Pentagon offers battery startup 6K $250M loan to build US factory

In Brief Posted: 8:50 AM PST · November 6, 2026 Tim De Chant Pentagon offers battery startup 6K $250M loan to build US factory Batteries are everywhere, even on the battlefield, which helps explain the Pentagon’s recent interest in building more domestic manufacturing capacity. The 12-year-old, North Andover, Massachusetts-based startup 6K announced Thursday that it won conditional approval for a $250 million loan from the Department of Defense to build a factory in Tennessee. The plant will use a unique microwave-powered process to produce battery materials that don’t rely on Chinese suppliers. The company previously received a $50 million grant from the Department of Energy under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, though that 2023 grant was canceled by the Trump administration in a chaotic sweep of Biden-era awards, forcing 6K to reapply. The factory was originally slated to open in 2024, but the grant cancelation and uncertainties in the EV market forced the company to rejigger its plans . 6K’s manufacturing process uses microwaves to heat metals into a plasma and then deposit them onto a surface, reducing the number of steps required to make cathode material, a key battery component. The company says the process can work on a number of different battery types, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Topics battery materials , Climate , department of defense , Government & Policy , In Brief November 4 Boston Buy One Pass, Get a Second Free Cover more ground at TechCrunch’s ultimate founder bootcamp of the year by bringing your co-founder or partner for free Book before the BOGO deal expires Register Now Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Climate US battery startups have found a lifeline in defense Tim De Chant Aug 22, 2026 Climate Sila lands $1.4B Pentagon loan as militaries demand more batteries Tim De Chant Aug 10, 2026 Climate Trump DOE confirms it’s canceling over $700M in manufacturing grants Tim De Chant Oct 20, 2025 Latest in Climate In Brief Pentagon offers battery startup 6K $250M loan to build US factory Tim De Chant 2 days ago Climate RadianX promises solar-powered devices that never need charging Tim De Chant 3 days ago TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Doors open at 9 a.m. ET in Boston TechCrunch Events 4 days ago