Articles tagged with "startup-innovation"
How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
The article discusses the looming global copper shortage expected within five years, driven by rising demand from sectors like data centers and electric vehicles. Current projections suggest supply could fall short by up to 25%, pushing copper prices higher and prompting increased investment in mining ventures, such as KoBold’s recent efforts in Zambia. Amid this challenge, a startup named Transition Metal Solutions is pioneering a novel approach to enhance copper extraction by leveraging microbial communities in ore heaps. Unlike traditional methods that focus on isolating or engineering specific microbial strains, Transition aims to stimulate the entire microbial ecosystem using low-cost, mostly inorganic additives—akin to “prebiotics” for copper mines—to boost copper yield by 20-30%. Transition’s CEO, Sasha Milshteyn, explains that previous microbial enhancement attempts often failed because they targeted individual strains without considering the complex, largely uncharacterized microbial communities in acidic heap leach environments. These environments are difficult to replicate and study in labs, with over 90% of microbes being previously unknown
materialscopper-miningmicrobial-technologymineral-extractionstartup-innovationsustainable-miningmetal-productionHow one startup is using probiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
The article discusses the looming global copper shortage expected within five years, driven by rising demand from sectors like data centers and electric vehicles, potentially causing supply to fall short by up to 25%. While companies and investors are heavily investing in copper mining, a startup named Transition Metal Solutions is taking a novel approach to increase copper extraction efficiency using microbial additives, akin to "probiotics" for copper mines. The company recently raised $6 million in seed funding to scale its technology, which aims to boost copper production by 20% to 30%. Unlike traditional methods that focus on isolating or engineering specific microbial strains to enhance copper recovery—often with limited or short-lived success—Transition Metal Solutions targets the entire microbial community within ore heaps. These microbial communities are complex and largely uncharacterized, with over 90% of species previously unknown and difficult to culture in labs due to harsh heap leach conditions (low pH, presence of clays and metals). Transition’s approach uses low-cost, mostly
materialscopper-shortagemining-technologyprobioticsmicrobial-communitiesmineral-extractionstartup-innovationNuclear startups are back in vogue with small reactors, and big challenges
The nuclear industry is experiencing a resurgence, driven by significant investment in startups focused on small modular reactors (SMRs). Unlike traditional nuclear plants, which are massive, costly, and prone to delays—as exemplified by the Vogtle 3 and 4 reactors in Georgia that were eight years late and over $20 billion over budget—these startups aim to build smaller reactors that can be mass-produced. The rationale is that smaller reactors can be added incrementally to meet power demands and benefit from manufacturing efficiencies that reduce costs over time. However, experts remain uncertain about the scale of these cost reductions, though startups are betting on them being substantial. Despite abundant capital, the industry faces significant manufacturing challenges, particularly a shortage of skilled human capital and lost industrial expertise in the U.S. due to decades of offshoring and a lack of new factory construction. This shortage spans all levels, from factory floor operators to executives, hindering the ability to scale production efficiently. Yet, some optimism exists as startups are increasingly
energynuclear-energysmall-modular-reactorsmanufacturing-challengessupply-chainindustrial-manufacturingstartup-innovationGreen Hydrogen Startup Has A Message For Texas: Hold My Beer
The article highlights the emergence of Oklahoma, particularly through the startup Tobe Energy, as a new player in the green hydrogen sector, traditionally dominated by Texas in the US. Tobe Energy has attracted significant investment, including $1.8 million in seed funding led by Cortado Ventures and support from Hurricane Ventures, reflecting growing interest in clean technology within the Mid-Continent region. The startup’s key innovation is a membrane-free electrolysis system for producing green hydrogen from water, which contrasts with the conventional membrane-dependent methods that are typically more costly due to the expensive membranes required. Tobe Energy’s membrane-free technology aims to simplify hydrogen production, potentially reducing costs by up to 75% and decreasing waste heat, making it scalable for large industries such as energy, manufacturing, and transportation. This approach could accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy by enabling more affordable and efficient green hydrogen production, particularly for on-site or localized use, which minimizes transportation and storage expenses. The article also notes that despite the
energygreen-hydrogenelectrolysisclean-energyhydrogen-productionrenewable-energystartup-innovationGlīd won Startup Battlefield 2025 by building solutions to make logistis simpler, safer, and smarter
Glīd, a logistics infrastructure startup founded by Kevin Damoa, won the Startup Battlefield 2025 competition by developing hardware and software solutions aimed at simplifying the complex process of container shipment, particularly the challenging transfer of cargo between road and rail transport. Damoa’s experience in the U.S. Army, where he worked on loading military vehicles onto railroads, inspired the company’s mission to address inefficiencies in logistics. The team launched three products nearly simultaneously and successfully demonstrated them live on the TechCrunch Disrupt stage, overcoming significant software development challenges despite limited resources. Following their victory, Glīd is leveraging the prize money and momentum to accelerate growth, including launching a pilot project with Great Plains Industrial Park and preparing to release their next product, Glīder. The company is actively hiring across various roles through an organic, mission-driven recruitment process that emphasizes mindfulness and focus. Damoa’s leadership style reflects this human-centric approach, fostering a team culture that balances intense dedication with well-being. The
IoTlogistics-technologysmart-logisticssupply-chain-automationhardware-software-integrationstartup-innovationtransportation-technologyAnd the winner of Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025 is: Glīd
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, 20 startups competed in the Startup Battlefield, a prestigious event showcasing top emerging companies. After rigorous pitching and judging by venture capitalists and tech leaders, five finalists were selected: Charter Space, Glīd, MacroCycle, Nephrogen, and Unlisted Homes. The final round featured demos before a panel including Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures and Digg founder Kevin Rose. Ultimately, Glīd was named the winner, earning the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000. Glīd focuses on optimizing the logistics of moving shipping containers from ships to freight trains using innovative hardware and software. Their flagship product, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric vehicle designed to transport 20-foot containers directly to railheads, eliminating the need for forklifts or hostler trucks and reducing costs and complexity. The runner-up was Nephrogen, a company developing a highly efficient delivery system for gene-editing medicines targeting kidney cells. Founded by Demetri Maxim, Neph
robothybrid-electric-vehiclelogistics-automationtransportation-technologystartup-innovationcontainer-handlingsupply-chain-roboticsInaudible sound might be the next frontier in wildfire defense
The article discusses Sonic Fire Tech, a startup developing an innovative wildfire defense system that uses infrasound—sound waves below the range of human hearing—to suppress fires. Building on earlier concepts explored by DARPA and others, the company has engineered a system that employs a large reciprocating piston to generate low-frequency sound waves around 20 Hz. These sound waves disrupt combustion and can extinguish flames from distances up to 25 feet, with potential scalability to 330 feet. Unlike traditional audible-frequency approaches, which can damage hearing, Sonic Fire Tech’s infrasound method is safe and can transmit further, making it suitable for residential wildfire protection. Sonic Fire Tech’s system is designed to be installed on homes, routing infrasound through ducts placed on the roof ridge and under eaves to target fires starting in gutters or near walls. It activates automatically when sensors detect flames and requires about 500 watts of power, with plans for battery backup in case of outages. The system does not rely on water
energywildfire-defenseacoustic-fire-suppressioninfrasound-technologystartup-innovationfire-safety-technologysustainable-energy-solutionsFrom Robinhood to Aetherflux: Baiju Bhatt’s next frontier at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27–29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, will feature a notable fireside chat with Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood and current founder and CEO of Aetherflux, a U.S. aerospace company focused on delivering energy to Earth via space-based solar power. Bhatt will share insights from his journey transforming the fintech industry with Robinhood—where he helped democratize investing for over 20 million users—and discuss his transition into the challenging deep tech and aerospace sector with Aetherflux. The session will explore the complexities of scaling businesses in regulated and frontier markets, as well as the intersection of innovation, engineering, and entrepreneurship across vastly different industries. Attendees will gain valuable lessons on navigating regulatory hurdles, driving innovation under pressure, and applying founder experience from fintech to aerospace ventures. Bhatt’s perspective highlights how deep tech companies like Aetherflux can reshape entire industries and generate global impact. TechCrunch Disrupt 202
energyspace-solar-powerclean-energyaerospacedeep-techstartup-innovationenergy-technologyHow Bill Gates’s fellowship program is adapting to global uncertainty
Bill Gates’s climate tech organization, Breakthrough Energy, is adapting its fellowship program to address growing global uncertainty, including economic challenges and shifting policy priorities. The program, which supports startups led by budding entrepreneurs, has announced a new cohort of 45 fellows across 22 startups, marking its most globally diverse group yet—with half of the teams based outside the U.S., including locations in Asia, Canada, Germany, the U.K., and South Africa. This international emphasis is partly driven by the opening of a new fellowship hub in Singapore in partnership with Temasek and Enterprise Singapore, reflecting the recognition that climate change solutions must be globally sourced and locally tailored. The new cohort focuses on areas such as hydrogen, circularity (recycling materials), critical minerals, agriculture, and grid modernization, with particular attention to regional priorities like Asia’s interest in hydrogen and recycling due to its manufacturing footprint. The fellowship’s curriculum has also evolved to emphasize techno-economic analysis, encouraging startups to rigorously assess the economic viability of
energyclimate-techhydrogen-economycircular-economycritical-mineralsgrid-modernizationstartup-innovationGeothermal is too expensive, but Dig Energy’s impossibly small drill rig might fix that
Dig Energy, a startup emerging from stealth after five years, has developed a compact water-jet drilling rig aimed at drastically reducing the upfront costs of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Traditional geothermal installations are expensive primarily due to costly drilling, limiting geothermal adoption to just 1% of U.S. building installations despite its low operating costs and significant energy savings potential. Dig Energy’s rig promises to cut drilling costs by up to 80% by using water jets instead of conventional cutting bits, enabling smaller, more precise boreholes that can be placed closer together. This innovation could make geothermal a more viable alternative to fossil fuel HVAC systems, which account for about a third of U.S. energy use and up to 40% in data centers. The company has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Azolla Ventures and Avila VC to advance its technology toward commercial pilots. Unlike traditional geothermal drill rigs, which are large, truck-mounted, and difficult to deploy in tight urban or residential spaces, Dig’s
energygeothermal-energydrilling-technologyrenewable-energyHVAC-efficiencystartup-innovationsustainable-heating-and-coolingThe wait is almost over: The 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 list drops August 27
TechCrunch is set to announce the 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 list on August 27 at 9:00 a.m. PT, featuring a curated selection of the most promising early-stage startups worldwide. These startups will compete at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 in San Francisco, marking the event’s 20th anniversary. The Startup Battlefield has historically launched major tech companies such as Dropbox, Cloudflare, Fitbit, and Discord, and this year’s cohort is expected to continue that legacy. The Top 20 finalists from the Battlefield 200 will be revealed on the first day of Disrupt, where they will compete live for a $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup. Last year’s winner, Salva Health, gained attention for its portable breast cancer detection device aimed at underserved rural populations, exemplifying the kind of innovative solutions showcased in the competition. Runner-up geCKo Materials also impressed with its breakthrough adhesive technology disrupting the Velcro
materialsadhesive-materialsstartup-innovationtech-startupsbreakthrough-materialsVelcro-industrydisruptive-technologyThe new face of defense tech — Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries — takes the AI stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Ethan Thornton, CEO and founder of Mach Industries, highlighted how AI is fundamentally transforming defense technology today, not just in the future. Launching his startup out of MIT in 2023, Thornton aims to develop decentralized, next-generation defense systems that integrate advanced hardware, software, and autonomous capabilities. His approach challenges traditional defense industry norms by leveraging AI-native innovation to enhance national security on a global scale. Mach Industries exemplifies a new breed of startups that bridge commercial technology and military applications, focusing on autonomous systems, edge computing, and dual-use technologies. Thornton’s discussion emphasized the complexities of navigating funding, regulatory environments, and ethical responsibilities at the intersection of technology and geopolitics. With rising global tensions and increased defense tech investments, his session underscored AI’s critical role in reshaping security strategies and the future of sovereignty worldwide.
robotartificial-intelligenceautonomous-systemsdefense-technologyedge-computingstartup-innovationmilitary-technology