Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program Supports Low-Impact Subsea Mineral Robotics

Mithril Minerals Inc has been selected to join Breakthrough Energy’s 2026 Fellows Program to advance its low-cost, low-impact robotic technology for ocean critical mineral collection.

Growing demand for critical minerals has heightened both interest in and scrutiny of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules containing key metals such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper. As recent regulatory changes spur increased leasing activity, industry attention is focusing on the ecological impact of commercial deep-sea mining operations.

Mithril offers an alternative to conventional approaches through distributed robotic systems that gently sweep up nodules from the seafloor. Deployed from standard workboats rather than massive drillships, the system aims to reduce environmental impact while costing a fraction of traditional methods.

Anna Scott, CEO & Co-Founder of Mithril Minerals, commented, “Whether the priority is electrification or reducing dependence on foreign supply chains, the U.S. needs additional and affordable sources of critical minerals. Some of the most abundant known deposits sit on the seabed unmined because conventional collection costs billions in capital and cannot demonstrate a sufficiently low footprint to earn support. Mithril’s technology is designed to address both issues, opening a path to a metals supply that balances geopolitical, economic, and environmental constraints.”

The company was co-founded by Anna Scott, PhD, a climate scientist who previously co-founded emissions monitoring company Project Canary, and Riva Gulassa, a subsea engineer with over a decade of experience designing and deploying marine and deepwater systems.

Riva Gulassa, CTO & co-founder of Mithril Minerals, added, “Exploring the Pacific and seeing previous deep sea mining sites firsthand inspired me to proactively counter the impacts of traditional mining technology. Our goal is for Mithril’s technology to set a new industry standard that protects the deep-sea ecosystem for future generations.”

Selection into the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program provides Mithril with funding, tailored technical guidance, and access to a global network of mentors, experts, and partners. The program targets early-stage innovators developing solutions capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a gigaton scale, helping founders bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial readiness.

Eric Toone, CTO of Breakthrough Energy, stated, “At the earliest stages, proving the science behind an idea is only one part of the equation. You also have to understand the technoeconomics: what a technology will need to cost and how it will need to perform to compete, whether it can scale, and whether it is solving a meaningful market need. The BE Fellows program brings those technical and commercial questions together early, helping innovators turn their promising ideas into breakthrough solutions that address real-world problems and can grow into successful businesses.”

With this fellowship support, Mithril will evaluate how its purpose-built robotic collection system supports a more precise, scalable approach to deep ocean mineral recovery. As part of this next phase, the company plans to build and test a near-full-scale collector robot in the ocean while collaborating with leading scientists to conduct third-party validation of its environmental claims.