Energy Transition
GROUP14
Advanced Silicon Battery Material
Founded:
2015
Located
Washington, United States
We invested
Later Stage
EARTH-FIRST VISION
The world’s energy demand is expected to increase by 58% by 2050, but today’s battery technology isn’t keeping up. Performance, cost, and scalability remain major barriers to full electrification. Group14 is changing that. Backed by a $614 million Series C round led by Porsche AG, with investments from Decarbonization Partners, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, and others, Group14 is scaling up silicon-carbon anode technology to redefine energy storage, pushing the electrification of everything from concept to reality - right now, not decades from now.
THE PROBLEM
Battery technology has made slow, incremental improvements over the years, but the world needs big leaps now to meet the demand for electrification. Traditional lithium-ion batteries struggle with energy density, long charge times, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Performance limits hold back EV adoption, energy storage, and industrial applications. On top of that, China dominates the global silane supply, a key material in silicon battery production, leaving the U.S. battery industry dependent on foreign suppliers. Without a radical shift in battery materials, electrification will remain limited by outdated technology, high costs, and unstable supply chains.
SOLUTIONS
Group14’s SCC55™ is a game-changer for lithium-ion batteries, solving a decades-old challenge in energy storage. Their silicon-carbon anode material provides up to 50% more energy density, enables extreme fast charging, and eliminates “charge anxiety” for EVs.
Built with Scaffold Prime™ technology, SCC55™ is designed for drop-in compatibility, allowing battery makers to blend or fully replace graphite in anodes for lithium-silicon batteries. Manufactured at scale in their BAM factory in Woodinville, Washington, Group14 is ramping up U.S. production to secure domestic supply chains. With strong backing from leading investors and a $100 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, Group14 is not just advancing battery technology, it’s setting the stage for a new era of electrification at a global scale.
THEIR DNAs
Group14 is built by pioneers in energy storage, advanced materials, and manufacturing. CEO Rick Luebbe brings a unique mix of leadership and technical expertise, having served as an Army aviation officer and Bronze Star recipient before co-founding EnerG2, where he led innovations in carbon-based energy storage. His deep understanding of scaling breakthrough materials makes him a driving force behind Group14. CTO Rick Costantino, a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, is a recognized industry innovator with 60+ U.S. patents, spearheading advancements in biopharmaceuticals, energy storage, and battery materials. CTO Mike Willis has spent 15 years in sustainability, previously serving as CFO of Nasdaq-listed Gevo. The team also has decades of experience in specialty chemicals, supply chain leadership, and global business development for deep tech companies.