Sila, the battery materials startup founded by former Tesla engineer Gene Berdichevsky, has raised $300 million in a private equity round led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures. The round also drew participation from 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, and funds advised by T. Rowe Price Associates [1].
The capital will fund expansion of Sila’s 160-acre manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington, which began operations in fall 2025 with an initial 2 GWh of annual capacity. The company aims to scale the site to 250 GWh over the next five years — a buildout that would make it the world’s largest anode production facility and generate enough material to power more than 100,000 electric vehicles [2].
The round comes as the broader EV market faces a demand slowdown, but investor appetite for battery supply chain companies with U.S. manufacturing footprints remains strong. China currently controls over 90% of global anode material processing and more than 80% of battery cell production, a concentration that has drawn national security scrutiny [4].
The Round
The $300 million raise adds to more than $1 billion Sila has raised previously, including a $375 million round in June 2024 [4]. PitchBook valued the company at close to $2 billion two years ago [1]. The investor roster includes In-Q-Tel, the venture arm of the U.S. intelligence community, which is an existing backer [4].
Sutter Hill Ventures partner Vic Miller framed the investment as a bet on Sila’s manufacturing execution. The firm has been involved with the company since its earlier stages [3].
The Technology
Sila’s flagship product, Titan Silicon, is a silicon-carbon composite anode material that replaces the graphite traditionally used in lithium-ion battery anodes. The material delivers roughly 20% higher energy density by weight than conventional graphite and enables faster charging times [3].
The technology first reached consumers in 2021 through the WHOOP fitness band. On the automotive side, Mercedes-Benz has announced the electric EQG as the first vehicle to incorporate Sila’s material, though no automotive batteries have shipped yet. Panasonic is also a supply partner [3][4].
REC Silicon provides silane gas to Sila under a long-term supply agreement, anchoring the raw material input for the Moses Lake facility [4].
The Factory
Sila’s Moses Lake plant sits on 160 acres and completed construction and initial operations in fall 2025 with Phase 1 capacity of 2 GWh annually [2]. The $300 million will fund Phase 2, which targets a dramatic ramp to 250 GWh over five years [2].
The expansion is expected to create several hundred additional jobs in Washington State [2]. Beyond electric vehicles, Sila is targeting applications in drones, satellites, robotics, and AI systems — sectors where high energy density and compact battery form factors are critical [2].
Why It Matters
The raise underscores a broader push to reshore critical battery supply chain links to the United States. China’s dominance in anode processing — controlling over 90% of global capacity — has become a focal point for policymakers concerned about energy security and defense readiness [4].
Sila’s inclusion of In-Q-Tel among its investors signals that the national security establishment views silicon anode materials as strategically important beyond the commercial EV market [4]. The company’s expansion into defense-adjacent applications such as drones and satellites further cements that positioning.
CEO Gene Berdichevsky, who was among Tesla’s earliest employees before founding Sila in 2011, has spent more than a decade developing the silicon anode chemistry. The Moses Lake expansion represents the company’s transition from lab-scale innovation to industrial-scale manufacturing [2][4].
MLQ Newsletter
At the intersection of AI, tech, and markets.
The stories that matter, in one email. Free — unsubscribe anytime.
You’re subscribed!
