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Sakuu

HardwareSan Jose, USAFounded 2017· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Sakuu (formerly KeraCel) is developing the Kavian™ platform, a multi-material, multi-process additive manufacturing system for at-scale production of next-generation solid-state and lithium-metal batteries.

CEO / Founder
Robert Bagheri
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$84.3M
Latest Round
Series C
Key Investors
Musashi Seimitsu; NGK; Scrum Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

Sakuu Kavian Platform, the world's first manufacturing solution to print battery electrodes using dry process.

Technological Advantage

Kavian™ platform allows rapid and scalable production of batteries with custom form factors and higher energy densities. Proprietary 3D printing for solid-state batteries with UN38.3 certified chemistry. Significant advantage in speed-to-market, manufacturing flexibility, and sustainability.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables cost-effective, sustainable, and high-volume manufacturing of high-performance, customizable solid-state batteries using a proprietary dry-process additive manufacturing method, overcoming limitations of traditional battery production.

How They Differentiate

Sakuu differentiates by focusing on the manufacturing process itself, not just the battery chemistry. While competitors like QuantumScape and Solid Power focus on developing solid-state materials, Sakuu provides the hardware platform (Kavian™) to produce them at scale using a sustainable dry-process method. Unlike other AM companies, Sakuu's platform is purpose-built for mass production of active devices like batteries.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Battery manufacturers and OEMs in the automotive, aerospace, energy storage, and industrial sectors.

Industry Verticals

["Automotive (EV)","Energy Storage","Aerospace/Defense","Industrial"]

Competitors

QuantumScape

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Moved from R&D to pilot production; opened 79,000-sq-ft engineering facility; secured key development partnerships for Kavian™ platform; UN38.3 certification achieved 2024.

Major Milestones

["2016: Founded as KeraCel in San Jose, CA","2016: First 3D printed ceramic battery","2019: Strategic investment from Musashi Seimitsu","2021: Rebranded to Sakuu","2022: Opened 79,000-square-foot battery printing and engineering facility in Silicon Valley","2023: Successfully 3D printed fully functional patterned batteries with custom shapes and sizes","2023: Established key partnerships with SK On, NGK, and Livent","2023 Jul: Mutually terminated planned business combination with Plum Acquisition Corp. I","2024: Achieved UN38.3 certification for battery chemistry","2024: FII Innovator Award","2024: Joint Development Agreements with SK On and ELEQTRION"]

Notable Customers

SK On; EV and energy storage OEMs

https://www.sakuu.com

Why this company matters

Sakuu (formerly KeraCel) is developing the Kavian platform, a multi-material, multi-process additive manufacturing system designed for high-volume production of solid-state and lithium-metal batteries. Unlike conventional battery manufacturing, which relies on wet-slurry electrode coating, Sakuu's proprietary dry-process method reduces energy consumption, factory footprint, and material waste. The Kavian platform uniquely combines powder bed and material jetting of dissimilar materials—ceramic, metal, and polymer—in a single machine, enabling rapid production of batteries with custom form factors and higher energy densities.

The company targets battery manufacturers and OEMs in automotive, aerospace, energy storage, and industrial sectors. Sakuu has secured development partnerships with SK On, NGK, Livent, Musashi Seimitsu, and ELEQTRION. In 2024, its battery chemistry achieved UN38.3 certification, a key regulatory milestone for lithium battery transport. The company has moved from R&D to pilot production, operating a 79,000-square-foot engineering facility in Silicon Valley.

Sakuu differentiates from competitors like QuantumScape by focusing on the manufacturing process rather than battery chemistry alone. While QuantumScape develops solid-state materials, Sakuu provides the hardware platform to produce those batteries at scale. The company positions itself as a technology provider for the battery industry, not a cell producer. Sakuu has raised $84.3 million from investors including Musashi Seimitsu, NGK, and Scrum Ventures. A planned business combination with Plum Acquisition Corp. I was mutually terminated in July 2023.