We are excited to announce an investment into florrent, a Massachusetts-based, minority-owned climate hardware company that exemplifies the intersection of cutting-edge technology and social impact. Founded by Jose LaSalle (CEO), Alex Nichols (CTO), and Joe Hastry (Director of Finance & Operations), florrent is pioneering high-performance supercapacitors that enhance grid stability, battery life, and backup power—critical infrastructure for the clean energy transition.

Jose LaSalle, florrent’s CEO, said the following about the impact of BII’s investment at this stage, “With the support of BII’s investment, this funding will accelerate the production scale-up of our next-generation activated carbon material and supercapacitor solutions. As the electrical grid undergoes its most significant transformation in over a century, florrent’s technology provides a crucial solution to provide stability to communities and businesses in need of reliable power. We’re grateful for BII’s continual backing of florrent!”

What sets florrent apart is their innovative approach to both technology and supply chain. The company’s unique activated carbon material is made from regenerative biomass—specifically pecan shells—sourced exclusively from Black and Indigenous farmers across the U.S. This creates a fully domestic supply chain that supports regenerative agricultural practices while reducing transportation emissions and channeling climate investment into historically under-resourced communities.

Since BII’s initial investment in 2022, florrent has made remarkable progress, advancing from R&D to early commercialization. The company has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6), validating their technology in real-world settings and winning a contract with a major market player, positioning them for wider market deployment.

florrent’s commitment to social impact extends beyond their supply chain. As of April 2025, 58% of the company’s team identifies as BIPOC and 33% as female or non-binary—remarkable diversity in a sector where representation remains limited. Through partnerships with workforce development programs like MassCEC, they’re expanding access to clean energy jobs, particularly in Western Massachusetts where their manufacturing operations are based.

This Seed-2 round represents BII’s third investment in florrent, following our 2022 and 2024 investments. This additional funding will advance critical pilot projects and unlock new pilot customers, accelerating key commercialization milestones and strengthening florrent’s positioning ahead of their next institutional raise.

florrent demonstrates that climate solutions can simultaneously address environmental challenges and social equity. We’re proud to continue supporting this innovative team as they scale technology that’s not only technically superior but also builds a more just and sustainable supply chain.

Read more from florrent about their $9.5 Million Seed-2 Raise.