Lithios, a clean technology company developing advanced lithium extraction solutions, has secured $12 million in financing to accelerate the commercialization of its Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE) platform and expand efforts to increase global lithium supply. The funding includes a $10 million seed investment round led by Clean Energy Ventures, with participation from TechEnergy Ventures, GS Futures, Lowercarbon Capital, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, along with an additional $2 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank.

Founded in 2022, Lithios is developing electrochemical technology designed to extract lithium from low-grade brine resources that have historically been difficult or uneconomical to process. The company was founded by MIT scientists and engineers, including co-founder and CEO Mohammad Alkhadra and co-founder and chief scientist Martin Bazant. Lithios’s technology aims to unlock previously inaccessible lithium resources while reducing the energy, water, and chemical requirements associated with traditional extraction methods.

Lithios plans to use the funding to scale research and development, expand manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate the deployment of commercial lithium extraction projects. The company said its Advanced Lithium Extraction platform can recover lithium from a wider range of brine sources, including lower-concentration resources that conventional approaches have struggled to process efficiently.

The investment comes as demand for lithium continues to rise due to the expansion of electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other clean energy technologies. Lithium is a critical material used in rechargeable batteries, and companies across the energy sector are seeking new ways to increase supply while reducing the environmental impact of extraction. Lithios is focused on addressing this challenge by developing a technology platform that can help bring additional lithium resources into production.

Lithios’s ALE technology uses electrochemical processes inspired by battery manufacturing techniques. The company’s approach is designed to separate lithium from complex brine mixtures while minimizing water use and reducing reliance on energy-intensive processes. Lithios has stated that its technology can enable lithium recovery from resources that represent a significant portion of known global brine supplies but have remained underutilized because of technical and economic limitations.

The Series A financing follows Lithios’s earlier seed funding round, which provided capital to move the company’s technology from laboratory research toward field deployment. According to the company, the financing will help scale its systems from smaller pilot demonstrations toward commercial applications capable of producing thousands of tons of lithium carbonate annually.

Clean Energy Ventures, which led the investment round, focuses on supporting early-stage climate technology companies developing solutions for major environmental and energy challenges. Its investment in Lithios reflects growing venture interest in technologies that can strengthen critical mineral supply chains and support the transition to cleaner energy systems.

TechEnergy Ventures and GS Futures participated in the funding round as strategic venture investors. Their involvement provides additional support for Lithios as the company works to commercialize its lithium extraction technology and expand partnerships within the global energy ecosystem.

Lowercarbon Capital, an investor focused on climate solutions, also participated in the financing. The firm has backed companies working on technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address challenges associated with the global transition to sustainable energy.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center participated as another supporter of Lithios’s development. The organization supports clean energy innovation and commercialization efforts in Massachusetts, where Lithios has maintained operations and developed its technology.

In addition to equity financing, Lithios secured $2 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank to support equipment purchases and operational expansion. The additional financing has helped the company advance its pilot systems and prepare for larger-scale demonstrations.

Lithios has also received government support for its technology development. The company was selected to receive $499,320 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) SPARKS program to support research and intellectual property development related to its Advanced Lithium Extraction technology.

The company’s technology is aimed at helping create a more resilient lithium supply chain in the United States and allied markets. As governments and industries seek greater access to critical minerals, new extraction approaches have become increasingly important for reducing dependence on limited high-grade resources and expanding domestic production opportunities.

With $12 million in combined financing from Clean Energy Ventures, TechEnergy Ventures, GS Futures, Lowercarbon Capital, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and Silicon Valley Bank, Lithios is continuing efforts to commercialize its Advanced Lithium Extraction platform. The company aims to provide a more efficient and sustainable pathway for producing lithium needed for the future of electric transportation and renewable energy storage.

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