Ten-Nine Technologies

About Ten-Nine Technologies

Ten-Nine Technologies is a venture-backed materials science company developing a patented cathode nano-additive, TENIX®, designed to improve battery performance. Founded in 2014 by research chemist Paige Johnson, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company aims to address performance limitations in batteries by creating materials from abundant, non-toxic resources. Johnson, whose background is in inorganic synthesis and nano-analysis, started the company with the goal of using practical, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing methods. After numerous experiments, the team developed TENIX®, a material that can be added to existing battery manufacturing lines without requiring changes to their processes.

The company's core product, TENIX®, is a nano-additive that enhances both electronic and ionic conductivity in a battery's cathode. This improves battery performance, especially in stressful conditions like cold temperatures and fast charging, and can extend the useful life of both single-use and rechargeable batteries. The additive is designed to replace small percentages of traditional cathode materials, such as cobalt and nickel, and is produced with a net-zero carbon footprint. The business model is focused on supplying this material to manufacturers in the global energy storage landscape, with applications in electric vehicles and aerospace. Ten-Nine Technologies engages with potential customers and partners for application-specific cell development, aiming for material supply and licensing agreements.

Ten-Nine Technologies has secured multiple rounds of funding to support its growth. In 2020, the company closed a $5 million Series A round led by i2E Management Company, Inc. to build new R&D facilities and a manufacturing plant. This was followed by a $7 million bridge financing round in 2022 to move into early production of its advanced battery materials. The company has been recognized with awards such as the 2017 Battery Innovation Center (BIC) award and has been a finalist in competitions held by NASA and the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference.