8inks: The Venture Leader Cleantech setting a new manufacturing standard for batteries

06.10.2025 10:30, Rita Longobardi

Meet Leon Baade, Co-CEO of 8inks. The Cleantech startup offers a patented multi-layer curtain coating technology to battery makers and OEMs. In November, Leon and the other nine Swiss National Cleantech Team members will travel to Munich on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Leon Baade
Location: Zurich
Nationality: German
Graduated from: TU Munich (8inks is an ETH spin-off)
Job title: Co-CEO
Number of employees: 9
Money raised: CHF 5.9M
 
Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
We are setting a new battery manufacturing standard to help battery makers unlock battery cost and performance improvements at scale. We do that by integrating our patented multilayer curtain coating technology with licensing solutions in new and existing battery factories.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are addressing the booming battery market, which is a USD 1 trillion electrification opportunity. Our potential in this market is significant due to our market entry strategy, problem-solving technology, growth projections, and contribution to the strategic value chain.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The core technology behind 8inks originated from our co-founders’s (Paul Baade) research at ETH Zurich during his PhD.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
Connecting with key industrial companies and potential investors from the region to present our company, visions and ways to partner.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
The 8inks team's key achievements include derisking the core technology for the battery market, a strong intellectual property portfolio, a pilot facility capable of producing at three times industrial speeds, significant industry endorsements and collaborations, and CHF 5,9 million in raised to date.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Challenging the status quo.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Resilience and consistency matter a lot.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
Focus your efforts on the 2-3 key points to land (per day/ week / xyz timeframe) and reduce noise as much as possible.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
An airplane pilot.