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ACCELERATOR - deep tech

Rio Tinto & Founders Factory Mining Tech Program

  • Applications open

    Capital • 4 months operational support • Perth & Remote

program overview

Investing in technologies to provide the materials the world needs

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group that focuses on finding, mining, and processing the Earth's mineral resources.


Founders Factory and Rio Tinto are partnering with early stage startups across the world to fund and accelerate technologies shaping the future of mining and expediting the path to industrial decarbonisation.


Operating from both our hub in Perth and remote, the program offers founders access to Rio Tinto's industrial expertise and advanced mining facilities in Western Australia, in addition to a 4 month cohort-based support program led by expert operators.

go further, faster

Build, fund and commercialise your technology with the backing of Rio Tinto and Founders Factory

Capital

Capital

Receive cash investment and opportunities for follow-on funding through our investor networks.

Operational Excellence

Operational Excellence

Four months of expert-led programming across product development, operations, commercialisation, data science, partnerships, and fundraising.

Industry Access

Industry Access

Commercial opportunities with Rio Tinto and access to mining facilities and testing grounds in Western Australia.

Community & Network

Community & Network

Connect with our global community of founders, operators and investors at private in-person and online events.

Playbooks & Resources

Playbooks & Resources

Leverage our venture building knowledge, systems and processes to de-risk your startup and increase the probabilities of success.

Deals & Perks

Deals & Perks

Access hand-picked deals, discounts and benefits with leading software and service providers, worth AU$500,000.

FEATURED COMPANIES

Our Mining Tech Portfolio

  • EndolithEndolith

    Endolith

     / Seed

    Increasing copper recovery from low-grade ores in heap leaches by harnessing microbial communities, synthetic biology techniques, and a cloud-native platform

    US

  • DurinDurin

    Durin

     / Seed

    Automated drill rigs that consolidate drilling, lab testing, planning, and analysis into a single system

    US

  • Terra AITerra AI

    Terra AI

     / Series A

    Combining geological data with AI-driven reasoning to optimise exploration in real time

    US

  • VycarbVycarb

    Vycarb

     / Pre-Seed

    CO2 removal and storage technology, facilitating permanent, low-cost, and fully-measured carbon capture, removal, and storage, using water and minerals

    US

  • Rock ZeroRock Zero

    Rock Zero

     / Seed

    Zero waste, cost-efficient lithium extraction

    US

  • MagmaticMagmatic

    Magmatic

     / Pre-Seed

    Building a library of metal-binding proteins, to establish novel integrated separation process for improved recovery of critical metals

    Austria

  • BluumBioBluumBio

    BluumBio

     / Pre-Seed

    Enzyme database for removing pollutants from soil, air, and water

    US

  • RainstickRainstick

    Rainstick

     / Pre-Seed

    Mimicking effects of lightning to stimulate biological and electrochemical changes in seeds to enhancing crop performance

    Australia

  • ProSpectralProSpectral

    ProSpectral

     / Pre-Seed

    Next generation computer vision for material detection and analysis

    UK

  • ThunderstoneThunderstone

    Thunderstone

     / Pre-Seed

    Extracting metals directly from underground deposits, using high-voltage electric fields to create fractures in rock, allowing conductive fluids to dissolve and extract metals.

    US

  • SunchemSunchem

    Sunchem

     / Pre-Seed

    Developing sustainable leaching and Nano Filter technologies for the precision separation of critical metals

    US

  • EkionEkion

    Ekion

     / Pre-Seed

    Electrokinetic recovery to extract metals from stranded deposits

    Australia

INVESTMENT THEMES

We're investing in the future of mining

Meet the program team

Join the Rio Tinto x Founders Factory Accelerator