Giraffe Bio raises $6.4 million to boost copper recovery

Giraffe Bio has raised a $6.4 million seed round to develop chemicals that help mines recover more copper from existing operations. TechCrunch reported that the round was led by Orion Industrial Ventures, with participation from BHP Ventures, Twynam, Air Capital, and Baruch Future Ventures.

The startup grows engineered microbes in a bioreactor to produce compounds tailored to the mineral content of a mine. Those compounds are added to existing processes, including flotation, where chemicals help separate valuable minerals from waste. Giraffe Bio says its products can help mines recover up to 5% more copper; CEO and co-founder Alejandro Buffo Sempé told TechCrunch that even an additional 1% to 2% would be meaningful in mining.

Instead of adding bacteria directly to ore, the company uses the microbes to make the compounds and says this avoids the challenge of keeping microbes alive in mining environments. It is also developing depressors, chemicals that bind to unwanted materials so they sink during flotation. Buffo Sempé said the approach could replace some chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Giraffe Bio is starting with copper, but says its platform could also target gold and silver. The funding will help move the technology from the lab into mining operations.