(December 1, 2025) At a time when the world is racing to transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy, Avishek Kumar’s entrepreneurial vision is firmly aligned with this global shift. The deep-tech entrepreneu’s journey from India to Singapore and Germany has shaped his mission to build a sustainable energy future. Today, as the CEO and Co-Founder of VFlowTech, he leads a Singapore-based long-duration energy storage company powered by over a decade of pioneering research in advanced flow battery technology.
From tinkering with radios as a child in India to scholarly and professional pursuits in Asia and Europe on cutting-edge clean-energy systems, Kumar’s career reflects how a scientific mind, global exposure, and a purpose-led vision can converge to address some of the planet’s most urgent challenges. “Technology must enable a better world. This belief has guided every step of my journey,” he tells Global Indian in this exclusive tête-à-tête.
Avishek Kumar
Foundations of a scientific mind
Kumar grew up in India, where his fascination with how things work began early, whether it was dismantling radios or experimenting with simple electrical setups. That curiosity naturally led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering at RV College of Engineering, Bangalore.
“Eager to explore how technology could power a more sustainable world, I moved abroad for higher studies, completing a Master’s in Microelectronics at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany. I then earned my PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS), focusing on solar energy and advanced semiconductor technologies,” he recalls.
Those years built the scientific foundation that continues to guide his work today, translating rigorous research into real-world solutions that can reshape how the world generates, stores, and consumes energy. His professional journey began in research, where he focused on solar, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, publishing more than 50 scientific papers and filing multiple patents. He was named an NRF Clean Energy Scholar and received Best Paper Awards for his work on semiconductor integration.
Entrepreneurial ventures to serve people and planet
Around 2017, he recognised a fundamental truth: while research generates knowledge, entrepreneurship delivers impact. This realisation pushed him to bridge the gap between lab innovation and market transformation. He founded Sunkonnect in 2017 (solar, hydrogen, and energy storage), VFlowTech in 2018 (vanadium redox flow batteries), and Datakrew in 2019 (IoT & AI for industrial data security). Each venture expanded his understanding of how ideas evolve from paper to product. These experiences taught him persistence, adaptability, and the power of interdisciplinary collaboration — shaping him into an entrepreneur driven by a mission to make technology serve both people and the planet.
“These ventures taught me to view technology holistically — as an ecosystem rather than isolated innovations,” he says. “They also reinforced the importance of collaboration between hardware, software, and policy to make clean-tech commercially viable.”
Avishek Kumar during signing of an MoU to advance long-duration energy storage solutions in Southeast Asia
The ideal launchpad
For Kumar, Singapore has been the ideal launchpad for a deep-tech venture. Its world-class research ecosystem, strong government support, and multicultural talent pool offered the perfect blend of precision and ambition. “Singapore has been both a home and a proving ground — a place where ideas born in the lab could evolve into innovations that now power projects across Asia, the Middle East, and soon, India,” he notes.
Energy efficiency
The inspiration for VFlowTech traces back to his PhD years. Solar power was becoming increasingly affordable, but he identified a critical gap — without efficient, long-duration storage, renewable energy could not fully replace fossil fuels. To address this, he co-founded VFlowTech in 2018 as an NTU spin-off focused on developing vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) — a safe, scalable, and durable alternative to lithium-ion technology.
VRFBs can provide up to 12 hours of energy discharge, operate safely in hot climates, and last more than 25 years. Their mission is simple yet transformative: to make clean, reliable energy accessible anywhere in the world.
Driving innovation in sustainable energy
At VFlowTech, innovation thrives at the intersection of science, engineering, and purpose. Their vanadium flow batteries deliver long-duration energy storage and ensure renewable power availability round the clock. Unlike lithium-ion systems, these batteries are non-flammable, fully recyclable, and offer a 25-year lifespan — making them ideal for utility-scale projects, industrial setups, and remote microgrids.
Beyond hardware, the company has built an AI-driven Cloud Energy Management Platform that optimises charging, discharging, and predictive maintenance. By integrating advanced analytics with robust storage technologies, VFlowTech is creating decentralised energy ecosystems capable of supporting the future grid. “Our goal is not just to build batteries, but to enable a world where clean energy never stops flowing,” Kumar says.
Avishek Kumar in Fukuoka, Japan during a discussion to drive forward new energy initiatives
Words of wisdom
Kumar has long admired scientists and entrepreneurs who pursue bold ideas with humility — individuals who see problems as opportunities for positive change. “A life lesson I’ve learned is that persistence outweighs perfection. Every entrepreneur faces setbacks; what matters is how you learn, adapt, and move forward,” he says. “Research taught me patience, while entrepreneurship taught me resilience. Together, they remind me that impact takes time, but it’s always worth pursuing.”
The entrepreneur takes pride in his Indian roots. He believes in blending the values of his upbringing with perspectives gained from around the world, and building bridges between India and the global innovation community. “I’ve spent years abroad, but my goal has always been to bring knowledge, technology, and investment back to India, and to contribute to its clean-energy transformation. It’s not about where you are, but what you take back,” he affirms.
Kumar believes the world is at a critical intersection where technology, policy, and purpose must converge to combat the climate crisis. “Indian innovators, both at home and abroad, have a pivotal role to play in shaping that future,” he says. “To young engineers and entrepreneurs, my message is simple: start where you are, use what you know, and never stop learning. The most impactful journeys often begin with a small spark of curiosity.”
Road ahead
Avishek Kumar’s immediate goal is to scale manufacturing in India, growing from a 100 MWh facility to a Gigafactory capable of producing 1 GWh annually. This includes building domestic supply chains, particularly for vanadium extraction and recycling from petroleum waste — converting industrial residues into clean-energy resources.
“Globally, we aim to expand deployments beyond 10 GWh, enhance our AI platform, and prepare for an international IPO by 2029. Personally, I plan to continue mentoring young innovators and contributing to the global clean-energy dialogue. The long-term vision remains the same, to make reliable renewable power accessible to every community on earth,” he signs off.
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