Seeo

Seeo, Inc. operated as a specialized developer of advanced rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, positioning itself within the competitive energy storage market. Founded in 2007, the company emerged from research conducted at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The founding team included Berkeley Lab researchers Nitash Balsara, Hany Eitouni, and Mohit Singh, who licensed the solid-state electrolyte technology they developed. Their work centered on creating a block copolymer that was both ionically conductive and mechanically robust, a crucial combination for safer, high-performance batteries. This innovation won an R&D 100 Award in 2008.

The company's core business was the development and eventual manufacturing of solid-state batteries aimed primarily at the electric vehicle (EV) and grid storage sectors. Seeo's business model involved intensive research and development, securing intellectual property, and forming strategic partnerships to commercialize its technology. The company's primary product, the DryLyte™ battery, was based on a proprietary nano-structured solid polymer electrolyte. This key feature differentiated it from conventional lithium-ion batteries, which use flammable liquid electrolytes. The benefits included enhanced safety, as the solid electrolyte is non-flammable and non-volatile, and the potential for significantly higher energy density. By enabling the use of a pure lithium metal anode, a long-sought goal in battery science, Seeo's technology promised to substantially increase energy storage capacity and, consequently, the range of electric vehicles. The company reported achieving an energy density of 350 Wh/kg in some cells, a significant improvement over the batteries used in EVs at the time.

Headquartered in Hayward, California, Seeo established a pilot manufacturing line to produce its batteries. Over its lifetime as a venture-backed startup, the company raised significant capital, including a notable $17 million Series D round in 2014 led by Samsung Ventures. In August 2015, the German industrial conglomerate and major automotive supplier Bosch acquired Seeo, including its intellectual property and research staff, to bolster its own electromobility ambitions. This move was seen as a strategic acquisition for Bosch to gain a foothold in next-generation battery technology. However, in a strategic shift in early 2018, Bosch announced it would not pursue large-scale battery cell production and would sell Seeo, citing the high financial risks involved.

Keywords: solid-state battery, lithium polymer, DryLyte, energy storage, electric vehicle batteries, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Nitash Balsara, Hany Eitouni, Mohit Singh, solid polymer electrolyte, lithium metal anode, high energy density, battery safety, Bosch acquisition, rechargeable batteries, CleanTech, automotive battery technology, grid storage solutions, advanced materials, nanostructured polymer