French biotech startup Genomines has secured a $45 million Series A round, marking a pivotal step in reshaping the future of mining. The company is pioneering a groundbreaking approach that uses genetically enhanced metal hyperaccumulator plants to produce bio-sourced metals - dramatically reducing the environmental impact of traditional mining practices.

The round was backed by leading international investors including Forbion (Netherlands), Engine Ventures (U.S.), DTCF DeepTech & Climate Fonds (Germany), Entrepreneurs First (UK), and Elemental Impact (U.S.). Their support underscores the growing momentum behind climate tech, deeptech, and sustainable resource solutions.

Founded by Fabien Koutchekian and his team, Genomines is tackling one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century: how to meet the soaring demand for metals without destroying ecosystems in the process.

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Why This Funding Round Matters

Global demand for metals like nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements is at historic highs, largely driven by electric vehicle (EV) adoption, renewable energy infrastructure, and battery production. Traditional mining methods are resource-intensive, environmentally damaging, and politically sensitive.

Genomines’ technology presents a radical alternative: leveraging bioengineered plants to naturally “hyperaccumulate” metals in their tissues. Once harvested, the metals can be extracted in a far cleaner, more sustainable way than through conventional mining.

With $45M now secured, Genomines plans to scale research, expand pilot projects, and bring bio-sourced metals closer to commercialization.

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Building the Future of Mining, One Plant at a Time

At its core, Genomines is redefining what it means to “mine.” Instead of machines gouging landscapes, they cultivate genetically enhanced plants that thrive in metal-rich soils. These plants absorb and store metals, which can later be harvested and refined with significantly lower environmental cost.

This approach not only mitigates ecological destruction but also has the potential to reclaim degraded lands, turning contaminated areas into sources of valuable resources.

For industries dependent on critical metals - from clean tech to defense - the implications are massive. It offers both supply security and a climate-aligned pathway for the future.

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A Hidden Lesson for Founders

One of the most under-discussed advantages in climate tech startups like Genomines is the dual narrative they carry: both a visionary impact story and a hard economic case. Too many founders lean heavily into one side and forget the other.

The companies that scale fastest, and attract the strongest investors, are those who master weaving these two narratives together. Investors want to hear not only the transformative mission - saving ecosystems, enabling circular economies - but also the numbers that prove viability.

A pitch that lands shows how the impact drives the business model, not just accompanies it. For founders, this means crystallizing KPIs that resonate beyond the lab - cost per kilogram of metal extracted, efficiency gains over traditional mining, or scalability metrics tied to real market demand. The magic happens when investors can immediately see both the societal win and the commercial inevitability.

That duality, done well, is often the hidden edge separating startups that get funded from those that stall.

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Industry Context: Why Now

The timing of Genomines’ Series A is no coincidence. Global policy and industry demand are aligning to create unprecedented urgency around sustainable metals.

• EV Market Boom: BloombergNEF forecasts 57% of passenger vehicle sales will be electric by 2040, driving exponential need for metals like nickel and cobalt.
  
• Battery Production: Demand for battery metals is projected to quadruple by 2035, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
  
• Environmental Pressures: Traditional mining contributes up to 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while also generating large-scale deforestation and water pollution.
  
• Supply Security: Critical metals are often concentrated in geopolitically unstable regions, creating vulnerabilities for Western economies seeking to scale clean energy infrastructure.
  

Against this backdrop, Genomines’ bio-mining approach is more than just innovation - it is a potential lifeline for industries navigating resource scarcity and climate responsibility.

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The Global Outlook for Bio-Sourced Metals

According to McKinsey, the sustainable mining technologies market is projected to exceed $50 billion by 2030. Within that, bio-mining is emerging as one of the fastest-growing subcategories, as industries search for both economic and ecological solutions.

For investors, this represents a high-conviction bet: companies like Genomines can secure early-mover advantage in a sector that may soon become non-negotiable for supply chains.

For governments, it signals a new era of resource sovereignty - reducing reliance on foreign imports while achieving climate targets.

And for founders across climate tech, it offers validation: radical solutions, once dismissed as “too futuristic,” are now raising multi-million dollar rounds from tier-one investors.

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Looking Ahead

With $45M in fresh capital, Genomines is well positioned to scale its operations, advance research, and forge partnerships with global mining groups and clean tech industries. The startup is hiring aggressively, building a team capable of delivering on its bold vision: a world where plants become the new miners.

If successful, Genomines won’t just disrupt an industry - it will help rewrite the story of how humanity extracts and uses the Earth’s resources.