Fourth lithium technology accelerator cohort named

The Venture Center announced this week the fourth cohort of the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA), the nation’s first accelerator dedicated to lithium and battery supply chain innovation.

The three-week program will take participating companies across Arkansas, connecting them with lithium producers, researchers, investors, manufacturers, economic development leaders and other strategic partners working to advance the state’s growing lithium and energy technology ecosystem.

Running through September, Cohort Four will kick off Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Magnolia for the first week and move from Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas in weeks two and three, giving participating companies direct exposure to the people, infrastructure andresources shaping Arkansas’ emerging lithium economy.

Programming will focus on lithium production and processing, battery materials, manufacturing, commercialization, capital access, research, logistics and opportunities for strategic partnerships.

By bringing technologies spanning lithium extraction, battery materials manufacturing and recycling into the state, the cohort expands Arkansas’ role in developing the broader domestic battery supply chain.

The 2026 Cohort Four companies are:

– ACT-ion Battery Technologies: A Dallas-based advanced materials company developing a proprietary continuous manufacturing process for cathode active materials. – Princeton Critical Minerals: A Princeton University spin-off developing technologies for the efficient and sustainable extraction of lithium and other critical minerals from brine. – Arcam: An MIT-founded battery materials company focused on making lithium iron phosphate battery recycling economically viable.

“ALTA is about more than developing individual leaders. It’s about driving economic growth through statewide partnership and innovation,” said Sarah Thomas, innovation program manager at The Venture Center. “This September, we’re taking that mission from Magnolia to Little Rock to Bentonville, working alongside the people and institutions shaping Arkansas’ lithium industry and tech-driven economic future.”

“We’re extremely pleased with the technical excellence and the market traction of our fourth cohort, who are definitely maintaining the high standards set by their predecessors,” added Arthur Orduña, executive director of The Venture Center.

Together, the three companies represent different points in the lithium and battery supply chain, from extracting lithium from brine to manufacturing cathode materials and recycling batteries.

Throughout the program, founders will have opportunities to explore how their technologies could connect with Arkansas’ existing resources, infrastructure and industry partners.

“Arkansas has an opportunity not only to produce lithium, but to help build the technologies and supply chains that turn that resource into long-term economic and strategic value,” said Jesse Edmondson, director of government relations for Standard Lithium. “ALTA brings promising companies directly into the ecosystem where this work is happening, giving them the opportunity to engage with producers, researchers and industry partners and explore how their technologies can be deployed at commercial scale.”

ALTA is led by The Venture Center, with support from Standard Lithium and University of Arkansas, other producers and academic partners including University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 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 ExxonMobil, Tetra Technologies, Corzan, Rose Law Firm, Ghidotti Communications, Blue Flame Minerals, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Terra Volta.