Ionobell
3 known investors
Find your way into Ionobell
504 people in our graph share verified history with the Ionobell team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Ionobell develops silicon-dominant battery technology using porous nano-particle silicon that can be integrated into existing manufacturing equipment, aimed at reducing cost per kWh and increasing energy density. It serves automotive and electronics manufacturers seeking cost-efficient, high-volume silicon battery production.
Founders & leadership
Investors · 3
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements- Undisclosed amountSeedMar 2024Source ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Ionobell is a San Francisco-based battery technology company developing silicon-forward anode materials and cells for lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. Its material is derived from a waste silicon feedstock and is built around a porous silicon structure that is surrounded by a coating — an inversion of the approach used by companies such as Sila and Group14, which impregnate porous graphite structures with silicon. According to CEO Robert Neivert, the porous structure absorbs lithium without the outer shell expanding, addressing the swelling and mechanical degradation that has historically limited the share of silicon in commercial anodes to under roughly 10%. The company states its silicon material is 500% more energy-dense than graphite while still meeting automotive lifecycle requirements, supporting greater range, faster charging and lower cost.
The company positions its material as a "drop-in solution" compatible with existing battery production processes and equipment, so that manufacturers can upgrade output without large new capital expenditure. Ionobell says it works with large automotive manufacturers in the United States and is pursuing licensing arrangements with major cell producers, and it estimates its technology can save automotive customers up to $1,200 per vehicle. Because its silicon supply comes from a waste material, the company frames its cost advantage as primarily a materials cost advantage, and claims a lower cost than graphite as well as reduced environmental impact through reuse of waste inputs.
Founding story
Robert Neivert first encountered Ionobell as an investor and initially declined to invest, citing reasons automotive suppliers would not adopt the technology. After the team addressed those issues, including adapting the material to run on widely used manufacturing equipment, Neivert secured initial funding and joined the company as CEO; he is described as a co-founder and CEO.
Business model
Ionobell describes itself as a silicon battery building and licensing company: it develops battery materials and cells and licenses its battery technologies to large manufacturers, supplying its recycled silicon material for use in existing production lines.
Licensing of battery technology to manufacturers alongside supply of its silicon battery material.
Traction
As of March 2024 the company said it works extensively with the world's largest automotive manufacturers in the U.S. and is in active discussions with large manufacturers to license its battery technologies. It had raised $7.3 million in total seed funding.
Latest developments
In March 2024, Ionobell disclosed an unpriced $3.9 million seed extension led by Dynamo Ventures and Trucks VC, bringing total seed funding to $7.3 million, with proceeds directed at expanding U.S. production. TechCrunch reported the company's prior round had closed in 2020.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, risks & controversies
Market position
Ionobell is a seed-stage entrant in the silicon anode materials market, competing with more capitalized companies including Sila, Group14, Enovix and Amprius, several of which are closer to commercialization. Its stated differentiator is lower cost rather than being first to market, and press coverage notes it must still complete lengthy automotive validation processes to make up ground.
Unlike competitors that impregnate porous graphite structures with silicon, Ionobell starts from a porous silicon structure and coats it. Its feedstock is a waste material, which the company says makes its material cheaper than graphite, and its material is designed as a drop-in replacement compatible with incumbent manufacturing equipment for both Li-ion and solid-state cells.
Technology
The core technology is a porous silicon particle with a surrounding coating, produced from a waste silicon feedstock, used as a silicon-forward anode material. The porous structure is intended to accommodate lithium uptake without external swelling, preserving cycle life; the company says the material is 500% more energy-dense than graphite, meets automotive lifecycle requirements including in solid-state designs, and can be run on widely used existing manufacturing equipment for both standard Li-ion and solid-state cells.
Go-to-market
The company works directly with large automotive manufacturers and pursues licensing agreements with major battery producers, emphasizing compatibility with the more than 100 battery production facilities opening in the U.S. so customers can adopt the material without new capital expenditure.
Automotive manufacturers and battery cell producers in the United States, with stated ambitions to extend the material to a broader set of manufacturers and consumer and industrial product categories.
Geography
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, with operations and customer relationships in the United States and plans to expand production across the U.S.
Risks & controversies
Battery materials companies face long and demanding automotive validation cycles that not every material passes. Ionobell is a small, seed-stage company competing against better-funded rivals such as Group14 and Sila whose silicon-rich anodes were expected to reach market in 2024-2025. Its 2024 raise was an unpriced seed extension, a structure reported as increasingly common among deep tech firms that are short on capital but unable to raise a new priced round.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsWith the seed extension funding, Ionobell said it planned to expand production across the U.S. and bring its recycled battery material to additional manufacturers and industries.
Ionobell announced an unpriced $3.9 million seed extension round led by Dynamo Ventures and Trucks VC, bringing total seed investment to $7.3 million. The initial equity round had been led by Trucks VC with participation from Dynamo Ventures and Alumni Ventures. The company said proceeds would fund expansion of its production across the United States.
$3.9M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Breakthrough Battery Technology Company Ionobell Raises $7.3M Total Seed Fundingprnewswire.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Ionobell do?
- Ionobell develops recycled porous silicon anode material and licenses silicon-forward battery technology to manufacturers.
- Who are Ionobell's investors?
- Ionobell's investors include Expansion Venture Capital, Dynamo Ventures, Trucks VC.