Fast Metals has raised $4.3 million in a pre-seed funding round to expand its mineral extraction technology. The round was led by New Climate Ventures, with participation from Azolla Ventures, Astor Swiss, and the Founders Factory accelerator, which is backed by Rio Tinto.
Turning Red Mud Into Valuable Minerals
Aluminum production creates a waste material called red mud, and billions of tons of it are stored in large ponds around the world.
Fast Metals CEO Sumedh Gostu saw this waste as a valuable source of industrial minerals. However, the biggest challenge was finding an efficient way to separate iron oxide from the other useful materials.
The company developed a six-step chemical process to treat the red mud. By using another waste product from alumina refineries, the founders found a way to reduce the overall cost of the extraction process.
Company Overview
| Founder | Sumedh Gostu |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Connecticut |
Recovering Valuable Materials
Gostu first developed the technology during his doctoral research at the Colorado School of Mines.
He later worked with co-founder Anthony Staley, who helped identify the additional waste material that made the process more cost-effective.
The technology can recover several valuable minerals, including aluminum, titanium, and rare-earth elements.
According to the company, selling the recovered iron helps cover the operating costs. The remaining minerals then become the company’s main source of profit.
Current market prices make these materials highly valuable. Titanium dioxide sells for around $2.50 to $3 per kilogram, while scandium oxide is worth about $750 per kilogram.
Plans for Commercial Expansion
With the new funding, Fast Metals is preparing to test the technology on an industrial scale.
The company has signed a commercial agreement with Metalox to process one ton of refinery waste each week.
The pilot project is expected to begin later this year. Its success will help determine whether Fast Metals can move from laboratory testing to full-scale commercial mineral recovery.
