Giraffe Bio secures $6.4M to boost copper yields via bespoke molecules

The startup’s approach moves away from traditional microbe-based heap leaching, which can be difficult to manage in harsh mining environments. Instead, Giraffe Bio uses a bioreactor to grow engineered microbes that produce mineral-specific chemicals. These compounds are then integrated into the flotation process, where they selectively bind to copper, allowing operators to skim higher volumes of the metal from waste. CEO Alejandro Buffo Sempé claims the technology can increase recovery rates by up to 5%, a significant jump over the industry standard of 1% to 2%.

Beyond yield optimization, the platform aims to replace the toxic chemicals currently used in flotation. By developing biomolecular depressors that isolate undesirable elements like arsenic, the company intends to reduce the environmental footprint of ore processing. Led by Orion Industrial Ventures with backing from BHP Ventures and others, the funding will support scaling these compounds for copper, with potential future applications for gold and silver extraction.