# Ken Ogata

> Ken Ogata is the co-founder and CEO of TeraWatt Technology, a California-based developer and manufacturer of next-generation lithium-ion batteries with development and production operations in Japan. Trained at the University of Tokyo and Cambridge, he has moved from research on silicon battery reactions to building an organization that combines cell development, production engineering and manufacturing data.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at TeraWatt Technology
- **Organizations:** TeraWatt Technology Inc., TeraWatt Technology K.K., University of Cambridge, SERES
- **Education:** Engineering; materials engineering, The University of Tokyo, PhD, University of Cambridge
- **Known for:** Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Award, 22nd Japan Venture Awards., Lead author of silicon battery reaction research highlighted by Cambridge in February 2014., Led TeraWatt as it opened its first mass production facility in Japan for preliminary operation in September 2024.

## Career timeline

- **2014** — Lead author of Cambridge research on silicon-lithium battery reactions reported in Nature Communications; moved into industry in 2014.
- **2020** — Became co-founder and CEO of independent TeraWatt Technology following the January 1 transfer of SERES’s battery division.
- **2022** — TeraWatt announced Temasek-led Series B financing and reported 6,800 mAh cells with 416 Wh/kg energy density.
- **2023** — Development Bank of Japan invested to support large-scale pilot production.
- **2024** — TeraWatt’s first mass production facility in Japan began preliminary operation in September.
- **2025** — The Shizuoka facility achieved ISO9001:2015 quality management certification on April 21; Series C first close announced in July.
- **2026** — Series C final close and alliances with JERA and Kyuden International announced in April; Sunho Kang appointed Head of Product and Technology in June.

## Achievements

- Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Award, 22nd Japan Venture Awards.
- Lead author of silicon battery reaction research highlighted by Cambridge in February 2014.
- Led TeraWatt as it opened its first mass production facility in Japan for preliminary operation in September 2024.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Sunho Kang joined TeraWatt as Head of Product and Technology, with responsibility for product development, commercialization and manufacturing scale-up.
- **2026-04** — TeraWatt announced its Series C final close and capital and business alliances with JERA and Kyuden International.
- **2026-02** — Keiko Usami joined TeraWatt as Head of Strategic Growth.

## Links

- Website: https://www.terawatt-technology.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cli375si/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/ken-ogata
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24