Insights
’ve seen too many brilliant battery breakthroughs stall out in what we call the "pilot-scale gap." In the lab, you can prove a new battery component works at a small scale, but to prove it works for a product, you need to demonstrate industry-relevant performance by building high-quality cells. Currently, that requires a startup to raise $10M+ and move through 18+ months of facility development just to build a private pilot line. We launched ECF to bridge that prototype "Valley of Death" by providing shared-use pilot manufacturing infrastructure and expertise so founders can focus on rapid iteration of their technology to get to market faster.
We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the CEC. Our award was the result of a rigorous, merit-based competitive process. This funding is the engine that allows us to build a world-class facility without the pressure of high-margin corporate returns. Because we are a nonprofit, we can operate as a low-barrier, open-access resource for the entire ecosystem and remain very clear of intellectual property issues.
Our partnership with Top Material is a game-changer. Top Material brings 13+ years of experience commissioning and operating flexible Li-ion pilot manufacturing lines globally. They are leaders in industrial-quality electrode coating and process optimization. Crucially, Top Material will be operating the pilot line alongside the ECF team. By having world-class experts manage the day-to-day manufacturing operations, we ensure that every user—whether a startup or a global OEM—gets industry-grade product from day one. Our line supports everything from precision electrode fabrication and cell assembly to full performance electrochemical validation, with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for full traceability.
This is exactly why we are a nonprofit. Unlike many corporate or university labs, ECF has no interest in your IP. Our mission is to build the ecosystem, not to own the technology. At ECF, we provide the infrastructure; you keep your IP. Our nonprofit model ensures there is no "IP entanglement." You bring your chemistry, run it on our precision equipment, and leave with the data and cells you need to win your next customer or investment round.
Hayward was a strategic choice for three reasons: talent, geography, and community impact. We are in the heart of a premier hardware engineering corridor, giving us access to the specialized expertise needed to run a 10,000 cell/year line. At the same time, we are situated in a disadvantaged community that sits centrally between major research institutions. We aren't just building batteries; we're building a training ground for the high-skill workforce that California’s electrification vision requires.
While our 20,000 sq. ft. facility is currently in development, we are active right now engaging with our first users to ensure our equipment commissioning matches their technical roadmaps. If you’re a founder heading to SF Climate Week, come find us—we’re currently looking for the partners who will be the first to run on our line.
Our credibility is rooted in a track record of scaling high-impact organizations. Collectively, our leadership has:
Beyond our internal team, we are backed by a multi-sector coalition including the Volta Foundation, UC Riverside, Top Material, Catalyst Innovation Group, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). We aren't just a new organization; we are the culmination of decades of experience in the battery and hard technology entrepreneurship sectors.
Success is seeing a "Powered by ECF" cell inside a commercial product. It’s about proving that when you lower the barriers to entry, American innovation moves faster. If we can help companies de-risk their path to market and secure needed funding while training hundreds of local workers for high-paying roles, we’ve done our job.
If you are a hardware founder or researcher looking to transition from lab-scale batches to pilot-scale validation, we invite you to reach out. We have developed a Technical One-Pager detailing our services. To receive a copy or schedule a call, please complete our Contact Us form.
Photo Credit: Spiral Studios