KoBold Metals
Category: AI in Climate / Energy
KoBold Metals is an AI-powered mineral exploration company that discovers essential materials for electric vehicles and renewable energy. KoBold Metals was founded in 2018. The company is led by Kurt House. Based in Berkeley, California, USA. Team size: 100. Total funding raised: Over $1.09 billion across 5 funding rounds. Latest round: $537 million Series D funding round (September 2024), followed by $163M round (October 2025). Key investors include Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Berkeley, California, USA
- Team size
- 100
- Total funding
- Over $1.09 billion across 5 funding rounds
Value proposition
KoBold Metals uses AI to enhance the efficiency and success rates of mineral exploration, reducing costs and increasing the likelihood of discovering valuable mineral deposits.
Products and solutions
AI-powered exploration technology, Mineral discovery projects
Unique value
KoBold Metals integrates AI with traditional geosciences to enhance mineral exploration, focusing on reducing uncertainty and improving discovery rates.
Target customer
Mining companies, electric vehicle manufacturers, and renewable energy sectors.
Industries served
Mining, Renewable energy, Electric vehicles
Technology advantage
The use of AI allows KoBold to analyze large datasets and identify potential mineral deposits more efficiently than traditional methods.
How they differentiate
KoBold Metals differentiates itself by using AI to improve the efficiency and success rates of mineral exploration, focusing on critical minerals for the energy transition.
Main competitors
Traditional mining companies, Other AI-driven exploration startups
Key partnerships
BHP, Rio Tinto, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Major milestones
Discovery of a large copper deposit in Zambia Expansion of exploration projects across multiple continents
Growth metrics
The company has rapidly expanded its exploration projects globally, leveraging AI to enhance discovery rates.
Market positioning
KoBold positions itself as a leader in AI-driven mineral exploration, targeting critical minerals needed for the energy transition.
Geographic focus
Global, with projects in Zambia, Canada, Australia, and other regions.
Patents and IP
KoBold Metals has filed 39 patents, including a muon detector for muon tomography.
About Kurt House
Kurt House is a seasoned entrepreneur and scientist with a Ph.D. in Earth & Planetary Science from Harvard University. He co-founded KoBold Metals, where he serves as the CEO, combining his expertise in natural resources and technology to pioneer AI-driven mineral exploration. Prior to KoBold, he founded C12 Energy, focusing on enhanced oil recovery, and has experience in private equity at Bain & Company. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, demonstrating his deep commitment to advancing the field of energy resources.
Official website: https://koboldmetals.com/