The Venture Center, Standard Lithium, and University of Arkansas advance the nation’s first lithium technology accelerator with the launch of its first 2026 cohort
Fayetteville, Ark. [April 6, 2026] – Building on the success of its inaugural year, The Venture Center Monday kicked off the third cohort of the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA)—the nation’s first accelerator dedicated to lithium and battery-supply-chain innovation. Running April 6-24, the accelerator connects hand-picked energy-technology startups with Arkansas-based lithium producers, alongside academic, government, and economic-development partners. ALTA is designed to cement Arkansas as the epicenter of lithium technology innovation while advancing U.S. leadership in battery supply-chain solutions and accelerating commercial deployment of next-generation energy technologies.
The 2026 cohort companies include:
- Entegris POCO Materials – Backed by Entegris’ global materials leadership, POCO Materials is bringing its proven graphite processing heritage to the battery active materials market as an emerging supplier of anode‑grade synthetic graphite.
- NewGenium – NewGenium’s unique DLE technology unlocks domestic production of L(M)FP from brine at less than half the cost of China.
- Western Cam – Western CAM will reshore high performance LFP cathode material production at large scale and low cost utilising our extensive experience of cathode material manufacturing.
“Welcoming our third ALTA cohort marks a significant milestone in our efforts to move from proof-of-concept to industrial-scale impact,” said Daniel Schutte, vice president of strategic partnerships at The Venture Center. “By integrating the specialized technologies of Western Cam, Entegris, and NewGenium into our established network of industry and academic leaders, we are actively strengthening the domestic battery supply chain. This year’s cohort demonstrates the high caliber of innovation required to achieve energy dominance, and we remain committed to providing the strategic partnerships necessary to accelerate their commercial deployment here in Arkansas.”
Jesse Edmondson, director of government relations for Standard Lithium, said this cohort reflects both the strength of the program and Arkansas’ growing importance in the national battery supply chain.
“The ALTA program continues to drive innovation and investment in Arkansas, and this may be our strongest cohort yet. We’re bringing both anode and cathode companies to the state, along with a DLE startup that has developed a new method for producing LFP cathode precursor materials directly from brine. Over the past year, batteries have evolved from being central to the energy transition to becoming critical to national security. Arkansas is at the forefront of building a resilient domestic battery supply chain—strengthening our industrial base and reducing reliance on China.”
ALTA programming spans El Dorado/Magnolia, Little Rock, and Northwest Arkansas, featuring curated producer meetings, research and lab visits, pilot-planning workshops, investor roundtables, and pitch opportunities with industry media and analysts. Participating companies gain: Pathways to pilots with Arkansas-based lithium producers; access to private and non-dilutive capital; market visibility with customers, media, and analysts; and support from economic-development leaders on establishing an Arkansas presence.
“The UA is excited to partner with The Venture Center and Standard Lithium in welcoming the 3rd ALTA cohort to Arkansas,” said Erik Pollock, director of the Stable Isotope Laboratory at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. “UAF is ready to use its research enterprise to engage industry and create the lithium economy in Arkansas. The cohort companies are crackerjack and represent the transformation lithium is having on Arkansas.”
ALTA is led by The Venture Center, with support from Standard Lithium and University of Arkansas, other producers and academic partners including South Arkansas College, and Southern Arkansas University; and funding support from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Walton Family Foundation.
In addition to its industry and academic partners, ALTA is supported this year by a coalition of statewide business and community sponsors, including Exxon, Tetra Technologies, Corzan, Rose Law Firm, Ghidotti Communications, Blue Flame Minerals, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Terra Volta.
The program concludes with ALTA Demo Day on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the El Dorado Conference Center. To learn more about ALTA, program alumni and the current cohort, visit venturecenter.co.
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About The Venture Center
The Venture Center is a globally recognized Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) based in Arkansas. It supports entrepreneurs in building successful, high-growth businesses through world-class mentorship, programming, and investor connections, fueling economic growth in Arkansas and beyond. Learn more at www.venturecenter.co.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a near-commercial lithium development company advancing high-grade lithium-brine projects in the U.S., with a focus on sustainability and scalable Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. Its flagship operations are located in the Smackover Formation across Arkansas and Texas, including a greenfield project in partnership with Equinor. Standard Lithium trades on the TSX Venture Exchange and NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”; learn more at www.standardlithium.com.
About University of Arkansas
As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the University of Arkansas offers more than 200 academic programs and contributes over $3 billion annually to the state’s economy through education, research, and workforce development. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having the highest level of research activity and is ranked among the nation’s top public universities by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.
For more information, contact:
Viktoria Capek
viktoria.capek@venturecenter.co