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Pila Energy, a battery startup targeting apartments and small homes, is scaling up with a new seed round, founder and CEO Cole Ashman tells Axios Pro.

Why it matters: Batteries are now so low-cost and grid-friendly that novel applications are emerging.

Zoom in: San Francisco-based Pila raised a $4 million seed round led by R7 Partners and including Toyota Ventures, Refactor Capital, and GS Futures.

The seed funding will help the company work with real estate groups and utilities to increase distribution of its batteries across the U.S.

How it works: Pila's "mesh battery" can easily fit in a small condo or apartment and connect via software that links them together and taps sensors for determining, for example, when the fridge or router power goes down.

Most current home battery systems are professionally installed in a garage or backyard for a homeowner.

Pila batteries plug into a standard wall outlet and can be installed without a professional.

Ashman is a vet of the home battery business, having previously worked on Tesla's Powerwall and Span's smart panel.

"We are reimagining that next-generation system to work for 100% of homes, not just the more premium use cases," says Ashman. 

The intrigue: Pila Energy's batteries can also participate in distributed energy resource programs that tap into batteries during peak grid times to help with flexibility.

Distributed energy programs can also help lower energy costs as participating users are compensated.

The big picture: Home batteries are having a moment as the tech drops in cost, retains federal, state and utility subsidies, and offers utilities low-cost access to grid capacity.

Utilities are facing an electricity demand surge and are looking to distributed energy resources for low-cost capacity.  

Case in point: Home battery startup Base Power closed a $1 billion Series C round last week from investors including Google-affiliated CapitalG, Andreessen Horowitz and 1789, which counts Donald Trump Jr. as a partner.

What's next: Pila Energy plans to start shipping its first batteries in late 2025 and ramp up in 2026. 

Exclusive: Mesh home battery startup raises seed

Mesh batteries are a new way for renters to tap home battery systems.

Stainless steel double-door fridge below wooden cabinets with a digital clock and smart power strip reading 12:30 PM on top, lit by warm natural light.

A mesh battery paired with a fridge, created by Pila Energy. Photo: Courtesy of Pila Energy

Pila Energy, a battery startup targeting apartments and small homes, is scaling up with a new seed round, founder and CEO Cole Ashman tells Axios Pro.Why it matters: Batteries are now so low-cost and grid-friendly that novel applications are emerging.

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Exclusive: Mesh home battery startup raises seed

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