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§ Private Profile · Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland
Battery technology company developing multi-layer curtain coating technology for battery electrodes, focused on lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.
8inks is a Schlieren, Switzerland-based battery technology company that develops scalable multi-layer curtain coating processes for lithium-ion and solid-state battery electrode production. The company's proprietary manufacturing technology replaces traditional slot-die coating methods, aiming to increase production throughput by up to 10 times while reducing overall manufacturing costs by 30 percent. Operating as an early-stage enterprise with fewer than 20 employees, the business partners directly with battery cell manufacturers and automotive original equipment manufacturers to integrate its hardware systems into industrial-scale pilot production lines. The ETH Zurich spin-off has raised CHF 2 million, or approximately $2.3 million, in pre-seed funding through a January 2024 financing round led by venture capital firms Founderful and Übermorgen Ventures. The organization, originally established as an academic spin-off, was founded in 2022 by Paul Baade, Leon Baade, Karl-Philipp Schlichting, and Christina Sauter.
8links has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
8links has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
8inks is a deep-tech startup specializing in advanced battery manufacturing through multilayer curtain coating technology. Spun out from ETH Zurich, it enables scalable production of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, including silicon anodes, LFP cathodes, and solid electrolytes, by unlocking multilayer cell designs that boost performance while slashing costs by up to 30% in CAPEX and OPEX.[1][2][3]
The company serves battery cell manufacturers and OEMs in electrification sectors like electric vehicles and grid storage, solving the scalability bottleneck where innovative battery chemistries fail due to outdated single-layer production methods. With €3 million raised in pre-seed funding led by a Swiss VC, 8inks is industrializing its tech via an in-house pilot plant, employing eight people, and demonstrating commercial viability to lower adoption barriers.[2][3]
Founded as an ETH Zurich spin-off, 8inks emerged from years of battery research led by Dr. Paul Baade, who served as a Pioneer Fellow at the university. The idea crystallized when the team identified that groundbreaking battery technologies—such as advanced materials for EVs and energy storage—were stymied by legacy manufacturing incompatibilities, prompting a pivot to process innovation borrowed from paper and photographic industries.[1][2][3]
Key founders include CEO Dr. Paul Baade, CBO Leon Baade (with go-to-market expertise in automotive tech), CTO Dr. Christina Sauter, and COO Dr. Karl-Philipp Schlichting, both battery and nanoscience experts. Early traction came via 1.6 million euros in non-dilutive grants from Innosuisse, Gebert Rüf Foundation, and others, fueling R&D. A pivotal €3 million pre-seed round in 2024, led by Founderful, validated progress and funded pilot-scale industrialization, marking a shift from academia to commercial execution in Schlieren, Switzerland.[2][3][6]
8inks rides the trillion-dollar battery boom fueled by EV demand and renewable grid storage, where manufacturing lags design innovation—traditional methods hit limits on energy density and cost. Its timing aligns with mass adoption needs for solid-state and high-silicon batteries, amplified by global electrification mandates and falling material costs.[2][3]
Market tailwinds include surging EV sales, policy incentives like the EU's battery passport, and supply chain localization pressures. By simplifying scalable production, 8inks influences the ecosystem as an enabler, lowering barriers for cell makers, accelerating solid-state transitions, and contributing to circular, sustainable energy as highlighted by supporters like Founderful and Gebert Rüf.[3][6]
Next steps focus on pilot verifications, team expansion, and customer pilots to prove tera-scale viability, potentially unlocking partnerships with major OEMs. Trends like AI-optimized batteries, sodium-ion alternatives, and recycling mandates will shape its path, positioning 8inks to capture share in a market projected to hit trillions.
As electrification scales, 8inks' manufacturing revolution—born from spotting production chokepoints—could redefine battery scalability, much like its coating tech redefines electrodes, driving a sustainable energy future from Swiss innovation labs to global factories.[1][2][3]
8links has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
8links's investors include Übermorgen Ventures, Founderful, Angel Invest, another.vc, Business Angels, ETH Foundation, Venture Kick.
8links has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in May 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2024 | $3M Seed | Übermorgen Ventures | Founderful, Angel Invest, Another.vc, Business Angels, ETH Foundation, Venture Kick | Announced |