Electrochemistry Foundry
Electrochemistry Foundry is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit building a 20,000 sq ft shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility in Hayward, CA, providing electrode fabrication, cell assembly, formation/testing, and scale-up services to early-stage battery startups, academic researchers, and OEMs seeking pilot-scale validation without $10M+ private facility investment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersHayward, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Electrochemistry Foundry does
Electrochemistry Foundry (ECF) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility designed to bridge the "Valley of Death" between laboratory research and commercial-scale production. Incorporated in October 2024 by CEO Dr. Brenna Teigler and co-founder Richard Wang, ECF targets early-stage battery startups, academic researchers, and established companies that cannot justify the $10M+ and 18+ months typically required to build private pilot lines. The company publicly launched on April 15, 2026, and is currently constructing a 20,000-square-foot facility in Hayward, California, scheduled for commissioning in Q4 2026 with first users expected in Q1 2027.
ECF's core offering is an integrated suite of pilot manufacturing services: precision electrode fabrication (slurry preparation and coating with tunable process control), advanced cell assembly (industry-grade pouch and cylindrical cells in a controlled dry room), formation and performance validation (cycling integrated with data systems that link process parameters to electrochemical results), process development and scale-up advisory, and flexible lab and office workspace. The facility is designed for a minimum annual capacity of 10,000 cells across both form factors. A Manufacturing Execution System provides full traceability from raw materials to electrochemical outcomes, supporting iterative process refinement for users. IP neutrality is central to the model: users retain complete ownership of their technology, eliminating the conflicts of interest associated with for-profit contract manufacturers.
ECF's business model is professional-services-based pilot manufacturing revenue, monetized through flexible facility access (collaborative pilot-runs with user personnel) or full-service contract manufacturing managed by ECF staff. The company is currently in discovery mode, accepting expressions of interest for 2027 pilot capacity rather than operating at commercial scale. The $28 million competitive grant from the California Energy Commission (EPC-25-011) funds facility construction rather than ongoing operations, and ECF has stated an explicit nonprofit, low-barrier pricing posture without high-margin corporate return requirements. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven (public launch at SF Climate Week, direct outreach to Bay Area founders and researchers), supported by a consortium of academic, industrial, and workforce partners including Top Material, UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Volta Foundation, Catalyst Innovation Group, USW, and BACCC.
Electrochemistry Foundry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Electrochemistry Foundry
- Legal name
- Electrochemistry Foundry, Inc.
- Website
- https://ecfoundry.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Electrochemistry Foundry is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit building a 20,000 sq ft shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility in Hayward, CA, providing electrode fabrication, cell assembly, formation/testing, and scale-up services to early-stage battery startups, academic researchers, and OEMs seeking pilot-scale validation without $10M+ private facility investment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Electrochemistry Foundry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Battery Pilot Manufacturing Services
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)
- SIC
- Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Manufacturing Equipment & Gigafactory Automation (Coating, Calendering, Stacking/Winding) (EUAFABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Electrochemistry Foundry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hayward
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Electrochemistry Foundry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pilot Manufacturing Services: ECF provides shared-use battery pilot manufacturing infrastructure and expertise to startups, researchers, and companies. Users pay for access to the pilot line for electrode fabrication, cell assembly, formation, and testing services. The nonprofit model ensures low-barrier, open-access resources for the entire ecosystem with no IP entanglement.
- Contract Manufacturing: Full-service cell assembly and testing for users requiring comprehensive manufacturing support, producing industry-ready products for demonstration to investors or customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Flexible facility access or full-service manufacturing options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Electrochemistry Foundry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Electrochemistry Foundry operates a 20,000-square-foot shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, offering precision electrode fabrication, advanced pouch and cylindrical cell assembly in a controlled dry room, formation and performance validation, and process scale-up services. The organization provides both flexible facility access (collaborative pilot-runs) and full-service contract manufacturing for battery startups, researchers, and established companies, with a Manufacturing Execution System linking raw materials to electrochemical results.
Product overview
Electrochemistry Foundry operates as a single, unified shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company provides five integrated service offerings: Precision Electrode Fabrication (slurry preparation and coating), Advanced Cell Assembly (pouch and cylindrical cell fabrication in a controlled dry room), Formation & Performance Validation (integrated testing and cycling with data linkage), Process Development & Scale-Up (technical roadmap services), and Flexible Lab & Office Workspace. These offerings work together to help battery technology innovators bridge the costly pilot-scale gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale production, enabling companies to produce demonstration cells for investors without building private infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Precision Electrode Fabrication
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduce startup capital requirements from $10M+ to access world-class pilot manufacturing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Electrochemistry Foundry
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Electrochemistry Foundry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Electrochemistry Foundry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.
- Top MaterialcoreSouth Korean industry leader providing operational support and industrial-grade manufacturing integration. Brings 13+ years of experience commissioning and operating flexible Li-ion pilot manufacturing lines globally. Top Material leads precision line management and operates the pilot line alongside the ECF team, ensuring world-class experts manage day-to-day manufacturing operations.
- Volta FoundationcoreActivates the global battery ecosystem and leads workforce development through industry-wide engagement, data-driven insights, and coordination of cross-sector education initiatives. Executive Director Yen T. Yeh stated partnership in supporting workforce development for next-generation battery manufacturing.
- UC RiversidecoreTranslates the technical frontier by anchoring 'beyond Li-ion' prototyping and pioneering lithium separation technologies vital to California’s long-term industrial goals.
- UC Santa BarbaracoreJoined the ECF network to support battery innovation and commercialization. UC Santa Barbara brings research capabilities and expertise to the consortium.
- UC BerkeleycorePart of the collaborating network supporting ECF's mission to accelerate battery technology commercialization. UC Berkeley is among the premier research institutions in the consortium.
- Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratorycoreNational laboratory partner providing research expertise and supporting the industrial engine bridging laboratory discovery and commercial deployment.
- Catalyst Innovation GroupcoreArchitects the industrial footprint by applying '0 to 1' operational rigor and startup best practices to move ECF rapidly from facility commissioning to sustainable operations.
- Bay Area Community College Consortium (BACCC)keyPartners with ECF to deliver workforce development through a 28-college network, standardized industrial job specs, and specialized hands-on training for high-road workforce execution.
- United Steelworkers (USW)keyPartnership with USW provides hands-on training that prepares the local workforce for high-skill careers in the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors as part of California's electrification vision.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Electrochemistry Foundry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Battery Innovation Center: Indiana-based nonprofit that operates a shared-use battery pilot manufacturing and testing facility for commercial, defense, and academic customers. It is the closest US analog to ECF's nonprofit, IP-neutral shared pilot model, serving startups that need pilot-scale validation without building private infrastructure.
- Top Material: South Korean company with 13+ years of experience commissioning and operating flexible Li-ion pilot manufacturing lines globally. ECF's operational partner; comparable because Top Material runs essentially the same service model internationally and could be ECF's international counterpart.
- Argonne National Laboratory (CAMP Facility): The Cell Analysis, Modeling, and Prototyping (CAMP) facility at Argonne is a US Department of Energy–funded pilot battery prototyping resource that fabricates and tests cells for academic and industrial users. Comparable to ECF because it offers federally-subsidized pilot cell fabrication, serving overlapping academic and startup customers.
- Wildcat Discovery Technologies: San Diego-based contract research and pilot manufacturer that uses high-throughput experimentation to develop and validate new battery chemistries for partners. Comparable to ECF because it provides pilot-scale battery materials and cell development as a paid service to startups and OEMs, though as a for-profit entity.
Broad incumbents
- K2 Energy Solutions: US-based developer and manufacturer of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells and packs for medical, military, and industrial applications. Comparable as an established cell manufacturer with internal pilot and contract manufacturing capabilities that compete for similar startup and OEM customers.
- American Battery Solutions: US-based battery pack integrator and manufacturer serving automotive, industrial, and commercial markets. Comparable as an established player that provides custom battery pack design, prototyping, and low-volume manufacturing — services that overlap with ECF's pilot-scale offerings at the pack level.
- Navitas Systems: Established US-based manufacturer of lithium-ion battery packs and energy storage systems serving defense, industrial, and medical markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the US battery manufacturing space with overlapping pilot and contract manufacturing capabilities, though focused on finished packs rather than ECF's cell-level pilot focus.
Others
- Volta Foundation: Global nonprofit organization supporting the battery industry through data, education, and ecosystem coordination. Comparable as an ECF strategic partner that connects the facility to the broader battery workforce and startup community, rather than a direct manufacturing competitor.
Emerging players
- EnPower Greentech: Early-stage US battery company developing multilayer lithium-ion cells with fast-charging capabilities for electric mobility. Comparable as an emerging player in advanced battery development that would be a likely candidate user of ECF's pilot manufacturing services.
- Sila Nanotechnologies: US-based battery materials company developing silicon-anode technology for mass-market EVs and consumer electronics. Comparable as a high-profile emerging battery innovator that typically requires external pilot infrastructure to scale novel chemistries — a prime candidate ECF user.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Electrochemistry Foundry social profiles
Digital presenceElectrochemistry Foundry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Electrochemistry Foundry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Electrochemistry Foundry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Electrochemistry Foundry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Electrochemistry Foundry
What does Electrochemistry Foundry do?
Electrochemistry Foundry operates a 20,000-square-foot shared-use battery pilot manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, offering precision electrode fabrication, advanced pouch and cylindrical cell assembly in a controlled dry room, formation and performance validation, and process scale-up services. The organization provides both flexible facility access (collaborative pilot-runs) and full-service contract manufacturing for battery startups, researchers, and established companies, with a Manufacturing Execution System linking raw materials to electrochemical results.
Is Electrochemistry Foundry a public or private company?
Electrochemistry Foundry is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Electrochemistry Foundry founded?
Electrochemistry Foundry was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Electrochemistry Foundry based?
Electrochemistry Foundry is headquartered in Hayward, United States, in the North America region.
How does Electrochemistry Foundry make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pilot Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are contract Manufacturing.
Who are Electrochemistry Foundry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Battery Innovation Center, Top Material, Argonne National Laboratory (CAMP Facility) and Wildcat Discovery Technologies. Broad incumbents are K2 Energy Solutions, American Battery Solutions and Navitas Systems. Volta Foundation is listed as an others. Emerging players are EnPower Greentech and Sila Nanotechnologies.
Does Electrochemistry Foundry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Electrochemistry Foundry.
What industry is Electrochemistry Foundry in?
Electrochemistry Foundry's product category is Battery Pilot Manufacturing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAM, Battery Manufacturing Equipment & Gigafactory Automation (Coating, Calendering, Stacking/Winding), with a secondary code of IMAGAHAB, Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3821.