San Francisco, CA – Mariana Minerals, a company pioneering a software-first approach to critical mineral development, has announced it has raised $85 million in capital, including a Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The investment underscores a growing focus on transforming the supply chain for essential minerals amidst a global energy transition. Ryan McEntush highlighted this shift in a recent social media post, stating, "We’re shifting from an oil-powered world to a mineral-fueled one. But mining incumbents aren’t built for the 21st century. @MarianaMinerals is: a new OS for critical minerals."
The $85 million capital injection, which includes the Series A funding, saw continued support from seed investors Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Khosla Ventures, alongside participation from strategic investors within the minerals industry. This funding is earmarked to scale Mariana Minerals' operations and accelerate the development of critical mineral projects. The company aims to address the inefficiencies prevalent in traditional mining, which often relies on outdated systems and fragmented processes.
Mariana Minerals distinguishes itself through its proprietary "MarianaOS," a suite of in-house AI and machine learning tools designed to supercharge the construction, commissioning, and optimization of mineral infrastructure. The company operates as a vertically integrated entity, handling design, permitting, financing, commissioning, and operation of its projects. This comprehensive approach is intended to enable "mining at war speed," a significant departure from the typical decade-long timelines for bringing new mineral projects into production.
The demand for critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and nickel is surging, driven by the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, artificial intelligence technologies, and defense applications. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that demand for these minerals could more than double by 2030 in climate-driven scenarios. The United States, in particular, faces significant import reliance for many critical minerals, making domestic supply chain security a strategic imperative.
Mariana Minerals is actively developing lithium, copper, and nickel projects primarily in the U.S., with plans for rapid expansion both domestically and internationally. The company has set an ambitious target of bringing 10 mineral projects into production within 10 years. To achieve this, Mariana Minerals is actively recruiting talent across various disciplines, including software, machine learning, mining, and engineering, as indicated by McEntush: "If you want to help build our industrial future from the ground up, they’re hiring."