From cnet:
Simbol Mining is securing $6.7 million in a series A round led by MDV-Mohr Davidow Ventures and Firelake Capital.
The start-up plans to extract lithium carbonate for making lithium-based batteries for electric cars and consumer electronics. Simbol Mining has set the bold goal of meeting within 10 years one-fourth of global demand for the compound, which could become a $1.5 billion market by 2015....
HT: DealBook