Founder: Dr. Rajan Kumar
Business: Ateios
Revenue/Month: Expected global market worth of more than $1.5 billion by 2025
Founders: 1
Employees: 9 team members
Website: ateios.com
Location: Newberry, Indiana, United States
Founded: 2017, renamed to Ateios in 2018
In the competitive field of battery production, one company is breaking traditional manufacturing boundaries with an innovative approach. Ateios, operating under parent Ocella Inc., has developed a groundbreaking battery curing process that uses light instead of conventional heat methods, allowing for the creation of customizable, flexible batteries in various shapes and power capacities.
Dr. Rajan Kumar, CEO and founder of Ateios, explains the significance of their innovation: “We’ve completely reconsidered how batteries should be manufactured. Our process breaks free from traditional constraints, enabling truly flexible power solutions that can be adapted to almost any form factor.”
The results of Kumar’s visionary approach are striking. Through their innovative methodology and proprietary slurry formulation, Ateios produces batteries that are remarkably 10 times faster to manufacture, 10 times more cost-effective, and 10 times safer than batteries produced through standard techniques.
“The metrics speak for themselves,” Kumar notes. “When you can create a product that’s simultaneously faster to produce, less expensive, and safer, you’ve hit the manufacturing trifecta that opens doors to applications previously thought impossible.”
Currently, Ateios offers two key products in their portfolio. Enercalm, featuring primary battery chemistry, was introduced to the market in November 2021. Its companion product, Enerthin, incorporates rechargeable battery chemistry and while not widely available to the general public, can be acquired through special order arrangements.
“Enercalm represented our first major commercial success,” Kumar reflects. “The market response validated our core technology approach, which gave us confidence to advance with Enerthin’s rechargeable capabilities.”
The company’s evolution demonstrates notable advancement since its beginnings. Kumar built the venture from a modest two-person operation with no market-ready offerings into a company with nine team members and two commercially available products.
“Starting with just an idea and a co-founder, we’ve expanded both our team and our technological capabilities,” Kumar says. “Each new team member has brought valuable expertise that has accelerated our progress.”
Ateios has cultivated a customer base primarily composed of manufacturers in the medical device and e-textile sectors, with an additional client in the smart device industry. While positioned within the broader Internet of Things ecosystem, its current strategic focus centers on smaller smart devices that benefit from their flexible battery solutions.
“Our flexible batteries unlock design possibilities that rigid power sources simply can’t match,” Kumar points out. “For medical devices and smart textiles especially, this flexibility creates entirely new product categories that weren’t viable before.”
From Lab Innovation to Battery Revolution
The transformation of Ateios from academic research to commercial enterprise highlights how scientific discovery can lead to industrial reinvention when paired with entrepreneurial vision. What began as a specialized university project has evolved into a company challenging fundamental assumptions about battery manufacturing through persistence and adaptation.
Dr. Kumar’s path to founding Ateios wasn’t initially charted toward revolutionizing battery production methods. His journey originated in doctoral research, where he developed something groundbreaking: the world’s first printable stretchable battery using a conductive ink formulation he created himself.
“That initial breakthrough was almost accidental,” Kumar recalls. “I was working with conductive inks and realized their potential application for flexible power sources. The stretchable battery concept became the spark that ignited my fascination with reimagining what batteries could be.”
His first concept positioned Ateios as a flexible battery company with distinctive chemistry and unique applications. Market feedback, however, revealed an unexpected obstacle that would require a fundamental shift in thinking.
“We heard consistent enthusiasm about our flexible battery possibilities,” Kumar explains, “but the same potential customers kept raising red flags about production feasibility. They loved the concept but couldn’t see how it would work in practice with existing manufacturing infrastructure.”
It became increasingly clear that conventional battery manufacturing methods simply couldn’t accommodate Kumar’s chemistry or product vision. Confronted with this fundamental constraint, Kumar made a pivotal decision that would redefine the company’s trajectory.
“Rather than compromising our technology to fit outdated manufacturing methods, we decided to reinvent the manufacturing process itself,” Kumar states. “It was risky, but ultimately necessary to deliver on the promise of truly flexible power solutions.”
The company’s technological journey began with exploring applications for e-textiles, but the volatile nature of lithium presented significant safety concerns for wearable technology. This limitation pushed Kumar in a new direction.
“Safety is non-negotiable, especially in wearables that make direct contact with the body,” Kumar points out. “The lithium challenges led us to investigate alternative battery chemistries using zinc, which opened doors to our first potential customer conversation.”
During this period, Kumar was completing his PhD and envisioned creating a subsidiary company under the customer’s umbrella that he would personally manage. This planned partnership ultimately dissolved due to creative differences with his professor and legal complications with the academic institution.
“Those early setbacks were frustrating but instructive,” Kumar reflects. “Despite the partnership falling through, the considerable interest in our chemistry and conductive ink innovations confirmed we were onto something with exceptional value.”
Financing the fledgling operation presented yet another hurdle. Kumar tapped personal savings while simultaneously pursuing multiple funding avenues to keep the vision alive.
“We entered every business competition we could find and applied for grants constantly,” he says. “My university connection provided temporary advantages, allowing us to rent laboratory space and equipment during my doctoral studies—resources we otherwise couldn’t have afforded.”
The company began in 2017 under the name Ocella, drawing inspiration from an optical phenomenon observed in butterfly wings. By 2018, as Kumar’s vision expanded beyond creating a single innovative battery to developing an extensive product range based on his battery chemistry, he renamed the company.
“We became Ateios—conceptualized as ‘a tech oasis’—to reflect our broader mission,” Kumar notes. “The name represents our goal of creating an abundant source of technological possibilities centered around our flexible power solutions.”
Product Evolution Through Scientific Perseverance
The road from laboratory concept to commercial battery product requires balancing scientific exploration with market realities—a challenge that tests both technical ingenuity and business acumen. For Ateios, this journey demanded constant adaptation while maintaining focused determination to advance their core technology through multiple iterations before reaching viable commercial applications.
Enercalm, the company’s flagship product, entered the market in November 2021, representing the culmination of four years of intensive development since Ateios’s founding in 2017. This timeline reflects significant strategic shifts necessary before product launch became viable.
“Those four years were a constant exercise in scientific problem-solving,” Dr. Kumar explains. “We knew our technology had potential, but translating that into a market-ready product meant confronting numerous technical hurdles while simultaneously building a viable business.”
A fundamental shift occurred when Kumar’s team transitioned from coin cell to pouch cell battery architecture. Initially, coin cell batteries dominated the company’s focus, aligning with market trends at the time. However, comprehensive research revealed an alternative approach with superior characteristics.
“Our research showed that pouch cell batteries offered significantly better power output and longevity,” Kumar notes. “This discovery prompted a complete strategic pivot in our chemistry formulation to optimize for this configuration, essentially reworking our core technology.”
The chemistry redevelopment proved exceptionally challenging. While numerous materials can theoretically function in battery applications, identifying the optimal formulation presented considerable difficulties, particularly with limited resources.
“In theory, dozens of materials could work in batteries. In practice, finding the perfect formulation was like searching for a needle in a haystack,” Kumar says. “The challenge intensified as we had to balance ongoing R&D with other operational demands, all without a dedicated battery expert on staff during those early technical development phases.”
Production occurred entirely in-house, with the team developing proprietary anodes and cathodes that underwent drying before being precision-cut to specification. These components were then assembled into battery shells with electrolyte and sealed.
“We controlled every aspect of production, from developing our own anodes and cathodes to final assembly,” Kumar points out. “Since our batteries were designed for internal device integration, aesthetic considerations remained secondary to performance specifications.”
For customer-specific orders, dimensions and thickness followed client requirements, while the company’s standard offerings adhered to market conventions while maintaining customization options.
“Our value proposition centered primarily on chemical innovation rather than visual design,” Kumar explains. “We focused on creating batteries that would work exceptionally well inside our customers’ products, rather than batteries that looked good on a shelf.”
To accelerate chemical development, Kumar turned to industry experts and academic literature, effectively narrowing the field of potential formulations.
“We couldn’t afford to test every possible chemical combination, so we leveraged existing knowledge to narrow our options,” he says. “This strategic approach yielded quick identification of promising chemistries, allowing us to select and refine our optimal solution without wasting resources.”
The design process proceeded with pragmatic efficiency given the company’s unique constraints and objectives.
“Our focus on customizable batteries that could conform to various shapes meant our initial design prioritized functionality over distinctive aesthetics,” Kumar recalls. “The resulting pouch configuration featured our company logo—largely a symbolic choice since the batteries would ultimately be concealed within finished products.”
This straightforward design approach enabled the production of functional samples for customer testing and demonstration units that showcased the battery’s flexibility.
“The demo units were crucial for helping potential clients visualize implementation possibilities,” Kumar says. “Many couldn’t grasp the concept of a flexible battery until they saw it bend with their own eyes.”
The company’s launch followed an unconventional path shaped by its academic origins. Initial operations began within a university program supporting PhD student entrepreneurship.
“Starting within the university gave us access to essential laboratory and meeting facilities we couldn’t have afforded otherwise,” Kumar notes. “It was far from glamorous, but it gave us the foundation we needed.”
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants and similar funding mechanisms sustained research operations through Kumar’s graduation. Subsequently, joining The Heritage Group Accelerator (powered by TechStars) in Indianapolis provided crucial business development resources.
“The accelerator experience was transformative,” Kumar states. “Beyond the obvious business development resources and market research opportunities, it facilitated introductions to potential investors that we simply couldn’t have made on our own.”
This preparatory phase culminated in a successful seed funding round while the company incubated at the Battery Innovation Center—all amid the unprecedented disruptions of the pandemic.
“Launching during COVID created extraordinary challenges, but it also forced us to be extremely resourceful,” Kumar reflects. “In retrospect, those constraints may have made us stronger by eliminating any tendency toward excess or waste.”
Kumar emphasizes the importance of authentic development rather than emulating well-known tech success stories.
“We didn’t follow the typical Silicon Valley playbook, and that’s okay,” he says. “Despite our atypical genesis, I value the unique advantages our academic starting point provided, including access to grant funding and visibility through university-affiliated organizations.”
The TechStars accelerator connection proved particularly valuable beyond mere funding opportunities.
“TechStars not only accelerated our funding pathways but also introduced us to Indiana’s specialized battery manufacturing sector,” Kumar points out. “Discovering this regional industrial capacity was essential to our survival and growth.”
Since launching as Ocella, the company has maintained one primary customer relationship from its inception—a remarkable achievement in a volatile market.
“That first customer relationship has endured through every challenge,” Kumar says. “I attribute this retention to personal connection and mutual belief. Beyond product functionality, customer relationships often hinge on faith in the founder’s vision and capabilities—factors that sustained this pivotal partnership through various difficulties.”
Kumar advocates surrounding oneself with intellectually superior team members when building a tech venture.
“While investors scrutinize advisory boards, I’ve found that broader team composition proves equally crucial to success,” he observes. “You want people who challenge your thinking and bring expertise you don’t possess.”
The pandemic disrupted conventional marketing and customer acquisition channels, forcing adaptive strategies.
“When traditional sales channels vanished overnight, we had to get creative,” Kumar explains. “Strategic partnerships with larger laboratories who promoted Ateios at conferences—both virtual and in-person—generated critical visibility regarding our capabilities when we couldn’t travel or meet potential customers face-to-face.”
While current business remains focused on customized battery solutions rather than standard products, Kumar maintains an optimistic perspective on growth trajectories.
“Every customer engagement and mention in the market contributes positively to our growth,” he says. “I anticipate that increasing purchase orders will enable expanded production capacity for our standard product lines, ultimately enhancing accessibility and sales volume as we scale.”
Strategic Expansion in a Critical Growth Phase
Moving from small-scale production to industrial manufacturing represents a watershed moment for technology startups—a transition that demands meticulous planning, substantial investment, and unwavering focus. For Ateios, this expansion phase marks a crucial inflection point as they prepare to transform their innovative battery technology from specialized production into a scalable global operation.
The company currently maintains a rigorous operational tempo, with multiple simultaneous priorities competing for attention. The team divides its focus between creating customer samples and prototypes, refining their proprietary battery chemistry, exploring new design configurations, and managing the routine administrative requirements of running a growing enterprise.
“We’re operating at full capacity across multiple fronts simultaneously,” Dr. Kumar explains. “Each day requires balancing immediate customer needs with longer-term strategic objectives—creating prototypes for clients while simultaneously perfecting our chemistry and designing new configurations.”
Ateios continues to operate from the Battery Innovation Center, though substantial changes are on the horizon for their physical operations.
“The Battery Innovation Center has been an ideal incubation environment, but we’ve reached a point where our growth requires more dedicated space,” Kumar notes. “Plans are already underway to establish our own manufacturing facility within the year—a move that represents a fundamental shift in our operational capabilities.”
This factory represents a critical strategic milestone that will enable substantial production capacity increases while simultaneously reducing costs and labor requirements.
“Our own facility will transform what we can deliver in terms of volume, cost, and turnaround time,” Kumar says. “The efficiencies we’ll gain aren’t just incremental—they’re transformative. We’ll be able to produce more batteries with less manual intervention at significantly lower cost points.”
Dr. Kumar acknowledges the complexity of this transition but expresses confidence in the team’s preparedness for this significant operational advancement.
“Establishing a manufacturing facility involves countless moving parts beyond just securing a building,” he points out. “We’ve spent months planning everything from equipment procurement to workflow optimization to ensure this transition enhances rather than disrupts our delivery capabilities.”
A parallel initiative focuses on improving product distribution capabilities, particularly for international markets. Current manufacturing occurs exclusively within the United States—a strategic choice with mixed implications.
“Manufacturing in America provides distinct marketing advantages domestically,” Kumar observes. “Many U.S. customers explicitly prefer American-made components. However, this same fact creates logistical complexities when serving global clients who need faster local fulfillment.”
Perhaps most significantly, the company is working to solve one of the industry’s most persistent transportation challenges: the prohibition against air shipment of lithium-ion batteries.
“The air transport restriction on lithium batteries represents a massive hurdle for the entire industry,” Kumar explains. “When you can’t ship by air, you’re looking at weeks instead of days for international deliveries—a timeline that’s simply unacceptable for many applications.”
This regulatory restriction substantially impacts global distribution capabilities throughout the battery sector. Ateios has potentially identified a technical solution to this obstacle—an innovation that could dramatically enhance their production scalability and customer reach worldwide.
“We’ve developed what we believe is a viable technical approach that addresses the core safety concerns behind these shipping restrictions,” Kumar reveals. “If successfully implemented and approved by regulatory bodies, this innovation could fundamentally alter our ability to serve global markets with the speed and efficiency they require.”
The potential impact of solving this industry-wide challenge extends far beyond Ateios’s immediate operations.
“This isn’t just about improving our own distribution,” Kumar emphasizes. “Finding a safe way to transport advanced batteries by air could accelerate adoption of new power technologies across multiple industries globally—especially in remote regions where ground transportation adds prohibitive time and expense.”
Hard-Earned Wisdom for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The path from innovative concept to market success is rarely straightforward, particularly in hardware and manufacturing sectors where physical realities impose constraints that software startups may not face. The lessons Dr. Kumar acquired through building Ateios offer practical guidance for entrepreneurs navigating the complex terrain of deep technology ventures, highlighting both universal challenges and industry-specific insights.
Dr. Kumar emphasizes the inevitability of receiving contradictory guidance throughout the entrepreneurial process. Amid this confusion, he stresses the critical importance of maintaining conviction in your core concept while substantiating that belief with robust data.
“You’ll get conflicting advice constantly—it’s simply unavoidable,” Kumar points out. “One advisor will tell you to focus exclusively on product development while another insists you prioritize marketing. What keeps you centered amid these contradictions is unwavering belief in your core concept, backed by solid data.”
Market signals often present a mixed picture—for every enthusiastic potential customer, there may be an equally skeptical voice questioning the product’s necessity.
“We found this fascinating pattern where roughly half of potential customers would express excitement about our technology while the other half questioned why anyone would need it,” Kumar says. “This balanced ratio of enthusiasm and skepticism appears to be a constant regardless of the innovation’s actual merit. Understanding this helped us avoid being discouraged by skeptics.”
The caliber of one’s team receives particular emphasis in Kumar’s philosophy. While investors typically scrutinize advisory boards for credibility signals, Kumar highlights a different priority.
“Investors often fixate on advisory boards, but daily operations and execution depend primarily on your core team,” he explains. “I’ve learned to build our organization with individuals whose expertise exceeds my own in their respective domains. When your engineer knows more about engineering than you do, your chemist knows more about chemistry than you do—that’s when you’re positioned for success.”
This approach to team building extends beyond simply hiring qualified personnel—it requires creating an environment where authentic feedback flourishes.
“I’ve lost count of how many times my initial ideas proved flawed,” Kumar acknowledges. “These revelations were only possible through candid team input in an environment where people felt safe challenging the CEO. If you surround yourself with yes-people, you’ll march confidently in the wrong direction.”
He cautions against surrounding oneself with acquiescent team members, instead valuing collaborators who contribute fresh perspectives while sharing the company’s fundamental passion.
“You need people who will tell you when you’re wrong but who share your essential excitement about what you’re building,” Kumar notes. “That combination—technical expertise, willingness to speak truth, and genuine passion for the mission—is incredibly powerful.”
Thorough research before launch represents another cornerstone of Kumar’s advice. Despite acknowledging that circumstances sometimes constrain this ideal, he identifies inadequate scientific and market research as the primary factor behind Ateios’s early pivots.
“If I could go back in time, I would have invested more heavily in comprehensive research before making key directional decisions,” Kumar reflects. “While I value the developmental journey our pivots initiated, I recognize that more extensive preliminary research could have streamlined our evolution significantly and saved precious resources.”
Kumar concludes with a caution against excessive comparison to celebrated tech founders.
“The widely publicized success stories of technology giants represent anomalies rather than replicable patterns,” he warns. “Each company follows its unique developmental arc, making such comparisons potentially counterproductive. Early in my leadership role, I found myself measuring our progress against established tech executives—an exercise that ultimately distracted me from the essential work of building Ateios according to its specific needs and opportunities.”
“Your path won’t look like Steve Jobs’ or Elon Musk’s, and that’s entirely appropriate,” Kumar emphasizes. “Focus instead on understanding your specific industry, customers, and technology. Success won’t come from emulating someone else’s journey—it will come from charting the course that’s uniquely right for your innovation.”
Success Factors: Why Did Ateios Succeed?
- Technical Innovation and Flexibility – Dr. Kumar’s development of light-based battery curing (rather than conventional heat methods) created a fundamental competitive advantage, enabling batteries that are 10 times faster to manufacture, more cost-effective, and safer.
- Willingness to Pivot – When Kumar discovered that conventional manufacturing couldn’t accommodate his chemistry, instead of compromising his vision, he boldly pivoted to reinvent the manufacturing process itself.
- Academic Foundation – The company’s origins in Kumar’s doctoral research provided unique advantages, including access to university lab space, equipment, and grant funding opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to a typical startup.
- Strategic Partnerships – The relationship with The Heritage Group Accelerator (powered by TechStars) and the Battery Innovation Center provided crucial business development resources and connections to Indiana’s specialized battery manufacturing sector.
- Customer Retention – Maintaining one primary customer relationship since inception showed the company’s ability to deliver value and build trust, with Kumar attributing this to “personal connection and mutual belief” beyond just product functionality.
- Team Composition – Kumar emphasized surrounding himself with team members whose expertise exceeded his own in their respective domains, creating an environment where authentic feedback could flourish.
- Adaptation to Challenges – When the pandemic disrupted conventional marketing channels, the company formed strategic partnerships with larger laboratories who promoted Ateios at conferences to maintain visibility.
- Focused Problem-Solving – Addressing industry-wide challenges, such as working on solutions to the prohibition against air shipment of lithium-ion batteries, positioned the company to potentially solve problems extending beyond their immediate operations.
- Authentic Development Approach – Rather than trying to emulate well-known tech success stories, Kumar valued the company’s unique path and leveraged its distinctive advantages.
- Data-Backed Conviction – Maintaining belief in the core concept while substantiating that belief with robust data helped navigate contradictory guidance and mixed market signals.
Key Lessons to Learn
Based on the article, the Ateios story offers several valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and business leaders:
- Persevere through contradictory guidance – Dr. Kumar emphasized that receiving conflicting advice is inevitable. The key is maintaining conviction in your core concept while backing it with solid data, rather than becoming paralyzed by contradictions.
- Prioritize team quality over advisory boards – While investors often focus on advisory boards, Kumar stressed that daily operations depend on your core team. Building an organization with experts who exceed your own knowledge in their domains is crucial.
- Create an environment for honest feedback – Kumar acknowledged that many of his initial ideas proved flawed, and these revelations came through candid team input. Surrounding yourself with people who will tell you when you’re wrong but share your passion is invaluable.
- Be willing to reinvent, not just adapt – When Kumar discovered conventional manufacturing couldn’t accommodate his chemistry, rather than compromising, he chose to reinvent the manufacturing process itself—demonstrating that sometimes the biggest obstacles require fundamental rethinking.
- Invest in thorough research before launch – Kumar identified inadequate scientific and market research as the primary factor behind Ateios’s early pivots. While pivots led to valuable development, more comprehensive preliminary research could have streamlined their evolution.
- Leverage your unique starting point – The company’s academic origins provided distinctive advantages in accessing grant funding and university resources. Rather than viewing this as a disadvantage compared to traditional startups, Kumar recognized and capitalized on these unique benefits.
- Avoid excessive comparison to tech icons – Kumar cautioned against measuring progress against celebrated tech founders, noting that widely publicized success stories represent anomalies rather than replicable patterns. Focus instead on your specific industry, customers, and technology.
- Expect mixed market signals – Kumar observed that regardless of an innovation’s merit, there will likely be a balanced ratio of enthusiasm and skepticism from potential customers. Understanding this pattern helps prevent discouragement from skeptical feedback.
- Build authentic customer relationships – Maintaining one primary customer relationship since inception demonstrated the importance of personal connections and mutual belief beyond just product functionality.
- Balance scientific exploration with commercial pragmatism – The entire Ateios journey illustrates the delicate balance required between pursuing technical innovation and meeting market realities—showing how adaptability and focus on advancement must coexist.
Opportunity Matrix
Founder Background
- Dr. Rajan Kumar has a PhD with specialization in battery technology
- Developed the world’s first printable stretchable battery using a conductive ink formulation during doctoral research
- Academic foundation provided access to university resources and grant funding opportunities
- Strong technical expertise in battery chemistry and materials science
Problem Identification
- Traditional battery manufacturing methods are inflexible, limiting design possibilities
- Conventional batteries can’t conform to various shapes needed for innovative applications
- Existing manufacturing processes couldn’t accommodate Kumar’s chemistry or product vision
- Thermal curing in traditional battery production creates safety concerns and production bottlenecks
- Need for flexible power solutions in emerging industries (medical devices, e-textiles, smart devices)
Market Opportunity
- Growing demand for customizable, flexible batteries in various shapes and power capacities
- Expanding Internet of Things ecosystem requiring specialized power solutions
- Medical device and e-textile sectors seeking flexible power sources
- Smart device industry needs batteries that can conform to design requirements
- Opportunity to transform battery manufacturing with light-based curing technology
Competitive Landscape
- Industry dominated by traditional battery manufacturing methods
- Few companies focusing on flexible battery solutions
- Competitors primarily using conventional heat-based production techniques
- Ateios differentiated by proprietary light-curing process and slurry formulation
- Unique position with batteries that are 10x faster to manufacture, 10x more cost-effective, and 10x safer
Market Research
- Initial market feedback revealed enthusiasm about flexible battery possibilities
- Approximately 50% of potential customers expressed excitement while 50% questioned the need
- Research revealed pouch cell batteries offered superior power output and longevity over coin cells
- Customer input highlighted concerns about production feasibility with conventional methods
- Exploration of applications for e-textiles identified safety challenges with lithium for wearables
Business Model
- Custom battery solutions for specific client needs and applications
- Two primary product lines: Enercalm (primary battery chemistry) and Enerthin (rechargeable)
- Focus on B2B sales to manufacturers rather than direct-to-consumer
- Value proposition centered on chemical innovation rather than visual design
- Long-term client relationships built on personal connection and mutual belief in technology
Initial Capital
- Personal savings from founder
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants
- Funding from business competitions
- University-affiliated resources and equipment access during doctoral studies
- Seed funding round after accelerator program participation
Product/Service Development
- Transition from coin cell to pouch cell battery architecture based on performance research
- Proprietary anodes and cathodes developed in-house
- Chemistry redevelopment to optimize for pouch configuration
- Strategic approach using industry experts and academic literature to narrow potential formulations
- Pragmatic design process prioritizing functionality over aesthetics
- Production of functional samples for customer testing and demonstration units
Marketing Strategy
- Strategic partnerships with larger laboratories who promoted Ateios at conferences
- Adaptation to pandemic disruptions through virtual conference participation
- Demonstration units showcasing battery flexibility to help potential clients visualize applications
- Leveraging “Made in America” as marketing advantage for domestic customers
- Reliance on word-of-mouth and industry connections rather than traditional advertising
Milestones
- 2017: Company founded under name Ocella
- 2018: Renamed to Ateios (“a tech oasis”)
- Transition from two-person operation to team of nine
- November 2021: Enercalm (primary battery) market introduction
- Development of Enerthin (rechargeable battery)
- Participation in The Heritage Group Accelerator (powered by TechStars)
- Incubation at the Battery Innovation Center
- Successful seed funding round
Scalability
- Plans to establish dedicated manufacturing facility within a year
- Factory will enable substantial production capacity increases
- Manufacturing facility expected to reduce costs and labor requirements
- Working on solution to prohibition against air shipment of lithium-ion batteries
- Current manufacturing exclusively in US with plans for improved international distribution
- Anticipation that increasing purchase orders will enable expanded production for standard product lines
Potential Risks and Challenges
- Transportation regulations limiting international distribution (air shipment prohibition)
- Need for substantial capital to establish manufacturing facility
- Balance between custom solutions and standardized product development
- Competition from established battery manufacturers
- Technical challenges in scaling production while maintaining quality
- Absence of dedicated battery expert during early development phases
- Team bandwidth limitations while managing multiple simultaneous priorities
Key Performance Indicators/Metrics
- Production speed (10x faster than traditional methods)
- Cost-effectiveness (10x more cost-effective)
- Safety metrics (10x safer)
- Customer retention (maintained primary customer since inception)
- Product development timeline (four years from founding to market launch)
- Team growth (from two people to nine)
- Production capacity expansion with new facility
- Success in solving industry challenges (like air transportation restrictions)
- Purchase order volume growth