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PureLi

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uuid0003byb

Namestring
PureLi
Legal namestring
PCM
Websiteurl
pureli.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2022
Descriptiontext

PureLi is a Princeton University spinout cleantech company developing solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable extraction of lithium, potassium, and nitrate from brine sources. Founded in 2022 by Sean Zheng (CEO) and Professor Z. Jason Ren (Chief Scientist), the company operates two core products: Lilypad, a floating surface device placed on existing evaporation ponds that concentrates photons and retains heat to deliver 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement; and E-LITE, a modular standalone evaporation system that extracts lithium from low-concentration brines without traditional ponds, achieving >90% lithium recovery, <100ppm minimum concentration threshold, and 80% water recovery. Both products are powered by a proprietary porous fiber string technology that uses capillary action to naturally separate lithium and sodium at distinct locations along the fiber.

The company commercializes its technology through direct enterprise field sales targeting lithium mining operations, battery manufacturers, and resource recovery operations, with current customer engagement centered on early-access pre-orders routed via the company website. Revenue mechanics combine one-time technology licensing/equipment sales with professional deployment services under custom multi-year enterprise contracts; public pricing is not disclosed. The company is venture-backed by SOSV (lead), HAX, and DO Ventures, and has received non-dilutive support from the Princeton START Entrepreneurs program, the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub, and the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology ($75,000 in October 2024). The leadership bench has been expanded with Chief Product Officer Angela Fasnacht, whose 25+ years in brine/water treatment includes leading a $330M division at Veolia.

The underlying science has been validated through peer-reviewed publication in Nature Water (September 2023) on spatially separated crystallization for selective lithium extraction, first prize at the 17th annual Princeton Innovation Forum (2022), and inclusion in Storm4's 'US-Based Green Technology Startups To Watch In 2025.' PureLi currently operates with 1-10 employees and serves brine sources across North America, South America, EMEA (UK), and Southeast Asia (Vietnam), positioning itself within the broader green technology and sustainability market projected to reach $73.9 billion by 2030.

Short descriptiontext

PureLi is a Princeton University spinout developing solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction from brine, serving lithium mining companies and battery manufacturers through its Lilypad and E-LITE product lines.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1–10
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersNew Jersey, Trinidad & Tobago
HQ citystring
New Jersey
HQ countrystring
Trinidad & Tobago
HQ regionstring
Latin America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
lithium extraction, brine mining technology, solar evaporation systems, direct lithium extraction, cleantech equipment
Industry3 codes
1Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction
CodeIMAKAFAAPrimaryYes
2Specialty Potassium Products (SOP, Low-Chloride K, K-Thiosulfate)
CodeAFABACAIPrimaryNo
3Brine Concentrate Management & Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
CodeEUANAFAHPrimaryNo
Product category
Lithium Extraction Equipment
Social media profiles1 record
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model2 records
1Technology licensing and equipment sales
TypeOne Time License
Description

PureLi commercializes its proprietary Lilypad and E-LITE evaporation technologies through equipment sales and technology licensing to lithium mining operations and battery manufacturers. The company is funded by leading international VCs and is currently in early-access/pre-order phase.

pureli.com
2Technology deployment and implementation services
TypeProfessional Services
Description

Company provides technology deployment services for implementing Lilypad and E-LITE systems at customer sites, including setup, optimization, and ongoing technical support.

pureli.com
Marketing channels4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Pricing details1 tier
1Custom enterprise pricing based on project scope and requirements
ModelOtherBilling cadenceMulti-year contract
Notes

No public pricing available; interested customers must request early access or pre-order through website contact form

pureli.com
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeHardware or Manufacturing
Hardware or Manufacturing
Brand1 of 2 records shown
1Lilypad
Description

A floating device for evaporation ponds that concentrates photons and retains heat, enabling 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement in lithium production.

pureli.com
+1 more record
Core offering1 text field

PureLi develops and commercializes advanced solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable extraction of lithium, potassium, and nitrate from brine sources. Its two flagship products are Lilypad, a floating pond-surface device that delivers 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement with no construction required, and E-LITE, a modular extraction system that achieves >90% lithium recovery and 80% water recovery from low-concentration brines without traditional evaporation ponds. Both are sold to enterprise lithium mining and battery manufacturing customers under custom multi-year contracts.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 7 values shown
  • Extraction rate improved by more than 10 times standard rate
+6 more records
Product overview1 text field

PureLi offers two distinct core products for sustainable mineral extraction from brine: Lilypad, a floating solar-powered device for enhancing existing evaporation pond operations with 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement; and E-LITE, an advanced standalone evaporation technology that enables direct lithium extraction without traditional ponds, achieving >90% lithium recovery rate and 80% water recovery. Both products target lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction from brine sources, with E-LITE featuring an AI Energy Management System for optimized operations.

Product and service2 records
1Lilypad
CategoryBrine Evaporation Equipment
Description

Floating, solar-powered device placed on the surface of evaporation ponds that concentrates and multiplies incoming photons and retains heat in surrounding water, enabling 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement for sustainable lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction. Designed for hypersaline conditions with a special durable coating and requires zero construction; targeted at lithium mining operators.

2E-LITE
CategoryDirect Lithium Extraction Equipment
Description

Advanced, modular evaporation technology system that extracts lithium from low-concentration brine sources with minimum energy and chemical use, featuring an AI Energy Management System, more than 90% lithium recovery rate, less than 100 ppm minimum lithium concentration, and 80% water recovery. Highly scalable and tested with brines from South and North America; targeted at lithium mining operators and resource recovery operations.

Scale indicator7 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership2 partners
1Princeton University
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnounced on2022-01-01
Description

Origin of PureLi's technology from Princeton University research team led by Jason Ren. Sean Zheng was a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. The company leverages Princeton START Entrepreneurs program, Princeton Innovation Forum, and maintains research collaborations with university faculty including Liangbing Hu at University of Maryland.

2National Science Foundation (NSF)
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnounced on2022-01-01
Description

NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub participant. Team received NSF Partnerships for Innovation Award and is considering National NSF I-Corps program which comes with $50,000 grant.

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight6 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Market position
Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile2 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature4 records

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles6 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds4 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors10 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

PureLi

Lithium Extraction Equipmentpureli.com

PureLi is a Princeton University spinout developing solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction from brine, serving lithium mining companies and battery manufacturers through its Lilypad and E-LITE product lines.

What PureLi does

PureLi is a Princeton University spinout cleantech company developing solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable extraction of lithium, potassium, and nitrate from brine sources. Founded in 2022 by Sean Zheng (CEO) and Professor Z. Jason Ren (Chief Scientist), the company operates two core products: Lilypad, a floating surface device placed on existing evaporation ponds that concentrates photons and retains heat to deliver 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement; and E-LITE, a modular standalone evaporation system that extracts lithium from low-concentration brines without traditional ponds, achieving >90% lithium recovery, <100ppm minimum concentration threshold, and 80% water recovery. Both products are powered by a proprietary porous fiber string technology that uses capillary action to naturally separate lithium and sodium at distinct locations along the fiber.

The company commercializes its technology through direct enterprise field sales targeting lithium mining operations, battery manufacturers, and resource recovery operations, with current customer engagement centered on early-access pre-orders routed via the company website. Revenue mechanics combine one-time technology licensing/equipment sales with professional deployment services under custom multi-year enterprise contracts; public pricing is not disclosed. The company is venture-backed by SOSV (lead), HAX, and DO Ventures, and has received non-dilutive support from the Princeton START Entrepreneurs program, the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub, and the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology ($75,000 in October 2024). The leadership bench has been expanded with Chief Product Officer Angela Fasnacht, whose 25+ years in brine/water treatment includes leading a $330M division at Veolia.

The underlying science has been validated through peer-reviewed publication in Nature Water (September 2023) on spatially separated crystallization for selective lithium extraction, first prize at the 17th annual Princeton Innovation Forum (2022), and inclusion in Storm4's 'US-Based Green Technology Startups To Watch In 2025.' PureLi currently operates with 1-10 employees and serves brine sources across North America, South America, EMEA (UK), and Southeast Asia (Vietnam), positioning itself within the broader green technology and sustainability market projected to reach $73.9 billion by 2030.

PureLi firmographics

Firmographics
Name
PureLi
Legal name
PCM
Website
https://pureli.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
2022
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1–10 employees
Short description
PureLi is a Princeton University spinout developing solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction from brine, serving lithium mining companies and battery manufacturers through its Lilypad and E-LITE product lines.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

PureLi industry classification

Industry
Product category
Lithium Extraction Equipment
akta.pro primary industry
Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)
akta.pro secondary industries
Specialty Potassium Products (SOP, Low-Chloride K, K-Thiosulfate) (AFABACAI), Brine Concentrate Management & Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) (EUANAFAH)

Keywords

  • Lithium extraction
  • Brine mining technology
  • Solar evaporation systems
  • Direct lithium extraction
  • Cleantech equipment

Where PureLi is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
New Jersey
HQ country
Trinidad & Tobago
HQ region
Latin America

Markets served

PureLi business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

  1. Technology licensing and equipment sales: PureLi commercializes its proprietary Lilypad and E-LITE evaporation technologies through equipment sales and technology licensing to lithium mining operations and battery manufacturers. The company is funded by leading international VCs and is currently in early-access/pre-order phase.
  2. Technology deployment and implementation services: Company provides technology deployment services for implementing Lilypad and E-LITE systems at customer sites, including setup, optimization, and ongoing technical support.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
OtherMulti-year contractCustom enterprise pricing based on project scope and requirements

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

PureLi product offering

Product offering

Core offering

PureLi develops and commercializes advanced solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable extraction of lithium, potassium, and nitrate from brine sources. Its two flagship products are Lilypad, a floating pond-surface device that delivers 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement with no construction required, and E-LITE, a modular extraction system that achieves >90% lithium recovery and 80% water recovery from low-concentration brines without traditional evaporation ponds. Both are sold to enterprise lithium mining and battery manufacturing customers under custom multi-year contracts.

Product overview

PureLi offers two distinct core products for sustainable mineral extraction from brine: Lilypad, a floating solar-powered device for enhancing existing evaporation pond operations with 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement; and E-LITE, an advanced standalone evaporation technology that enables direct lithium extraction without traditional ponds, achieving >90% lithium recovery rate and 80% water recovery. Both products target lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction from brine sources, with E-LITE featuring an AI Energy Management System for optimized operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • Lilypad: A floating device for evaporation ponds that concentrates photons and retains heat, enabling 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement in lithium production.
  • E-LITE

Products and services

  • Lilypad Floating, solar-powered device placed on the surface of evaporation ponds that concentrates and multiplies incoming photons and retains heat in surrounding water, enabling 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement for sustainable lithium, potassium, and nitrate extraction. Designed for hypersaline conditions with a special durable coating and requires zero construction; targeted at lithium mining operators.
  • E-LITE Advanced, modular evaporation technology system that extracts lithium from low-concentration brine sources with minimum energy and chemical use, featuring an AI Energy Management System, more than 90% lithium recovery rate, less than 100 ppm minimum lithium concentration, and 80% water recovery. Highly scalable and tested with brines from South and North America; targeted at lithium mining operators and resource recovery operations.

Quantifiable outcome

  • Extraction rate improved by more than 10 times standard rate
  • +6 more outcomes

Companies that use PureLi

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

PureLi technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

PureLi partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

  • Princeton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Origin of PureLi's technology from Princeton University research team led by Jason Ren. Sean Zheng was a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. The company leverages Princeton START Entrepreneurs program, Princeton Innovation Forum, and maintains research collaborations with university faculty including Liangbing Hu at University of Maryland.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub participant. Team received NSF Partnerships for Innovation Award and is considering National NSF I-Corps program which comes with $50,000 grant.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

PureLi competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

PureLi social profiles

Digital presence

PureLi financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

PureLi leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

PureLi funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

PureLi M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PureLi

What does PureLi do?

PureLi develops and commercializes advanced solar-powered evaporation technologies for sustainable extraction of lithium, potassium, and nitrate from brine sources. Its two flagship products are Lilypad, a floating pond-surface device that delivers 2x faster evaporation and 10% recovery improvement with no construction required, and E-LITE, a modular extraction system that achieves >90% lithium recovery and 80% water recovery from low-concentration brines without traditional evaporation ponds. Both are sold to enterprise lithium mining and battery manufacturing customers under custom multi-year contracts.

Is PureLi a public or private company?

PureLi is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.

When was PureLi founded?

PureLi was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is PureLi based?

PureLi is headquartered in New Jersey, Trinidad & Tobago, in the Latin America region.

How does PureLi make money?

Two revenue lines are on record. Technology licensing and equipment sales are the primary driver. The others are technology deployment and implementation services.

Does PureLi have an API?

No public API is recorded for PureLi.

What industry is PureLi in?

PureLi's product category is Lithium Extraction Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAA, Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction, with a secondary code of AFABACAI, Specialty Potassium Products (SOP, Low-Chloride K, K-Thiosulfate).

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Live signals
Talk Business & PoliticsFourth lithium technology accelerator cohort namedThe Venture Center announced the fourth cohort of the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator, running through September. The three-week program connects three companies—ACT-ion, Princeton Critical Minerals, and Arcam—with producers, researchers, and investors. It aims to expand Arkansas's role in the domestic battery supply chain.VC News DailyPrinceton Critical Minerals Inks $16MPrinceton Critical Minerals, a Newark, New Jersey startup developing technologies to increase lithium production yields from brine sources, raised $16 million in combined equity and non-dilutive funding. The round includes an $11 million Series A led by SOSV, with participation from the Grantham Foundation, Prospect Innovation, ASTOR Management AG, Black Forest Ventures and the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen fund, alongside over $5 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation, ARPA-E and NJEDA.Interesting EngineeringPrinceton startup raises $16M to advance brine-based lithium productionPrinceton Critical Minerals has raised $16 million to expand its brine-based lithium production platform, following the deployment of its Lilypad technology in Chile. The company aims to address rising global demand for lithium driven by electric vehicles, AI data centers, and robotics by improving extraction efficiency and reducing costs. PCM is preparing to launch additional projects in Chile and expand operations into the United States.Pulse 2.0Princeton Critical Minerals Raises $16 Million To Scale Lithium Production Platform Across U.S. And South AmericaPrinceton Critical Minerals raised $16 million in equity and non-dilutive funding to scale its lithium production technologies for brine resources. The company plans to use the capital to expand U.S.-based manufacturing and commercial deployments, building on recent pilot successes in Chile. This expansion aims to address growing lithium demand from sectors beyond electric vehicles, including AI data centers and energy storage.CleanTechnicaPrinceton Critical Minerals Raises $16M to Scale Lithium Production TechnologiesPrinceton Critical Minerals raised $16 million in combined equity and grant funding to scale its brine-based lithium production technologies. The company plans to expand commercial deployments of its Lilypad platform, following a successful industrial-scale installation in Chile, and build U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities. This funding addresses the growing demand for lithium driven by electric vehicles, energy storage, and AI infrastructure.citybizPrinceton Critical Minerals Raises $16M to Raise Lithium ProductionPrinceton Critical Minerals raised $16 million in equity and non-dilutive funding, led by SOSV's $11 million Series A. The company will use the capital to expand manufacturing and deploy its lithium extraction technology commercially. It plans to establish U.S. production capabilities.FinancialContent Business PagePrinceton Critical Minerals Raises $16M to Scale Lithium Production TechnologiesPrinceton Critical Minerals has raised $16 million in combined equity and non-dilutive funding to expand its brine-based lithium production technologies. The company recently deployed its Lilypad technology in Chile and is preparing for commercial deployments in the U.S. to meet growing demand from EV, energy storage, and AI infrastructure sectors.SosvPrinceton Critical Minerals Raises $16M to Scale Lithium Production for Energy StoragePrinceton Critical Minerals secured $16 million in combined equity and non-dilutive funding to scale its lithium extraction technology from brine. The company's Lilypad system, which enhances existing evaporation ponds using AI and selective crystallization, has moved from pilot to industrial deployment in Chile and is preparing for U.S. rollouts.FinSMEsPrinceton Critical Minerals Raises $16M in Series A and Grant FundingPrinceton Critical Minerals raised $16M in equity and grant funding, including an $11M Series A led by SOSV HAX and a $5M grant package. The Newark-based startup will use the capital to expand domestic manufacturing, automate assembly, and scale its brine lithium extraction across South American salt flats.SosvPrinceton Critical MineralsPrinceton Critical Minerals, a cleantech startup from Princeton University, has developed lithium extraction technologies for brine sources. Its initial product boosts productivity in existing evaporation ponds by 50% without new capital, targeting full commercial deployment by end of 2024. The company also extracts lithium from wastewater streams, including fracking operations.