Powering a Greener Future: Cylib’s Mission to Transform Europe’s Battery Supply Chain
As Tech Tour gears up for the highly anticipated Tech Tour Energy & Decarbonisation 2024 event in Essen, we’re thrilled to spotlight one of the featured speakers: Dr. Lilian Schwich, CEO of cylib. A rising star in sustainable deep tech, cylib has made impressive strides in green battery recycling, helping to close critical gaps in Europe’s circular economy. With cylib, Dr. Schwich aims to secure Europe’s battery supply chains and reduce the environmental footprint of energy storage, marking a transformative shift for the industry.
TT: You are a speaker at Tech Tour Energy and Decarbonization 2024 this November – how do you envision the value this event creates?
LS: Engaging in exciting discussions with influential European investors and industry experts, including my upcoming fireside chat with our investor from Deep Tech & Climate Fonds, will provide valuable insights. This will support our collective goal of reaching circular solutions and advancing the decarbonization agenda.
TT: What keeps you up at night? What motivates you every day?
LS: I have a strong belief in Europe’s economy and the significant impact we can have towards a sustainable industry. Thriving towards this impact not only keeps me up at night but also motivates me every day.
TT: Tell us about cylib – what problem does it solve and what makes your solution unique?
LS: At cylib, we address one of the most pressing issues in the transition to renewable energy: the sustainable recycling of batteries. As the demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems grows, so does the need for an efficient and eco-friendly way to recycle the valuable materials inside batteries, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Our unique solution employs a proprietary recycling process that maximizes material recovery while significantly reducing environmental impact. This results in a carbon footprint that is 30% lower compared to conventional recycling methods and 80% lower than traditional primary extraction. What sets cylib apart is our ability to bridge cutting-edge research with industrial scalability, ensuring that our approach contributes to a truly circular economy for batteries.
TT: How did you start your journey and where are you now on the road to achieving your ambition? What was the tipping point that made you a doer and impacted your vision?
LS: My journey began during my studies and PhD at RWTH Aachen University, where I built up a battery recycling group and led international consulting projects to advance the circular economy by bridging industry and research. The tipping point came when I recognized the lack of resource efficiency in existing battery recycling methods and the urgent need for green, local battery supply chains to ensure European industry resilience. The rapid growth of cylib’s team, backing, and scale has reinforced my vision, and today we are scaling our technology at an industrial level to make sustainable battery recycling a European reality.
TT: Share with us a story of a client using your services and what influence it had on them?
LS: We recently won the Plug and Play Global Innovation Award alongside our partners Webasto and Porsche for our collaborative, future-oriented projects. This achievement showcases how quickly our teamwork can lead to meaningful impact.
TT: What is your company’s biggest achievement to date?
LS: Our biggest achievement is closing Europe’s biggest fundraising round in battery recycling. Of course, this is just the beginning of our growth.
TT: cylib recently closed a €55M Series A investment round, co-led by World Fund. Would you share with us the story of how you connected with World Fund?
World Fund and we were connected through our dear friend and first angel investor, Max Odendahl. As a founder himself, Max had successfully exited with his company, Silexica, and suggested speaking to his connections at World Fund, particularly because of their strong conviction in our market. He was right—all our hypotheses aligned perfectly, making us a great match.
TT: What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to find the lead investor on their next round?
LS: I would advise other founders to find a partner who understands the industry, believes in the market, and shares the same vision as you; this is the perfect foundation for success!
TT: How do you see cylib making a difference in the future?
LS: cylib will play a key role in reducing Europe’s reliance on imported battery materials by providing a sustainable recycling solutions, enabling to close the loop. This will strengthen industry resilience by securing critical resources for the European battery supply chain. By promoting a circular economy, we’re also contributing to a more sustainable habitat, reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition to cleaner energy.
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As cylib continues its journey toward making sustainable battery recycling a European standard, Tech Tour is excited to support its mission and foster collaboration with industry leaders who share the vision of a circular, resilient, and green energy future.
Join Lilian Schwich and other sustainability pioneers at Tech Tour Energy & Decarbonisation 2024 in Essen, where conversations on circular solutions, decarbonization, and investment will shape the future of Europe’s energy ecosystem. Stay connected with our mission by subscribing to our newsletter below.
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