2nd cohort of new lithium accelerator shows innovations in Bentonville
The second round of a multiweek lithium accelerator wrapped Wednesday (Dec. 17) with Demo Day in Bentonville.
The Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA) is the first program of its kind in the United States dedicated to lithium innovation and the U.S. battery supply chain, according to a news release. Launched in July 2025, ALTA was created to accelerate innovation in lithium extraction, processing, sustainable production, and battery supply chain technologies while elevating Arkansas’ visibility as a global energy innovation hub.
The Venture Center, in partnership with Standard Lithium, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the University of Arkansas, and with support from the Walton Family Foundation, hosted the Demo Day event.
The program’s second cohort comprised three participating companies, including Springdale-based Menen Group. Lithios is based in Boston, while Tyfast Energy is based in San Diego. The three companies presented their innovations to an audience of industry leaders, researchers, economic developers, investors and public officials.
“We are excited for ALTA to be part of Gov. (Sarah) Sanders’ and Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald’s strategy to build a lithium economy in the state,” said Arthur Orduña, executive director at The Venture Center. “The Venture Center partners with leading lithium producers to curate best-in-class technology companies that can help America build a lithium-ion battery supply chain independent of China, with Arkansas as a key upstream source.”
In south Arkansas, companies are preparing to extract lithium from the Smackover Formation. Standard Lithium is planning to start construction of the region’s first direct lithium extraction facility in 2026. Other companies participating in the state’s growing lithium industry include ExxonMobil, Chevron and Equinor, which is working with Standard Lithium on its extraction plant.
Lithium is used in a variety of products, such as pacemakers, drones and batteries for cellphones and electric vehicles.
On Wednesday, Menen Group presented an MPVD-based water treatment method to recover lithium and other minerals from dilute brines in the Smackover Formation. The company’s low-energy process uses roughly one-seventh of the energy of conventional methods while addressing brine wastewater challenges. The company is seeking partners and capital to expand the use of its method in Arkansas and nationwide.
Tyfast Energy presented a lithium vanadium oxide battery technology that offers diesel-grade performance for heavy-duty electric platforms. The battery can be recharged in 10 minutes or less, has a lifespan of more than 10 years and is reliable in all weather conditions. The company is seeking $10 million to scale Arkansas-based manufacturing and offer its technology commercially.
Lithios presented an advanced lithium extraction platform designed to reduce the cost and complexity of lithium production from U.S. brines. Its scalable electrochemical lithium capture technology provides high selectivity, low energy use, and a 25% to 40% cost savings. Lithios is raising $25 million to support the commercial launch of its technology, scale manufacturing, and advance an ongoing pilot program with a south Arkansas lithium producer.
During the accelerator program, cohort companies met with producers such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Standard Lithium, Albemarle and Lanxess as well as leaders in the academic, governmental and economic development sectors in Arkansas. The 2025 program included stops in El Dorado, Magnolia, Little Rock and Bentonville and provided cohort participants with a look at the region’s growing lithium industry.
The schedule has yet to be set for the third cohort of the accelerator program. But recruitment for the next cohort will likely start late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2026.