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Homes need batteries more than ever. They provide resilience against increasing power outages from extreme weather events, and they can lower electricity bills by using less grid energy when it costs the most. From the grid’s point of view, home batteries can play a critical role in relieving system stress as a distributed energy resource (DER), providing localized resilience and flexibility. Despite the need, fewer than one percent of U.S. homes have a backup battery today. This is largely because the current offerings are expensive, complex, and often require professional installation, permits, and panel upgrades. This gap presents a huge opportunity, which is why we are excited to announce our investment in Pila Energy.
Founded in May 2024, the San Francisco-based company is commercializing a plug-and-play home battery system that is easily set up in minutes via a standard wall outlet. The company’s technology circumvents bespoke design and arduous permitting processes that require complex wiring or panel upgrades, which can account for more than 50% of the total cost to install a home battery. This enables a wider adoption beyond single-family homes, including renters, multifamily buildings, and small businesses.
Pila’s key product feature lies in how its batteries work together. Each unit connects wirelessly to others, forming a self-organizing mesh network that intelligently manages energy across the home or building. As more units are added, they automatically communicate, share data, and balance loads — storing solar or utility power when it’s plentiful and delivering it back when demand peaks. This distributed network enables appliance-level control and monitoring, offering households flexibility, resilience, and efficiency without the need for rewiring or complex central infrastructure.
The company’s founder and CEO, Cole Ashman, is a seasoned leader in home electrification, having directed the product strategy for both Tesla’s Powerwall and SPAN’s smart panel. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Cole saw firsthand the impact of devastating large-scale power outages due to Hurricane Katrina, and this experience inspired the company’s mission of creating energy independence for everyone.
“Distributed, intelligent energy control is critical to overcoming the limitations of today’s battery systems, particularly when it comes to interoperability and reliability. We’re excited about Pila’s approach of offering a flexible, distributed infrastructure that can lower barriers to home battery adoption and support integration across homes, multifamily, and small businesses.” — Ethan Sohn, principal, Climate Fund at Toyota Ventures.
Beyond hardware sales, Pila’s system also unlocks new opportunities through the appliance-level data it collects. Each battery learns the unique energy profile of connected devices, enabling predictive maintenance alerts, appliance health diagnostics, and detailed energy insights. Over time, this intelligence can be monetized through software subscriptions, partnerships with utilities and insurers, and data-driven services — creating recurring revenue streams that extend well beyond the sale of the batteries themselves.
The company debuted its battery technology at SXSW 2025, with plans for first shipments in late 2025. Toyota Ventures is excited to participate in Pila’s $4 million Seed round led by R7 Partners along with Refactor Capital, GS Futures, and other strategic backers. Ethan Sohn, a principal on the Climate Fund, drove Toyota Ventures’ investment in the round.
Visit Pila’s website or the Toyota Ventures portfolio page to learn more.