Genomines

Based in Paris, France, Genomines is a biotechnology startup founded in 2021 by Fabien Koutchekian and Dali Rashid that develops genetically enhanced plants to extract critical metals like nickel and rare earths from soil through phytomining. The company utilizes synthetic biology to improve hyperaccumulator plants from the Asteraceae family, optimizing their metal uptake capabilities with specific bacteria and fungi. By deploying these bio-enhanced crops on low-grade marginal lands unsuitable for conventional agriculture or traditional mining, the organization processes the resulting biomass into battery-grade materials for existing industrial supply chains. This decentralized production model provides a lower-cost alternative to conventional extraction methods while significantly reducing environmental damage and capital intensity. To commercialize this sustainable extraction technology, Genomines raised 5.3 million dollars in seed funding from venture capital firm Lowercarbon Capital and the talent program Entrepreneur First.

High-Level Overview

Genomines is a deeptech biotechnology company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Paris, France, that develops genetically enhanced hyperaccumulator plants to extract battery-grade nickel and other critical metals from soil through phytomining and agromining.[1][2][3] The company serves the clean energy sector, particularly electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers, by producing carbon-neutral nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NSH) and bio-concentrates faster, cheaper, and with lower environmental impact than traditional mining, while remediating contaminated land and preserving biodiversity.[1][3][4] With $45M raised in a Series A round in September 2025—bringing total funding over $45M—Genomines demonstrates strong growth momentum, advancing from lab validation to field tests on hundreds of hectares, targeting 35,000 hectares by 2030 and commercial operations via offtake agreements with automotive giants.[1][7]

Origin Story

Genomines emerged from the Entrepreneur First (EF) talent program, where co-founders Fabien Koutchekian (CEO, with expertise in mining engineering and entrepreneurship) and Dali Rashid, PhD (CTO, specializing in plant biotechnology and genetics), met and formed their team in a 12-week intensive to pitch a world-changing idea.[1][5][8] Rashid's foundational research, published in *Nature Plants* and patented for floral sex alteration, enabled the genetic enhancement of hyperaccumulator plants for metal extraction, addressing the urgent need for sustainable sourcing amid rising EV-driven metal demand.[1] Pivotal early traction included recognition under France's 2030 program (i-Demo initiative), Station F's Future 40, and lab-to-field demonstrations, culminating in the $45M Series A led by Engine Ventures and Forbion in 2025 to scale operations.[1][5][7]

Core Differentiators

• Biotechnology-Enhanced Plants: Genetically modifies hyperaccumulator plants via synthetic biology to boost metal uptake (starting with nickel, expandable to cobalt and rare earths), enabling extraction from underutilized, metal-rich soils without destructive mining.[1][3][4][6]
• Full Value Chain Control: Manages end-to-end process—identifying fields, cultivating plants, harvesting biomass, and recovering metals via eco-friendly bioleaching and downstream processing into battery-grade precursors like NSH—achieving cost parity and carbon neutrality.[1][3][9]
• Environmental and Economic Edge: Produces metals cheaper and faster than traditional methods, remediates soil for agriculture, supports biodiversity, and builds resilient supply chains across geographies like South Africa, with lower GHG emissions.[1][5][7]
• Scalable Platform and Traction: Proven full value chain in pilots; backed by elite programs (EF, France 2030); strong investor network including Engine Ventures and Forbion, positioning for rapid commercialization.[1][6][7]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Genomines rides the explosive demand for critical metals like nickel, driven by EV batteries and clean energy transitions, where traditional mining faces supply constraints, geopolitical risks, and environmental backlash into the 2030s.[1][3] Its timing aligns perfectly with Europe's push for supply chain sovereignty (e.g., France 2030 backing) and global sustainability mandates, unlocking vast untapped resources in metal-rich but low-grade soils overlooked by conventional methods.[1][7] Market forces favoring Genomines include tightening battery material shortages, regulatory incentives for low-carbon sourcing, and bioremediation's dual benefit of land restoration amid mining pollution—positioning it to influence the ecosystem by inspiring "plant-based metals" as a new industry standard, reducing reliance on high-risk regions and enabling localized, resilient production.[1][4][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Genomines is poised to disrupt mining with its Series A-fueled expansion: scaling to 100+ hectares in South Africa for profitability proof, team growth (including HR for France/South Africa ops), and R&D in a new 600m² lab, targeting 2,000 hectares and offtake deals by Series B.[7] Trends like surging nickel demand (projected shortfalls), synthetic biology advances, and carbon-neutral mandates will accelerate its path to managing 35,000 hectares by 2030 as the first carbon-negative mining group.[1][3][5] Its influence could evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem shaper, rebalancing global supply chains and proving biotech can supplant extractive industries—unlocking a greener resource base for decades, much like its plants unlock metals from soil.[1][6]