# Sila raises $300M to bolster battery supply chains with gigascale anode production US company focuses on reducing China dependency through next-gen battery materials. - **Source:** [The Next Web](https://brifing.si/source/afe24b20-b275-4c19-b9a6-8bb3c8babae7) - **Published:** 2026-07-21 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6b20dd00-6fea-4cc6-be3a-6af310e80a92 ## Major funding milestone Sila secured $300M in private equity to expand its silicon anode manufacturing in Moses Lake. The round was led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures, with participation from In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of US intelligence agencies. ## Technological edge Sila's Titan Silicon replaces graphite in lithium-ion batteries, storing 20% more energy by weight. First commercialized in 2021 within WHOOP fitness trackers, this material represents a significant leap in battery performance. ## Automotive ambitions Mercedes-Benz plans to use Sila's material in its electric EQG, though automotive-scale production hasn't begun. The Moses Lake facility aims for 250GWh capacity within five years, potentially becoming one of the largest non-Chinese battery material plants. ## Supply chain shift With China controlling over 90% of anode processing, Sila's domestic production using silane gas from REC Silicon offers an alternative. DOE data underscores the strategic importance of reducing reliance on Chinese graphite. ## National security angle In-Q-Tel's investment signals US defense agencies view domestic battery materials as critical infrastructure. CEO Berdichevsky, among Tesla's earliest employees, has pioneered this technology since founding Sila in 2011. ## Industry inflection point Sila's transition from wearable-scale to automotive production will test silicon anode viability. As billions flow into solid-state and sodium-ion alternatives, this funding round could determine silicon's role in next-gen batteries. ## Sources covering this story - https://thenextweb.com/news/sila-raises-300m-to-fast-track-gigascale-anode-production-and-shore-up-us-battery-supply-chains — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._