# Startup 6K receives conditional approval for $250 million loan to build battery plant

- Published: 2026-11-06 17:51 UTC
- Section: Power & Energy › Batteries
- Tags: 6K startup, battery materials plant, cathode manufacturing, microwave plasma, lithium iron phosphate, LFP batteries
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-153d13f3347446991acb08c4_startup_6k_receives/

**The funding is intended for a Tennessee facility that uses microwave plasma to produce cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.**

![Startup 6K receives conditional approval for $250 million loan to build battery plant](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/da0452876c0d742a.webp)
*ua.news*

The U.S. Department of Defense has conditionally approved a $250 million loan for Massachusetts-based startup 6K to construct a battery materials plant in Tennessee, ua.news reports citing TechCrunch [1]. Founded 12 years ago, the North Andover company focuses on manufacturing components for energy storage devices independently of foreign supply chains [1].

According to the developers, the facility will use microwave heating technology to turn metals into plasma, subsequently depositing the material directly onto a surface [1]. This method reportedly simplifies the production cycle by reducing the required stages for cathode material synthesis, a primary element in battery cell manufacturing [1].

The company stated that its technological process is adaptable for multiple cell chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) formulations [1]. The production facility was originally scheduled to open in 2024, but earlier financial delays and market factors forced schedule adjustments [1].

## Sources

1. [ua.news](https://ua.news/en/dovkolo-svitu/pentagon-umovno-skhvaliv-poziku-250-mln-startapu-6k-dlia-zavodu-v-tennessi-techcrunch)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-153d13f3347446991acb08c4_startup_6k_receives/