Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups Lithium Extraction: 40% Lower Costs with Electrochemistry | Mo Alkhadra, CEO of Lithios
MIT PhD tech to mine lithium in low-concentration domestic reserves without chemical reagents or excess water use
🎧 Episode Summary
Lithios is an advanced materials company developing a high-performance electrochemical platform to unlock untapped lithium brine resources, especially those previously considered uneconomic due to low concentrations.
Mo earned his PhD at MIT and then became an Activate Fellow to transition from academic to entrepreneur. You’ll appreciate his strong focus on family and community, and his dual love of weightlifting and kittens. (Not related)
In this podcast, you’ll learn about the following:
Innovative Extraction: Lithios' technology processes brines with as low as 10 ppm lithium, redefining economic viability in resource extraction.
Strategic Alignment: By focusing on US projects, Lithios supports national lithium independence and aligns with systemic priorities to enhance credibility.
Supply Chain Efficiency: Lithios' method cuts costs by up to 40% and minimizes environmental impact, transforming global lithium supply dynamics.
Patience in Sales: With long development cycles, Lithios balances immediate equipment sales with future royalties, emphasizing strategic patience.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Transitioning from academia, Lithios' founder leverages community support and embraces discomfort for real-world impact.
Community Support: Consistent routines, such as weightlifting, provide grounding for Lithios' leadership amid technological uncertainties.
Resource Innovation: Lithios' focus on US lithium supplies ties directly to economic growth and national security, beyond just environmentalism.
OK, here we go!
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About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding
Climate tech CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow frequent posts on LinkedIn:
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding