Who Is Funding the Next Wave of Mining Technology?
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Read articleFuture of Mining Australia 2026 brought together mining leaders, operators and technology providers from across the industry for two days of discussions focused on the future of the sector.
As a Supporting Organisation of the event, Unearthed was pleased to collaborate with CORE Innovation Hub and the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) to deliver the Startup Pitch Session, highlighting emerging technologies with the potential to disrupt our industry.
Chaired by Unearthed and CORE Director Zane Prickett, the session featured four Australian innovators tackling challenges across materials handling, robotics, mineral processing, automation, and AI.
A Golden Generation for Mining Innovation
Opening the session, Zane reflected on the changing landscape for mining technology startups.
For many years, mining was often viewed as a difficult industry for entrepreneurs and investors. Long sales cycles, remote operations, complex procurement processes, and capital-intensive environments meant many innovators looked elsewhere.
While many of those challenges remain, the opportunity has changed significantly.
The growing importance of critical minerals, supply chain security, decarbonisation, automation, and productivity has created renewed interest in industrial technology. Governments, investors, and major mining companies are increasingly recognising the role startups play in solving some of the industry's most pressing challenges.
Zane noted during his opening remarks: “Australia has the customers, the operations, the problems, the technical talent, and some of the most advanced industrial operating environments anywhere in the world. Through Unearthed, we get to see mining innovation globally. We work across the ecosystem with major miners like BHP and South32, and with startups, researchers and technology providers, bridging mining challenges to capability globally.”
Australia occupies a unique position in this ecosystem, combining world-class mining operations, technical expertise, and a growing innovation community capable of developing and validating technologies in real operating environments.
The session showcased exactly that.
Meet the Startups
EcoHoist
Represented by Matthew Forrest, Managing Director and Inventor, EcoHoist is rethinking one of underground operations biggest constraints: moving material from underground to surface.
Their continuous bucket elevator technology provides a continuous stream of material from deep underground operations, helping maintain consistent feed rates to processing plants while offering an alternative approach to traditional hoisting systems.
The technology aims to reduce cost associated with traditional shaft sinking and the complexities associated with large trucking fleets for material movement.
Jevons Robotics
Represented by Todd Peate, CEO and Managing Director, Jevons Robotics develops ruggedised wheeled robotics solutions designed specifically for open pit mining environments.
The company integrates automation, robotics, and battery technologies into practical industrial vehicles built primarily to support open pit drill and blast activities.
By combining advanced technologies with a deep understanding of mining operations, Jevons Robotics is reducing repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks from the open pit blast bench.
Myco Metals
Represented by CEO Tony Pfaff, Myco Metals is applying biotechnology to one of mining's biggest opportunities: extracting value from waste streams.
The company Australia's first fungal bioleaching technology to recover valuable metals from subeconomic materials and waste streams.
By transforming waste liabilities into potential revenue streams, Myco Metals is creating new pathways for resource recovery and unlocking new value for mine operators.
The company ultimately took first place in the Startup Pitch Session event, impressing judges with its innovative approach to mineral recovery and sustainability.
Robotic Systems
Represented by Will Brentson, Head of Advanced Technology, Robotic Systems specialises in transforming business cases into hardware products that utilise advanced AI and computer vision.
The company has developed a streamlined design and manufacturing process capable of delivering minimum viable hardware products within months, before leveraging its manufacturing capabilities to scale and support products internationally.
Its expertise spans robotics, AI integration, and advanced product development, helping accelerate the commercialisation of industrial technologies.
Innovation Requires More Than Great Ideas
One of the recurring themes throughout both the conference and the startup session was that innovation adoption requires more than just promising technology.
Mining companies often discuss the challenges of adopting new technologies, while startups face the equally difficult challenge of finding opportunities to test, validate, and demonstrate their solutions in operational environments.
Following the session, Myco Metals CEO Tony Pfaff highlighted this reality:
"Some fantastic solutions were put forward by each startup at Future of Mining Pitch Event, amidst lots of commentary on the risk-averse nature of the mining industry. The sector can back those entrepreneurs taking the biggest risks by providing test sites, funding, and opening doors - this will lead to faster innovation adoption and generate more revenue for miners."
It is a sentiment that resonated strongly throughout the event.
For scaling mining technology providers, access to pilot opportunities, validation environments, and industry networks often determines whether a technology succeeds or stalls. For mining companies, engaging with innovators earlier can provide a pathway to solving challenges before they become operational constraints.
Building the Future Together
A huge thank you to Future of Mining for providing Unearthed with the opportunity to lead the session, to our partners, to the judging panel, and most importantly to the innovators who shared their technologies with the audience.
If the future of mining depends on new ideas, then sessions like these are an important reminder that many of those ideas are already being built, tested, and deployed today.
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At Unearthed, our role is to bridge the gap between industry challenges and the innovators developing solutions to solve them.
We work with mining and resource companies around the world to identify critical challenges, connect them with emerging technologies, and create pathways for testing, validation, and adoption. Through open innovation programs, technology scouting, market intelligence, and ecosystem engagement, we help companies access capabilities they may never have discovered otherwise.
Every week, through our Launched segment, we feature innovators from around the world who are tackling mining & metals challenges. If you're building technology for the resources sector, or looking to discover what's next, we'd love to hear from you.
