Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.

$6.5 trillion -- that's what the IEA says is exposed if China's rare earth export controls take full effect. The number that got less attention in the same report: $300 billion of battery production at risk from curbs in graphite alone. Our CEO Gene Berdichevsky wrote about this vulnerability back in 2023, when China first restricted graphite exports for battery use. China still refines more than 90% of the world's battery-grade graphite. Three years later, the dependency hasn't gone away. New refining projects in the U.S. and Malaysia have only moved China's global share from 90% to 85%. At that pace, mining your way out of this is a decades-long project, and defense, AI infrastructure, and EVs don't have decades. The other path is to stop needing the material China controls. That's the bet behind Titan Silicon, our silicon-carbon anode -- swap the graphite out, manufacture the substitute domestically at gigascale. https://lnkd.in/e4-gyhYZ

The #batteries that power #AI, defense, robotics, and space are the same batteries that will power the next generation of EVs — and the world needs a lot more of them, made in America. Our Titan Silicon anode #technology is central to that shift. It's built to serve any application where energy density and weight are non-negotiable, from drones and satellites to data centers and ISR systems. That versatility is why we're expanding our facility in Moses Lake, Washington. More from StartupFortune: https://lnkd.in/g5B9vVHv

We're excited to announce we've raised $300M to fund the expansion of our silicon anode manufacturing capacity in Moses Lake, Washington. Thank you to our lead investors Atreides Management, LP and Sutter Hill Ventures, and to our existing investors 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, T. Rowe Price, and others for participating as well. Our Si/C anode #technology, Titan Silicon, drives performance across defense, AI, robotics, data centers, and space — industries that cannot exist without advanced #batteries. By owning the invention, the commercialization, and the giga-scale manufacturing of this technology, we are building the blueprint for supply chain security and technology sovereignty for the U.S. GeekWire covers the announcement: https://lnkd.in/ghFK2eiK

Graphite, gallium, germanium sit at the foundation of modern military power, feeding semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure, satellites, aerospace systems, and the sensors modern defense depends on. Whoever controls that layer controls the supply chain security and #technology sovereignty every nation now requires. This The Wall Street Journal article lays out the formula for the U.S. response: 1) back breakthrough technologies, 2) pair small innovators with large industrial partners, and 3) scale domestic supply fast enough to matter -- what the Pentagon calls the "speed of relevance." That formula extends past minerals into the batteries built from them. That's the bet we made a decade ago. AI, defense, space, and autonomous systems all run on #batteries, and any nation serious about controlling its own future needs to control that technology at home. Titan Silicon, our Si/C anode, is the invention that makes it possible to build the best battery technology for every one of those industries. We've proven it at Moses Lake, Washington -- the first facility of its kind in the West -- thats producing at gigascale. https://lnkd.in/gQnmbEb6

CATL alone makes 40% of the world's EV #batteries. The U.S. has to decide whether to keep relying on foreign battery #technology or build its own supply chain for an industry underpinning American #energy, #defense, and #data infrastructure. That decision starts at the materials layer. Graphite has defined how batteries are made for 34 years, and Sila invented the replacement. Titan Silicon, our silicon anode, delivers higher energy density, faster charging, and is already powering millions of devices across consumer electronics, defense, and AI systems. Our facility in Moses Lake, WA is the first automotive-scale silicon anode plant in America — built on 15 years of foundational IP, 250+ patents, domestically owned and operated. More in the The New York Times: https://lnkd.in/gNNBsUTj

Today we welcomed Thomas Culver from U.S. Senator Patty Murray's office to our Moses Lake facility for a firsthand look at the work we're doing to strengthen America's battery supply chain. Building a resilient, domestic battery ecosystem starts with collaboration. We're proud to invest in Washington state, create high-quality jobs, and advance critical manufacturing. Thank you, Thomas, for taking the time to tour our facility and learn more about our operations. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss the importance of policies that support domestic manufacturing, innovation, and supply chain resilience. 

When China tightened rare earth exports last year, it sparked an overdue conversation about supply chain vulnerability. The more pressing dependency may be one most people haven't focused on yet. Battery-grade graphite is more geographically concentrated in China than rare earth refining. Every #EV, #drone, and consumer #device running on a lithium-ion #battery sits on a supply chain the U.S. does not control. Silicon anodes are five times lighter than graphite, deliver 20 to 40% higher energy density, and charge roughly two times faster. Unlike graphite, they can be manufactured domestically. The rare earth moment was a warning. The anode supply chain is the same vulnerability in a larger and faster-growing market. https://lnkd.in/grXca5xP

Building transformative technology is a marathon, not a sprint. Our CEO and Co-Founder, Gene Berdichevsky, joins Lisa Stiffler of GeekWire to reflect on what first drew him to energy, the leaders who inspire him, and the impact he hopes Sila will have 20 years from now. https://lnkd.in/garFptiw

This past weekend, we were out in the community supporting programs that make a difference. At the Moses Lake Family Picnic, hosted by the Downtown Moses Lake Association, we welcomed attendees to our booth for a hands-on science activity, creating simple batteries with lemons and limes while exploring the basics of energy and innovation. We also sponsored and participated in a charity golf tournament that brought together community members and local businesses to help create opportunities for student-athletes. Strong communities are built through engagement, education, and investment in local programs. We're proud to support events that bring people together and help strengthen the places we call home.  #Sila #GrantCountyWa #MosesLake

This week, we opened our doors in Moses Lake to the One Washington Battery Summit, welcoming leaders from utilities, labor, academia, and policy for a firsthand look at what it takes to make next-generation #battery materials in America. Organized by the Pacific Northwest Battery Collaborative and Big Bend Community College, the summit set out to bridge the tech and policy hubs of Western Washington with the industrial manufacturing of the Columbia Basin and show how Washington has the workforce, the infrastructure, and the production capacity to lead the U.S. battery economy. We're proud that Sila is proof of that.