The company guide gap from Aachen, launched as ivilion by Jannik Bühring, Maximilian Schirp and Jana Maria Weinand, develops “next generation battery systems”. “Our business model is based on two pillars: project-based engineering and prototyping services as well as a scalable license model for series production,” says founder Weinand.
In an interview with deutsche-startups.de, the leitspalt creator introduces her company in detail.
How would you tell your grandmother? explain?
Batteries are like people – they only work in a very specific temperature range. However, modern battery cells have increasingly high energy densities and thus generate more and more heat. If this heat is not dissipated reliably, the service life and, in the worst case, the safety of the battery will suffer – a battery fire will occur. Current cooling solutions are increasingly reaching their limits. Either they are inexpensive and not very effective, or they offer high cooling performance but are very expensive. We have developed a structure that combines the advantages of both worlds: a high-performance cooling solution at low costs. This allows electric vehicles to charge significantly faster without overloading the battery or aging it unnecessarily. Simply put: We ensure that batteries remain within the optimal temperature window under all conditions and can achieve their full performance – regardless of which cell technology is used.
How do you want to make money – so how exactly does your business model work?
We are developing the next generation of battery systems – significantly more efficient, safer, more cost-effective and more sustainable than existing solutions. Our business model is based on two pillars: project-based engineering and prototyping services and a scalable license model for series production. In the first step, we work closely with our customers, OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers of electric vehicles. In specific development projects, we design the new battery system, build prototypes and accompany them through to the B/C sample. The aim is to develop a tailor-made battery system for each vehicle that optimally supports our customer’s technical and economic goals. In the second step, we license the blueprints of the optimized battery system for series production. In this way, we combine customer-specific development work with a scalable, recurring revenue model that integrates precisely into existing supply chains.
How is the idea too leitspalt developed?
The idea emerged directly from aerospace research at RWTH Aachen University. My two co-founders, Jannik Bühring and Maximilian Schirp-Schoenen, conducted intensive research there on structural mechanics and thermal management. Multifunctionality is a central principle in aerospace. This means that individual components take on multiple functions in a system at the same time in order to reduce weight and increase efficiency. The two have transferred this principle to automotive battery systems – an area where there is traditionally a separation of functions. This creates complex battery pack designs with many individual components, additional weight and inefficient heat dissipation. This discrepancy gave rise to a new approach: combining the cooling system, cell holder and packaging, i.e. the three central functions in the battery pack, in a single, multifunctional component. This is exactly where Leitspalt came into being.
What were the biggest challenges you have had to overcome so far?
In the first year of founding, one of the biggest challenges was maintaining the balance between market dynamics, investor requirements and our technological development while maintaining the necessary cash flow. The automotive industry has traditionally acted cautiously. Decision-making processes are long, technical validations are extensive and the willingness to take risks is low. It usually takes several months between the initial meeting, technical discussions, offer and a final signed contract. Investors, on the other hand, expect visible commercial proof points and reliable traction at an early stage. Balancing these two speeds is challenging for a young deep tech startup. At the same time, it was precisely this experience that forced us to quickly build resilience, deal with setbacks constructively and set our priorities sharply.
Which project will soon be at the top of your agenda?
Our next big milestone is the launch of a joint PoC with an automotive OEM. We are already in several advanced discussions and preliminary studies with various manufacturers. This step is technologically and strategically important for us, as we can validate our cooling solution under real automotive conditions for the first time. At the same time, we are preparing our fundraising for the pre-seed round. This funding is critical to expanding our team, building a pilot line, and moving into the next phase of development.
Where is the guide gap? in a year?
In a year we will be working in a significantly larger location, including our own pilot line, which we will start building in 2026. At the same time, we want to significantly expand our team. In 2026 we will start with ten people. Over the next twelve months we plan to potentially double the team, with a strong engineering team and a sales and marketing team building new partnerships. Technologically, our most important milestone is the integration of our structure into a test vehicle, including comprehensive validation on the road and on the test bench. In this way, we significantly reduce the technical risk and create the basis for further pilot projects with OEMs.
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