VC firms talking about rare earths...

[John]

https://a16z.com/its-time-to-mine-securing-critical-minerals/

So this is a pretty standard analysis of rare earths sector etc.

BUT - Does this signal that VC might invest in the sector? These guys look for massive returns. Will a 10x satisfy them?

Or do they see greater potential?

Has anyone ever come across VC investing in mines?

I just did a ChatGPT table:

VC Firm / Fund	Mine / Company	Details
Breakthrough Energy Ventures	KoBold Metals	Backed by Bill Gates; uses AI to explore battery metal deposits (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni).
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)	KoBold Metals (via syndicate)	Early investor alongside Breakthrough.
DCVC (Data Collective)	Lilac Solutions	Lithium brine extraction technology for use in direct lithium extraction (DLE).
Temasek & Bill Gates	EnergyX	DLE lithium processing tech with upstream ambitions.
TechMet (backed by US DFC)	Brazilian Nickel, Rainbow Rare Earths	Invests in battery and critical mineral mines globally.

Interesting.

So i wonder if they will move into any other companies?

 

[Szalva]

Cerberus back in 2022 supported Torngat metals:

Torngat Metals Announces Investment from Cerberus Capital Management - Cerberus Capital Management

Acceleration of the Strange Lake Rare Earth Project to Advance North American Production of Clean, Low-Carbon Technologies MONTRÉAL & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Torngat Metals Ltd. (“Torngat”) today announced a US$50 million phased investment led by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management...

www.cerberus.com

 

[John]

@Szalva - love your profile pic! Do you have the FID tshirt as well?

 

[Trevor L Mann]

https://a16z.com/its-time-to-mine-securing-critical-minerals/

So this is a pretty standard analysis of rare earths sector etc.

BUT - Does this signal that VC might invest in the sector? These guys look for massive returns. Will a 10x satisfy them?

Or do they see greater potential?

Has anyone ever come across VC investing in mines?

I just did a ChatGPT table:

VC Firm / Fund	Mine / Company	Details
Breakthrough Energy Ventures	KoBold Metals	Backed by Bill Gates; uses AI to explore battery metal deposits (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni).
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)	KoBold Metals (via syndicate)	Early investor alongside Breakthrough.
DCVC (Data Collective)	Lilac Solutions	Lithium brine extraction technology for use in direct lithium extraction (DLE).
Temasek & Bill Gates	EnergyX	DLE lithium processing tech with upstream ambitions.
TechMet (backed by US DFC)	Brazilian Nickel, Rainbow Rare Earths	Invests in battery and critical mineral mines globally.

Interesting.

So i wonder if they will move into any other companies?

traction is building in the DC and VCs are definitely looking to invest in the massive coalition it will take to disrupt the chinese control of REE.

 

[John]

@Trevor L Mann

Agree. I wonder if they will assign their investment capital towards the smaller/upstart RE sector buinesses, or will they align with the established players. I hope they go for the start ups...and help guide them and back them.

 

[Szalva]

Hi @John, would love to have a FID shirt “FID 2025”

 

[Trevor L Mann]

@Trevor L Mann

Agree. I wonder if they will assign their investment capital towards the smaller/upstart RE sector buinesses, or will they align with the established players. I hope they go for the start ups...and help guide them and back them.

New tech wise it seems like they're willing to back new startups and for supply chain integration a lot of the big players are getting DoD funding or DoE. I see the space being fragmented for a while until the industry takes a more collaborative approach to an existential problem

 

[John]

Hi @John, would love to have a FID shirt “FID 2025”

I'd even settle for a ARU FID 2025 cap.....or socks!