a16z Talks with Mariana: Rebuilding Critical Minerals Mining with AI and Automation
a16z · youtube · 2026-08-05
In its "American Dynamism" series, a16z interviewed Mariana Minerals, a startup working to rebuild one of the world's most important industries: critical minerals mining.
Led by Turner Caldwell, Mariana is taking a software-first approach, combining automation, AI, and engineering to rethink how mines are built and operated. Because batteries, robots, AI data centers, and EVs all depend on mined metals, Mariana believes that rebuilding this industrial capability is essential for long-term economic resilience, technological leadership, and national security.
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