The Team
We are scientists from Columbia University, Cornell, and other top-tier institutions.
We have 100+ years combined experience in chemical design, synthesis, battery fabrication, product development, engineering, and the understanding of molecular behavior.
This gives us a unique ability to invent new molecules and build devices that address battery needs.
CEO
Tom Sisto
Post Doctoral Fellowship
Columbia University
Organic Electronics
Ph.D.
University of Oregon
Organic Synthesis
CCO
Bart Riley
Industry Experience
Founder and CTO, A123 Systems
Chief Strategy Officer, QuantumScape
Founder and CEO, metalenz
Founder and CTO, Conamix
Ph.D.
Cornell University
Materials Science
CSO
Paul Evans
Post Doctoral Fellowship
Universidad Complutense
de Madrid
Organic Synthesis
Ph.D.
University of Oregon
Organic Synthesis
SR. CHEMIST
Anthony Bencivenga
M.S.
University of Pittsburgh
Organic Synthesis
Research Associate
Rutgers Office of Research
& Economic Development
R&D ENGINEER
Xuyang Zhang
Post Doctoral Researcher
University of Miami
Battery Engineering
Ph.D.
University of Miami
Flow Battery Engineering
ADVISOR
David A. Christian
Executive Vice President
Dominion Energy (Ret.)
Chief Innovation Officer
Dominion Energy (Ret.)
Chief Executive Officer
Dominion Generation (Ret.)
With over 40 years of experience in the energy sector, David provides market, product, and business strategy advice to XL Batteries.
ADVISOR
Colin Nuckolls
The Sheldon & Dorothea Buckler Professor of Chemistry
Columbia University
Organic Synthesis & Electronics
Our Story
XL Batteries was born out of observation at Columbia University in the City of New York.
While searching for novel light harvesting materials to enhance solar cells, we noticed that certain compounds were infinitely stable when charged. We found a way to apply this unique stability to inexpensive molecules in batteries that show no degradation.
With a chemist’s toolbox and a new understanding of molecular stability, our team saw an opportunity to make batteries to change the world.
Through replacement of the chemistry in flow batteries, we will bring this 40+ year old technology into the 21st century as the grid-scale storage solution of the future.
Our Partners
Jeffrey is the Chairman of the Board of Fusion Fuel Green plc (“HTOO”), a NASDAQ listed clean energy technology company focusing on the cost-effective production of green hydrogen.
Previously Jeffrey served as the Chairman and CEO of HL Acquisitions Corp.(“HL”), a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) he founded and took public in 2018. HL merged with Fusion Welcome in December 2020 to form HTOO.
Since 2012, Jeffrey has served as the Managing Member of Metropolitan Capital Partners V LLC, the investment vehicle operated by the Schwarz family office.
Jeffrey was the co-founder of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, Inc., a New York- based money management firm. He served as its Chief Investment Officer from the firm’s inception in 1992 until his retirement in 2012.
Jeffrey serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Bogen Corporation, a telecommunications equipment provider (formerly publicly traded, now privately held). He previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Molopo Energy Ltd., an Australian Stock Exchange listed, Calgary, Alberta-based oil and gas exploration and production company.
He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his MBA and his BS in Economics.
Benjamin is the Director of Investor Relations and leads North American Business Development for Fusion Fuel Green plc (“HTOO”), a NASDAQ listed clean energy technology company focusing on the cost-effective production of green hydrogen.
Previously Benjamin served as the VP of Business Development of HL Acquisitions Corp., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”). Prior to that, Benjamin spent eight years as part of Deloitte’s Corporate Strategy practice, he helped senior leadership set their corporate and business unit strategies.
He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a BA in Science, Technology & Society.
Joel serves as Managing Principal and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Gotham Asset Management, the successor to Gotham Capital, an investment firm he founded in 1985.
Since 1996, he has been a professor on the adjunct faculty of Columbia Business School where he teaches “Value and Special Situation Investing.”
Joel is a director of Pzena Investment Management, Inc., a global investment management firm. He formerly served on the Investment Boards of the University of Pennsylvania and the UJA Federation.
Joel is the author of You Can Be A Stock Market Genius (Simon & Schuster, 1997), The Little Book that Beats the Market (Wiley, 2005), The Little Book that Still Beats the Market (Wiley, 2010), and The Big Secret for the Small Investor (Random House, 2011).
He is the Former Chairman of the Board (1994-1995) of Alliant Techsystems, a NYSE-listed aerospace and defense contractor.
He holds a BS (1979), summa cum laude, and an MBA (1980) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Robert serves as Managing Principal and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Gotham Asset Management, the successor to Gotham Capital, which he joined in 1989.
Robert also founded and served as Managing Partner (1989-1997) of Metropolis Partners, a value and special situation investment partnership managing capital on behalf of institutions and wealthy individuals before returning capital to outside investors at the end of 1997.
Robert currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the City of New York.
He holds a BA (1988), magna cum laude, from Tufts University.