Mining—long seen as dirty, slow-moving, and capital-heavy—is being quietly reinvented by a new wave of Deep Tech startups using AI, novel chemistry, and rethought hardware to unlock critical materials in smarter, faster, and more sustainable ways.
In this episode, we’re joined by Jason Holt, Partner at Orion Industrial Ventures, a venture firm backing early-stage technologies that are transforming how we mine, process, and secure the materials that power energy infrastructure and defense.
Jason unpacks what’s actually changing in mining—from how we discover resources to how we de-risk startups in a geopolitically fragile supply chain.
What You’ll Learn in This Edition
Where the real pressure is in critical minerals
Why copper, nickel, and rare earths aren’t just hot—they’re bottlenecks for the entire energy system.How AI is cracking the exploration code
From legacy datasets to high-grade copper breakthroughs—why machine learning is finally working in the field.The new due diligence roadmap for industrial Deep Tech
What separates a science project from a fundable Series A, and how capital intensity is actually being managed.Business models that actually return venture capital
Why fixed-fee software won’t scale—and how royalties, equity, and outcome-based deals are reshaping mining tech.Geopolitics as a forcing function
How shifting supply chains, regulatory reform, and onshoring mandates are changing the investor playbook.
About VC Guides
Whether you’re breaking into venture or refining your edge within it, VC Guide delivers what textbooks don’t—real-world experiences, straight from those who’ve lived them.
Our mission is to turn high-signal insight into real advantage, helping you succeed in deep tech venture capital.
This series is designed for emerging and active investors and experts who want to think sharper, move faster, and operate with more precision in the complex markets that define deep tech.
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