Raised $46,273,400.00 from Boot64 Ventures, AAF Management Ltd., Y Combinator, Bradley Horowitz, Wavemaker Partners, Future Shape, DCVC, Thiel Capital, PeopleFund and New Orleans BioFund.
Senior Venture Partner
2017 - 2024
Backing the next generation of YC founders.
Visiting Research Scientist
2013 - 2017
Advanced early materials R&D while laying the groundwork for Advano.
Senior Chemical Engineer
2012 - 2013
Designed over $2B of energy infrastructure + chemical process engineering before going all-in on deep tech.
PhD Research Assistant
2010 - 2012
Pioneered nanomaterial applications in biotech — the seed of my founder journey.
CEO and Founder
2011 - 2012
First founder experience: solar-enabled water purification for global health.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
2006 - 2010
Designed real-time aerosolized nanoparticle diagnostics for Deepwater Horizon response — my first taste of building hard tech for real-world impact.