Startup Brimstone Has Secured New Supply Agreements
The company produces carbon-reduced cement and essential minerals using an innovative silicate rock refining process.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Startups
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Brimstone has signed supply agreements with Amazon and Century Aluminum as it prepares to use silicate rocks to produce cement and minerals. The firm's process aims to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional methods.
Why it matters
The company intends to strengthen national security by establishing a domestic supply chain for critical materials, reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese production. This approach also addresses the massive carbon footprint typically associated with cement manufacturing.
Brimstone's refining process produces about 60% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than traditional cement manufacturing, which currently accounts for 8% of global carbon dioxide pollution. The total addressable market for these materials is estimated at $2.4 trillion.
The players
Brimstone
An Oakland-based startup that develops technology to produce cement and extract minerals using silicate rocks.
Amazon
A multinational technology corporation that has entered into a supply agreement with Brimstone.
Century Aluminum
A company that specializes in aluminum production and has signed a supply agreement with Brimstone.
The details
The Oakland-based company utilizes a single refinery to extract steel, magnesium, titanium, and smelter-grade alumina from silicate rocks instead of limestone. Despite the revocation of a $189 million federal grant for a Reno facility, Brimstone continues to advance its technology toward full-scale operations.
Timeline
Brimstone was founded in 2019.
The company earned industry certification for its Portland cement in 2023.
Brimstone demonstrated its ability to produce smelter-grade alumina in early 2025.
The company expects to begin operations at its Reno facility in 2028.
Full-scale production of steel and titanium is projected for the next decade.
Market Landscape
Brimstone operates in a sector heavily shaped by the Biden-Harris administration's industrial policy grants, which previously included a $189 million award for the Reno facility. This startup's pivot toward private supply agreements mirrors a broader shift in the sector to secure commercial viability following the loss of public funding.
The adoption of low-carbon cement and domestically produced minerals may eventually influence the costs and sustainability standards for large-scale construction and manufacturing projects. Customers and project partners should anticipate potential shifts in material sourcing as the firm scales toward 2028.
The takeaway
Brimstone aims to prove that industrial manufacturing can maintain profitability while significantly reducing environmental impact. The company's future hinges on its ability to scale silicate refining processes to compete with global mineral suppliers.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving landscape for new manufacturing firms, visit Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MIT Technology Review.
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