Why we invested in Base Power, creating the distributed future of energy
America’s energy grid is breaking under the weight of rising demand and bridle infrastructure. Power outages are increasing, prices are climbing, and the infrastructure that supports modern life is decades out of date. Rebuilding the grid from the top down will take trillions of dollars and decades. Base Power is tackling the problem from the bottom up.
Founded in 2023 in Austin, Texas, Base Power is building the future of distributed energy—one home battery at a time. For less than $1,000 upfront and a small monthly subscription, customers get a whole-home battery system and a fixed electricity rate that’s 10-20% lower than traditional providers. Each battery also becomes part of a virtual power plant (VPP): when demand peaks, Base can sell stored energy back to the grid, creating a more resilient and affordable energy system for everyone.
Base Power combines the reliability of a utility with the flexibility of a technology company. Its team includes veterans of SpaceX, Tesla Powerwall, and Anduril, led by CEO Zach Dell, a former investor at Thrive and Blackstone, and COO Justin Lopas, previously Head of Manufacturing at Anduril. Together they’re applying lessons from aerospace and defense manufacturing to one of the world’s most entrenched industries.
By vertically integrating hardware and software, Base Power is designing and assembling its own batteries in the U.S. This is a major shift that improves unit economics, quality, and control over the supply chain. The company’s first manufacturing site is already under construction inside the former Austin American-Statesman printing press, where it will begin building systems to meet surging national demand.
Electricity consumption is expected to soar as EVs, heat pumps, and data centers proliferate. At the same time, consumers face record rate hikes and more frequent outages. Base Power’s model—combining local generation, predictable pricing, and resilient storage—directly addresses these pain points. With over thousands of batteries already deployed and partnerships with major homebuilders like Lennar, Base has quickly become one of the fastest-growing energy companies in the U.S.
At Samsung Next, we look for founders reimagining complete industries. Base Power’s distributed approach mirrors the shift we see across devices—from cloud dependence to local intelligence. Just as on-device AI reduces latency and cost, decentralized energy systems improve resilience and efficiency.
There’s also deep strategic relevance across Samsung. Whole-home batteries are emerging as a new class of “smart appliances,” ensuring that connected homes, devices, and medical technologies stay powered even when the grid fails. Base Power represents a potential partner in U.S.-based cell manufacturing and deployment.
Base Power’s mission is bold: put a battery in every home and build America’s next great power company. It’s not just about energy—it’s about enabling progress in every sector that depends on it. We joined Base Power’s $1 billion Series C alongside Addition, Valor Equity Partners, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed, Andreessen Horowitz, Altimeter, and others who share that vision. We’re proud to support Zach, Justin, and the Base Power team as they rewire how the world is powered—from the edge out.
Sam Campbell is an investor at Samsung Next. Samsung Next’s investment strategy is limited to its own views and does not reflect the vision or strategy of any other Samsung business unit, including, but not limited to, Samsung Electronics.