Sakuu

What Sakuu does

Sakuu is a privately held San Jose, California-based company (founded 2016 by Robert Bagheri as KeraCel, rebranded to Sakuu in 2021) that develops and manufactures the Kavian platform, a multi-material, multi-process 3D printing system for dry-process battery and supercapacitor electrode production. Kavian combines binder jetting and material jetting to print cathodes and anodes directly onto current collector foil, eliminating toxic solvents (NMP, PTFE), drying ovens, and water from electrode manufacturing. The platform supports legacy chemistries (NCM, NCA, LFP, graphite, silicon-graphite) and advanced chemistries (Li-metal, aluminum-ion, sodium-ion), and the company holds 113 patents and 130+ trade secrets. A 79,000 sq ft Kavian development facility operates in San Jose.

Sakuu monetizes through four channels: (1) sale of Kavian manufacturing equipment to battery cell manufacturers and OEMs, (2) licensing of its Cypress Li-Metal cell chemistry for manufacturing, (3) supply of dry-printed electrode material, and (4) joint development agreements with strategic partners including SK On (Flagship, 2024), International Battery Company (Flagship, 2025), and ELEQTRION (Core, 2024). The company pursues a direct enterprise sales motion targeting battery manufacturers, EV OEMs, AI infrastructure operators, and energy storage companies; pricing is quote-based under multi-year enterprise contracts and not publicly disclosed. UN38.3 certification has been secured for Cypress chemistry, and dry-printed high-nickel cells have demonstrated 83% capacity retention after 4,000 cycles at 1C.

Sakuu employs 51-100 people and has raised approximately $16.3M in disclosed funding across three rounds, the most recent being a $14M round led by Musashi Seimitsu Industry in January 2021. The Kavian platform has been recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2024 and received Fast Company's 2025 World Changing Ideas Award, alongside finalist status in the Platts Global Energy Awards and Plug In America 2025 Drive Electric Awards.

Name

Sakuu

Legal name

Sakuu Corporation

Website

https://sakuu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sakuu develops the Kavian platform, a multi-material 3D printing system for dry-process battery electrode manufacturing, serving battery cell makers, EV OEMs, and energy storage companies globally from its San Jose, California headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Manufacturing Equipment

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353), Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Manufacturing Equipment & Gigafactory Automation (Coating, Calendering, Stacking/Winding) (EUAFABAM)

Keywords

• Battery manufacturing equipment
• Dry electrode printing
• Energy storage manufacturing
• 3D printing batteries
• Battery production technology

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Kavian Manufacturing Platform Equipment Sales: Sakuu sells its Kavian dry-process manufacturing platform equipment to battery cell manufacturers and OEMs, enabling them to bring localized dry-process manufacturing online. The platform is available for commercial orders, with joint-development partnerships for production.
2. Battery Cell Technology Licensing: Sakuu licenses its battery cell technology and chemistries including the Cypress Li-Metal battery cell chemistry for manufacturing license to battery producers.
3. Dry Electrode Material Supply: Sakuu supplies dry electrode material (hundreds of meters of dry electrode material) to battery cell manufacturing and EV customers, generating revenue from material sales.
4. Joint Development Agreements: Sakuu enters joint development agreements with strategic partners (SK On, ELEQTRION, International Battery Company) to co-develop solutions, which may include development fees and future commercial arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sakuu develops and sells the Kavian platform, a multi-material, multi-process 3D printing manufacturing system that enables dry-process production of battery electrodes (cathodes and anodes) and supercapacitors without toxic solvents or drying ovens. The company also licenses its proprietary Cypress Li-Metal battery cell chemistry and supplies dry-printed electrode materials to battery cell manufacturers, EV companies, and energy storage customers.

Product overview

Sakuu offers the Kavian Platform as its core product - a multi-material, multi-process 3D printing manufacturing system for dry-process battery and supercapacitor production. The platform is supported by the Cypress Li-Metal Battery Cell Chemistry product, which provides a certified battery chemistry optimized for the manufacturing process. The Kavian D-1000 represents the production-scale equipment model, while the company also supplies dry electrode materials (cathodes and anodes) manufactured on the platform. The portfolio serves AI infrastructure, energy storage systems, mobility, aerospace, and industrial electrification applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kavian: Multi-material, multi-process 3D printing platform for manufacturing solid-state batteries, using dry-process technology to print battery electrodes without solvents
• Cypress
• Kavian Platform

Products and services

• Kavian Platform Multi-material, multi-process 3D printing manufacturing platform that enables scalable dry-process manufacturing for batteries and supercapacitors. Combines binder jetting and material jetting to print battery electrodes without toxic solvents, reducing factory footprint by 60% and CO2 emissions by 55%. Targets battery cell manufacturers, EV OEMs, and energy storage companies.
• Kavian D-1000 Platform Specific model of the Kavian platform capable of printing advanced active devices, representing Sakuu's production-scale dry-process battery manufacturing system for commercial deployment.
• Cypress Li-Metal Battery Cell Chemistry High-energy lithium-metal battery cell chemistry developed by Sakuu, designed for manufacturing on the Kavian platform. UN38.3 certified for safe transport. Available via manufacturing license to battery producers.
• Kavian Dry Electrode Material Dry-printed lithium-ion battery cathodes and anodes using existing high-nickel chemistries (NCM, NCA, LFP) and advanced chemistries (graphite, silicon-graphite, aluminum-ion, sodium-ion) produced on the Kavian platform and sold to battery cell manufacturing and EV customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% charge retention after 4,000 cycles at 1C rate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• International Battery Company (IBC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025International Battery Company (IBC) partnered with Sakuu to deploy Kavian next-generation dry-process battery manufacturing technology. IBC is using multiple Kavian Platforms for dry-printing sustainable batteries for the 2W/3W mobility market and for supercapacitors in AI data centers.
• SK OnflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Sakuu announced a joint development agreement with SK On, one of the world's leading suppliers of EV batteries, to bring commercial-scale dry process innovation to electrode manufacturing. The partnership aims to advance the application of Sakuu's Kavian platform in SK On's battery production operations.
• ELEQTRIONcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Sakuu announced a joint development agreement with ELEQTRION, a Quebec-based innovator in aluminum-ion battery technology, to advance aluminum-ion battery technology for energy storage and other applications. The partnership leverages Sakuu's Kavian platform and ELEQTRION's unique battery electrode to develop aluminum-ion batteries for small to large-scale energy storage and e-mobility applications.
• Porsche ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPorsche Consulting is listed as a partner on Sakuu's company page, suggesting a consulting or advisory relationship for manufacturing and operational excellence.
• Musashi Auto PartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusashi Auto Parts is listed as a partner on Sakuu's company page. Musashi projects its Indian arm to contribute 20% to group revenue by 2030.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tesla (Maxwell Technologies): Tesla acquired Maxwell Technologies, the pioneering dry-electrode company, and is deploying dry-process electrode manufacturing for its 4680 cells at gigafactory scale. Directly competes with Sakuu's core value proposition but with vastly greater capital, in-house demand, and manufacturing footprint.
• QuantumScape: QuantumScape is a publicly-traded solid-state battery developer pursuing next-generation Li-metal cells. While not a direct equipment competitor, it overlaps with Sakuu in the solid-state and Li-metal battery chemistry space and competes for similar strategic customer and investor mindshare.

Direct peers

• AM Batteries: AM Batteries is a closely comparable dry-electrode startup developing solvent-free electrode coating technology for Li-ion batteries. It pursues a similar value proposition of eliminating toxic solvents and reducing energy intensity in battery manufacturing, making it the most direct emerging competitor to Sakuu's Kavian platform.
• 24M Technologies: 24M develops SemiSolid and other advanced battery manufacturing technologies that simplify production and reduce capex, selling equipment and licensing to battery makers. Directly comparable to Sakuu as a process-innovation battery manufacturing equipment company targeting cost and footprint reduction.

Emerging players

• LiCAP Technologies: LiCAP develops dry-electrode coating equipment and activated dry electrode materials for Li-ion battery manufacturing. Overlaps with Sakuu's dry-process electrode focus, particularly in the material supply and equipment categories, though with a narrower chemistry focus.
• EnPower: EnPower develops advanced Li-ion battery cells using multi-layer electrode printing technology with a focus on high energy density. Comparable to Sakuu in using novel manufacturing approaches to electrode production, particularly relevant for Sakuu's multi-chemistry platform claim.
• Solid Power: Solid Power develops all-solid-state batteries with sulfide-based electrolyte technology and partners with major OEMs (BMW, Ford). Comparable to Sakuu in the solid-state battery chemistry domain that Sakuu addresses via its Kavian platform and Cypress Li-Metal chemistry.
• Nano One Materials: Nano One is a Canadian clean technology company developing low-cost, low-environmental-impact production processes for cathode active materials used in Li-ion batteries. Overlaps with Sakuu's battery materials focus, particularly around LFP and NCM cathode chemistries.
• Eos Energy Enterprises: Eos develops zinc-based battery energy storage systems for grid and commercial applications. Comparable to Sakuu in the energy storage use case targeted by Kavian (grid resilience, AI infrastructure), though with a different chemistry approach and product form factor.

Others

• Porsche Consulting: Porsche Consulting is listed as a Sakuu partner and is the management consultancy arm of Porsche AG, advising manufacturers on operational excellence. Relevant as a strategic partner and adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, useful for understanding Sakuu's go-to-market positioning with industrial buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sakuucorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/Sakuu
• Instagraminstagram.com/sakuucorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/sakuucorp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sakuu