Today we have the opportunity to interview one of the most energetic and inspiring people in climate tech. Liz Dennett, the CEO and Founder of Endolith.
If you recognize the name Endolith, it may be because we had Moji Karimi of Cemvita on for episode 200. Endolith recently spun out of Cemvita to form its own independent company.
They are solving a huge problem in the electrification puzzle — copper extraction.
By 2050 we will need more copper than in the history of mankind due to the electrification of industry and developing countries. If we don’t solve this, it could lead to geopolitical conflicts.
Endolith’s technology uses microbes to eat crushed rocks and poop out copper (I mean, I did say explain it to me like I’m 5). They add this to existing mining operations to increase output by ~10%.
Solving this problem will help us get closer to meeting the rising copper demand. And this is a good thing for many reasons. Not the least of which is, as countries gain reliable access to electricity, women and children are the primary beneficiaries. That’s a world I want to work for.
In today’s conversation, we’ll cover:
The role of copper in electrification
Her journey to CEO of Endolith
Why copper could be the thing wars are fought over (not water)
The innovation behind microbial mining
The balance between generating hype and focusing on scientific advancements
Let’s dive in. (Full topics at the bottom 👇)
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(PS: if you want to see her adorable dog — go watch on YouTube — SOOO CUTE! 🐶)
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Topics:
00:00 The Importance of Coppe
02:49 Liz's Journey to Endolith
06:06 Microbes and Metal Recovery
08:49 Deep Tech Startup Challenges
12:11 Spinning-Out of Endolith from Cemvita
14:53 The Impact of Copper on Society
18:04 Geopolitics and Copper
20:57 Electrification and Global Outcomes
25:40 Speaking Truth to Power
28:26 The Complexities of Clean Energy Access
30:44 Areas to Decarbonize Mining
32:36 Partnering with Mining Incumbents
35:55 Balancing Hype and ‘Doing Science’
40:39 The Role of Politics in Green Mining
45:11 Recycling & the Future of Minerals
Links
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@Silas & @Somil_Agg on X
This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
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