Cohort companies showcase breakthrough lithium and battery-supply-chain technologies to industry leaders and investors
Bentonville, Ark [December 18, 2025] – The Venture Center, in partnership with Standard Lithium, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and the University of Arkansas, and funded by the Walton Family Foundation, among others, last night hosted the second cohort Demo Day for the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA) — the nation’s first accelerator program dedicated to lithium innovation and the emerging U.S. battery supply chain.
Held at Record Downtown in Bentonville, the event marked the conclusion of a multi-week accelerator designed to position Arkansas as a national hub for next-generation lithium and energy technology. Three cohort companies selected for ALTA’s second cohort 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 Governor 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.”
Throughout the evening, ALTA companies presented solutions spanning the lithium lifecycle — from extraction and processing to advanced materials, manufacturing, and downstream applications. This year’s participating companies included:
- Tyfast Energy – Tyfast Energy presented its lithium vanadium oxide (LVO) battery technology designed to deliver diesel-grade performance for heavy-duty electric platforms. During Demo Day, the team highlighted fast refueling in 10 minutes or less, long battery life exceeding 10 years, and reliable all-weather operation—overcoming key limitations of legacy lithium-ion systems. The company is seeking $10 million to scale Arkansas-based manufacturing and advance commercialization.
- Menen Group – Menen Group showcased its MPVD-based water treatment solution focused on recovering lithium and other critical minerals from dilute brines in the Smackover Formation. The company emphasized its low-energy process, which uses roughly one-seventh the energy of conventional methods while addressing brine wastewater challenges. Menen Group is seeking partners and capital to expand deployment in Arkansas and beyond.
- Lithios – Lithios introduced its advanced lithium extraction (ALE) platform designed to reduce the cost and complexity of lithium production from U.S. brines. At Demo Day, the team highlighted its scalable electrochemical lithium capture technology, which delivers high selectivity, low energy use, and 25–40% cost savings. Lithios is raising a $25 million Series A to support commercialization and manufacturing scale-up, building on an ongoing pilot program with a South Arkansas lithium producer.
The program also drew support from state leaders focused on long-term economic growth and workforce development.
“We want to take care of the businesses that are here because we know that when you have successful businesses, you’re going to have successful schools,” said Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs. “We’re going to have better roads, we’re going to have safe communities, because if you don’t have safe communities and new roads, you’re not going to have good businesses. It all works together, so we are doing whatever it takes to recruit talent to the state of Arkansas.”
Launched in July 2025, ALTA is the first program of its kind in the United States. It was created to accelerate innovation across lithium extraction, processing, sustainable production, and battery-supply-chain technologies while elevating Arkansas’ visibility as a global energy innovation hub.
Throughout the program, cohort companies engaged directly with major producers — including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Standard Lithium, Albemarle, and Lanxess — as well as leaders across Arkansas’ academic, governmental, and economic development communities. The 2025 program included stops in El Dorado, Magnolia, Little Rock, and Bentonville, giving founders a firsthand look at the region’s rapidly growing lithium ecosystem.
To learn more about ALTA or future accelerator opportunities, visit www.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 | (770) 557-6196
viktoria.capek@venturecenter.co