Energy Transition Fellow
Alexander Girau, CEO at Group1
Alexander Girau is the CEO and Co-founder of Group1, the first company commercializing potassium-ion battery technology—a critical-mineral-free alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. A recognized leader in energy security and advanced materials, Girau has worked on two Nobel Prize-winning technologies—quantum dots and lithium-ion batteries—both made possible by groundbreaking material innovations. He is now spearheading the commercialization of a next-generation battery material from the lab of UT-Austin Professor Nobel Laureate John Goodenough, co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery. Girau’s strategic focus on bolstering the global energy supply chain has seen him raise over $40 million in venture capital for advanced material startups. Earlier in his career, he worked as a chemical process engineer for several of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, helping to design and improve over $2 billion in downstream refineries and upstream oil platforms. He is also a named inventor on 17 granted patents and holds exclusive IP rights for his companies to more than 25 patents from institutions such as Tulane University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Sharp Corporation Japan. As CEO of two high-tech ventures, Girau has built robust business models around battery technologies critical to the energy transition, driving sustainable and secure power solutions. His commitment to decarbonization and resilience underpins his leadership style, ensuring that next-generation battery platforms address both environmental and security challenges. Girau earned an M.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Tulane University, where he was pursuing a Ph.D. before launching a silicon battery material startup based on core technology from his research. He also holds a B.S. in Chemistry (Honors) and Mathematics from Loyola University New Orleans. An alumnus of Y Combinator—the renowned Silicon Valley accelerator—Girau is a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund and an Energy Transition Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute, where he continues to advance the role of energy storage and security in a sustainable future.