Originaly written by Anina Tepnadze in Georgian. Translated by Elven.
electric vehicles have numerous advantages, but they also have one very serious problem--lithium batteries sometimes spontaneously catch fire. The Georgian-American company ELVEN TECHNOLOGIES can tackle this challenge. The material it has developed can withstand 2000°C fire for hours and successfully localizes fires caused by lithium battery ignition. The company is now continuing to develop its products in Estonia, and the world’s largest automakers are eagerly awaiting the results it has demonstrated.
"Any magic we have encountered in books or on screens is actually technology--just so advanced that we do not perceive it as technology," says Vamekh Kherkheulidze, CEO of Elven Technologies. The company's name is inspired by elves and the fantasy world. It's hard to disagree with Vamekh that, given sufficient refinement, technology can replicate any magic. For instance, Elven’s first product--a firefighter uniform--would be ideal for any fairy tale hero venturing into a cave to battle a fire-breathing dragon.
Vamekh and his friends began working on a flexible and lightweight fire-resistant material in 2019. "At first, we thought we should create a new type of space suit, but as we worked, we realized that our engineering capabilities and the conditions in our country were nowhere near what was needed to achieve that," recalls Vamekh. The gap between ambition and resources became even more apparent when you consider that the company’s founders were developing their first prototype in a freezing, low-ceilinged, 15-square-meter garage. After six months of relentless work and numerous tests, the startup discovered a combination of different materials that was twice as light as existing uniforms and could withstand direct flames five times longer. Without this working prototype, Elven Technologies would not have been able to secure the critical funding necessary for its survival--funding that allowed Vamekh to travel to the United States, where he learned firsthand from firefighters how difficult it is to extinguish fires caused by lithium batteries.
Vamekh Kherkheulidze is a doctor by profession but an engineer by calling. He became interested in the startup ecosystem while still practicing medicine and won his first grant to develop a virtual reality simulator for surgeons. As a child, he enjoyed observing the movement patterns of arthropods. Looking back now, he realizes he was drawn to robotics, as advanced modern robots often mimic designs found in nature. His desire to help people led him to medicine, but at some point, he realized he needed a new challenge. "I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I had such a strong desire to create something that I couldn't think about anything else," he recalls. While studying in Israel, he suffered greatly from the heat and improvised a cooling suit using catheter tubes. This was when he seriously started thinking about inventing a heat-resistant suit. He soon realized he couldn't do it alone, so when he returned to Tbilisi, he shared his idea with former student Sandro Chubinidze (now Elven Technologies’ Head of Research and Development) and experienced engineer Giorgi Gabarashvili (the company's Technology Director). Their perspectives turned out to be crucial in transforming ambitious ideas into reality. According to Vamekh, Sandro is excellent at finding the right people and views every step of the startup as part of a grand strategy, while Gabarashvili is a master at creatively solving complex technological challenges--thanks to his years of experience working alongside MIT researchers and his unique perspective on every aspect of life.
The Turning Point Vamekh, Sandro, and Gabara had almost everything they needed to create an innovative firefighter suit: deep knowledge of robotics and anatomy, curiosity, enthusiasm... but none of them knew how to sew a suit--especially one made from a material no one had worked with before. That’s when Bella Butskhrikidze, a clothing constructor and costume designer, joined the team.
"Before Bella, I was sewing the uniform myself with my grandmother’s old Singer machine, and Sandro was in despair, saying we'd definitely fail this way," Vamekh recalls with a laugh. "Bella appeared in our lives like a new character in an anime--someone you immediately know is going to do something amazing." According to Bella, working with Elven’s composite material was not easy: "The material had such unique properties that at first, I wanted to decline, but the idea and this incredible team convinced me to try." Bella created a highly detailed multi-layered suit, giving Elven Technologies its first tangible product, which could be showcased to potential investors to demonstrate its fire resistance (or, more precisely, its inability to burn).
"Before Elven, I thought my greatest skill was planning," says Vamekh with a smile. "But running my own startup made me realize that reacting quickly to changing circumstances is even more important." Sandro understands this necessity for bold action in critical moments: "At the beginning of the pandemic, when we ran out of money and lost our office, we decided to move into a garage with our remaining funds and work unpaid until we created our first prototype. I remember we were absolutely certain that our venture would succeed." Working under difficult conditions on a groundbreaking idea brought the team even closer together. "The best thing about working at Elven is the team and our shared excitement during tests," says Gabarashvili. "Every member of the team is a unique character, and there’s always something interesting to learn from them."
A Breakthrough in the U.S. Elven's journey took a decisive turn when Vamekh brought two fire-resistant suits to the U.S. "It was a strange coincidence--while driving, I saw a Tesla on the side of the road, burning. Shortly after, firefighters told me that the hardest fires to put out are those caused by exploding electric vehicle batteries, because they generate extreme temperatures and shoot out molten metal fragments." As Vamekh researched further, he was startled to discover that lithium battery fires can reach 2000°C. Until then, Elven’s tests had only been conducted at a maximum of 1200°C (the standard temperature for typical fires). This realization led the team to two conclusions: They needed to test their composite material by enclosing a lithium battery and setting it on fire. The market for lithium battery safety solutions was 400 times larger than the market for personal protective equipment.
The first experiment produced promising results. The young innovators' flagship product could withstand exceptionally high-temperature fires. "There is no existing technology in the world that can stop a lithium battery fire, and many international companies are struggling with this issue. We’ve found a truly unique niche," says Vamekh. With the growing demand for electric transportation, the need for such innovative solutions is becoming increasingly relevant, especially considering that statistically, 25 out of every 10,000 Teslas unexpectedly explode.
"Our goal is not to solve the issue of battery ignition; other companies are already working in this direction. We are creating an enclosure that will protect human lives and property in case the battery still catches fire," explains Vamekh.
After shifting its focus to the electric vehicle industry, the startup quickly attracted the attention of investors and other players in the startup ecosystem. According to Axel’s Managing Director, Iro Tsagareishvili, today, Elven is one of the fastest-growing startups in their portfolio:"Elven Technologies stood out to us from the very beginning, primarily because they are developing a hardware, deep-tech product—something very rare in Georgia. Investors believed in this idea early on, which is a testament to the team’s relentless work and strong determination," notes Iro.
In 2024, the company secured second place among startups from 37 countries at the Startup Tour and was named a Deep Tech Pioneer at the Hello Tomorrow global summit. At the same time, it initiated negotiations with major players in the global automotive industry, including Tesla and General Motors. The company currently operates from Estonia, where it is developing a pilot product for Auve Tech, a manufacturer of autonomous shuttles."Everyone agrees that lithium-ion battery explosions are a serious problem, so many are interested in the solution we offer," says Vamekh.
In recent years, Elven Technologies has divided its business into two main areas:
Creating tailored enclosures for electric vehicle batteries or any type of electric transport, ensuring that each battery pack fits the specific specifications of different vehicles.
Providing ready-made solutions for companies involved in the battery supply chain.
"Before a battery reaches the manufacturer from the factory, it passes through at least 10 different stages, and at each of these points, there is a risk of fire," explains Vamekh.
Through this type of collaboration, Elven can package shipping containers with its fireproof material, making the entire shipping process completely safe. During negotiations with major automakers, the need for reliable laboratory testing also emerged.
While in Tbilisi, the company initially tested firefighter uniforms using a mannequin equipped with temperature sensors, it soon became clear that it was time to move to a more advanced stage.
Currently, Elven has developed three different types of composites, all of which have been tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the US."There is a 10-cycle burn test to assess the fire resistance of lithium-ion battery materials. These tests evaluate not only the material’s resistance to high temperatures but also its durability against fragmentation and debris penetration. Among six different composite models, even the weakest one lasted 40 seconds in the third burn cycle. Meanwhile, in the most durable versions, the fire failed to penetrate even in the tenth cycle," explains Vamekh. Such high endurance levels are comparable only to concrete. Despite these impressive results, the company is constantly working on improving its product:"In spring 2025, we plan to register two new patents. Once a patent application is submitted, there is about a two-year period before it becomes public and competitors can see how you achieved your results. During this time, we must further refine our technology and always stay several steps ahead."
Elven’s unique fireproof technology not only contains lithium-ion battery fires but also transforms potentially catastrophic incidents into manageable events. At this stage, the company’s biggest challenge is securing partnerships and setting up production lines for several high-demand products. According to Vamekh, this moment in the startup’s journey is like a bird’s first leap from the nest:"There comes a time when the bird must fly for the first time. It has never flown before, but it senses that the moment has come to leap. Taking the leap is one thing—but how you manage that jump and whether you can gain altitude is a whole other challenge."
Elven’s team members are no strangers to bold decisions. Vamekh recalls that the company has faced near shutdown at least seven times."The first time, I was terrified, but now I know that I just need to trust my team and let things unfold naturally. We've proven time and time again that we can handle any challenge. If we don’t see the next step now, we’ll sleep on it, wake up, and the answer will come."
Gabara shares a similar mindset:*"There were times when we spent months trying to solve a single technological challenge. In those moments, you just need to stay calm—a solution will always appear. I have *100% trust in this process."
For Vamekh, the biggest lesson from six years in the startup world is that belief is crucial—"You must equally believe in your product, yourself, and your team. Trust is essential. I am confident that each member of my team takes full responsibility for their work and will complete their tasks without the need for extra oversight."
Sandro, another team member, adds that their motivation comes from two core beliefs:"First, technological progress is crucial for humanity’s future. Second, there is no technological problem we cannot solve."
He also emphasizes that financial success has never been the driving force for Elven’s founders:"We simply love taking on difficult challenges."
Over its five years of existence, Elven Technologies has changed its trajectory, business model, and even its home country—but one principle has remained unchanged:Innovation must serve the public good.
The story of Vamekh, Sandro, Giorgi, and Bela is proof that if you believe in your idea and back it with knowledge, no obstacle is insurmountable.
After all, the only fire that should never be extinguished is the one that burns within you.