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§ Private Profile · 30 Oxleigh Drive Unit 2 Malaga, WA 6090 Australia
Green materials technology startup converting metal ores for zero-carbon metal production in the metal and mining industry.
Element Zero is a Malaga, Western Australia-based green materials startup that develops proprietary technology to convert metal ores into pure metals using renewable energy. The company focuses on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors within the global metal and mining industry by processing iron, nickel, and other critical metals with zero carbon emissions. Backed by a $10 million seed funding round led by venture capital firm Playground Global and its co-founder Peter Barrett, the enterprise is actively scaling its commercial research and development operations. The organization recently opened a pilot-scale green iron facility inaugurated by Western Australia Premier Roger Cook, which targets a future production capacity of 10 tonnes of commercial iron per day, or 3,650 tonnes annually, by the year 2028. Element Zero was officially founded in 2022 by Michael Masterman, Bart Kolodziejczyk, and Bjorn Winther-Jensen.
Element Zero has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
Element Zero has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Element Zero has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Seed in January 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | $10M Seed | Playground Global | Bioluminescence Ventures | Announced |
Element Zero is a green materials platform company developing zero-emission technology for producing high-purity metals like iron, nickel, and others from ores using a non-aqueous electrochemical process.[1][2][4] Founded in 2022 and based in Perth, Western Australia, it converts iron ore and other metals into pure forms with 30-40% less energy than traditional coal- and gas-based methods, running on intermittent renewables like wind, solar, and hydropower, targeting the removal of nearly 30% of global industrial emissions.[1][2] The company serves iron ore miners, steel producers, and critical metals suppliers, solving the decarbonization challenge in hard-to-abate sectors like steelmaking by enabling scalable, cost-effective green metal production; it recently raised $10 million in seed funding led by Playground Global to scale R&D, engineering, and a pilot iron plant processing 5 million tonnes of iron ore feed annually (producing ~2.7 million tons of iron).[2][3]
Its planned Pilbara Iron Super Hub in Port Hedland, adjacent to 50-55% of global iron exports, sources 5 million tonnes per annum of iron ore (expanding to 20 million, ~$9 billion revenue potential) with access to over 1 GW of renewable power, exporting to North and Southeast Asia.[1][2]
Element Zero was founded in 2022 by Michael Masterman, an entrepreneur with experience in resources and green energy startups including Fortescue (2003), Zenobe (UK, 2015), FFI (2020), and Squadron Energy (2020), boasting networks among CEOs and chairs of major iron ore, metals, and steel firms in Australia, Brazil, and Europe.[2][4] The idea emerged from Masterman's expertise in large-scale financing and commercialization of new technologies, addressing the steel industry's emissions through a novel electrochemical platform for green metals.[1][2]
Key team members include Bart Kolodziejczyk, former Director at Boston Consulting Group, Chief Scientist at Fortescue Metals Group (fourth-largest iron ore producer), and CTO of H2SG Energy; he advises the UN, OECD, G20, and others, holds nine degrees (including two PhDs), and over a dozen patents.[4] Peter Barrett, Co-Founder and General Partner at Playground Global, joined the board post-$10M seed round; his background spans video codecs, Microsoft engineering, and early roles with Elon Musk, with 100+ patents and investments in quantum computing, AI, and decarbonization.[2][4] Early traction includes the seed funding to build a pilot plant and partnerships with major miners and steel companies.[2]
Element Zero rides the green steel and critical metals decarbonization trend, targeting iron/steel (8-10% of global CO2) and energy transition metals amid net-zero mandates and EV/battery demand.[1][2] Timing aligns with Australia's mineral wealth, renewable hubs (e.g., Australian Renewable Energy Hub), and Pilbara's iron ore dominance, positioning it to transform the region from "mine to foundry" while exporting to Asia's steel markets.[1][2] Favorable forces include falling renewable costs, policy support (e.g., UN/OECD focus), and steelmakers' scramble for low-carbon feedstocks amid EU carbon borders.[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering scalable electroreduction, outpacing rivals like Boston Metal or Infinium in efficiency/selectivity, and fostering U.S. green iron/silicon chains via Playground Global.[2][3][4]
Element Zero is poised to disrupt green metals with its pilot plant ramp-up and Pilbara hub, potentially capturing billions in revenue as steel decarbonizes.[1][2] Next steps include team expansion, U.S. value chains, and staged growth to 20M tonnes amid rising demand for zero-emission iron in EVs, infrastructure, and renewables.[2] Trends like cheaper electrolyzers, AI-optimized chemistry, and geopolitical mineral shifts will accelerate it, evolving its role from startup to global foundry leader—delivering the cost-effective platform that finally scales green metals for a cleaner industrial future.[1][4]
Element Zero has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Element Zero's investors include Playground Global, Bioluminescence Ventures.