Why is ALTA Important?
Lithium = Critical Resource
- Lithium powers everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs)
- Global demand is skyrocketing, and Arkansas has one of North America’s largest lithium reserves
Economic Growth for Arkansas
- Creates jobs, attracts investment, and strengthens the state’s role in the clean energy economy
Driving Innovation
- Supports early to late-stage technology companies building new solutions for sustainable lithium extraction, advanced battery tech, and recycling
- Helps create supply chain independence and overcome environmental challenges
National & Global Relevance
- Supports domestic lithium production and Lithium-ion battery manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains
- Positions Arkansas – and cohort companies – at the center of a critical national strategic effort
Companies in ALTA’s First Cohort
- Nano One – Canadian process technology company producing disruptive lithium-ion battery cathode active materials (CAM).
- RAM Geothermal – Early-stage Arkansas company building proprietary geothermal solutions for energy self-sufficient lithium production in the Smackover region.
- Telescope Innovations – Canadian chemical technology company with scalable AI/robotic solutions optimizing Direct Lithium Extraction processes.
Benefits of the Program
Participating companies will:
- Pilot or commercial project opportunities
- Investor and funding partner connections
- Increased media/market visibility
- Exploration of Arkansas’ ecosystem and incentives
- Collaboration with government and academia
Companies in ALTA’s Second Cohort
- Lithios – MIT-developed Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE) uses electric processing to extract lithium from U.S. brines at dramatically lower cost and scalable, sustainable volumes.
- Menen Group – Arkansas-based water treatment collective using patented MPVD tech to concentrate dilute lithium streams with 60% less energy, offering modular, zero-CAPEX solutions for low-cost battery-grade lithium carbonate.
- Tyfast Energy – Builds ultra-fast-charging, 10,000-cycle batteries using a patented LVO anode and U.S.-sourced materials, powering heavy-duty commercial and defense vehicles with a secure domestic supply chain.
Companies in ALTA’s Third Cohort
- Western Cam – Western CAM is a U.S.-based battery materials company that manufactures high-performance lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode active materials for electric vehicles, energy storage, and industrial applications.
- New Genium – NewGenium has patented a revolutionary method to extract LFP more directly from brine, significantly reducing production complexity and cost while enabling the entire process to take place domestically.
- Entegris POCO Materials – Backed by Entegris’ global leadership in advanced materials, POCO Materials is leveraging decades of expertise in high-purity graphite processing to enter the battery active materials market with confidence and scale.
ALTA Cohort Four Schedule & Locations
ALTA spans three weeks across Arkansas from September 8th-23rd, featuring public and private sessions, lab tours, and meetings with policymakers.
Week 1 – Southwest Arkansas (El Dorado & Magnolia)
September 8th-10th, 2026
Week 2 – Little Rock
September 14th-16th, 2026
Week 3 – Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville & Fayetteville)
September 21st-23rd, 2026
ALTA Program Modules
- Commercial Partners: Engage major producers and partners
- Investors: Connect with institutions, private equities, and family offices
- Government & Economic Development: Meet policy leaders
- Research & Innovation: Tech and academic experts collaboration
- Media & Market: Exposure to analysts and influencers
Impact on Arkansas
ALTA strengthens the state’s economy and energy-tech leadership by:
- Driving innovation and commercialization in lithium technologies
- Connecting companies, investors and policymakers
- Advancing Arkansas as a national leader in sustainable energy
Interested in Sponsoring?
Explore our sponsorship packet below to see how you can support and strengthen Arkansas’s growing lithium industry.
News & Updates
See how ALTA is shaping the future, & watch our PBS Arkansas Week feature below from our Executive Director, Arthur.
