Startup produces next-generation lithium-ion batteries
Swiss startup eightinks is developing a proprietary manufacturing technology for solid-state batteries that enables novel cell designs with high-performance materials and makes production methods highly scalable. The startup has won the third stage of Venture Kick.
Solid-state batteries are considered the next generation of lithium-ion batteries, offering many advantages over liquid electrolyte batteries. However, they are not very common due to the cost of current manufacturing standards.
Cost-efficient coating technology
eightinks' novel multilayer curtain coating technology simplifies battery cell manufacturing. The cost-effective, high-throughput production method reduces production costs by up to 30% compared to current methods and is compatible with existing production infrastructure, paving the way for widespread adoption of solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Given the projected growth of the electric vehicle market, eightinks is responding to rising global demand for lithium-ion batteries, which is expected to increase by 10% in this decade alone. The startup's technology, patented by ETH Zurich, also enables cell recycling and increases charging speed. While liquid electrolytes are flammable, solid-state electrolytes are not and thus also offer a significant safety advantage.
Investment in scalability
The startup will invest the CHF 150,000 awarded by Venture Kick in building its own facilities and expanding its team to scale its technology and accelerate business development.
The founding team consists of Dr. Paul Baade (CEO), who developed the technology as part of his PhD thesis as a Pioneer Fellow at ETH Zurich, Leon Baade (CBO), who has extensive experience in developing engineered products and working with automotive manufacturers, and Dr. Christina Sauter (CTO) and Dr. Karl-Philipp Schlichting (COO), who specialize in battery technology and nanoscience for energy technology, respectively. "The Venture Kick program was a great experience that helped us sharpen our strategic focus and develop our go-to-market in detail," says eightinks CEO Paul Baade. "With their insights into several deep tech ventures, they were able to identify critical issues very quickly."
Sources: Venture Kick / eightinks
