A modern exhibition booth featuring a large conical structure at its center, surrounded by three circular LED displays. The top display reads "Transform tomorrow today," while the middle and bottom displays show the word "Innovation." In the background, a green wall with plants includes the phrase "Where there is transformation, Vale is."
Photo: Frederico Chahim Amorelli Cardos
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Photo: Jeferson Capela

Vale Ventures: Driving Innovation for Sustainable Mining

Vale Ventures represents Vale’s strategic commitment to leading the transformation of the mining and metals industry through investments in global technology startups. With an initial investment of USD 100 million, the initiative aims to support disruptive solutions that address the sector’s most critical challenges. 
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to act as a strategic catalyst for disruptive solutions to the global challenges facing the mining and metals industry. We aim to generate strategic value for Vale through new business opportunities, the acquisition of insights, and the acceleration of learning—while also delivering financial returns from the startups in which we invest.
Joined hands holding briquettes, symbolizing collaboration and sustainable energy.
Photo: Gabriel Lordello

Strategic Investment Pillars 

Each strategic pillar of Vale Ventures is designed to generate tangible outcomes aligned with our ambition to be a global reference in sustainable mining. Through investments in innovative startups, we are building a legacy in which mining not only meets the global demand for resources but also contributes to a more sustainable and resilient future. 

The Sustainable Iron Ore Solutions vertical of Vale Ventures reflects Vale’s strategic commitment to the transition toward a low-carbon economy, through investments in technologies that transform the steelmaking value chain. 

1. Green Steel Pathways – Technologies that decarbonize the steel production process. 
2. Green Iron Ore Solutions – Enhancements to iron ore products aimed at achieving higher iron content and lower environmental impact. 
3. Green Steel Enablers – Innovations in adjacent sectors that support the transformation of the steel industry. 

The Circular Mining vertical of Vale Ventures reflects Vale’s commitment to the sustainable transformation of the mining industry, promoting the shift from a linear model—based on extracting, producing, and discarding—to a circular model that prioritizes resource reuse and environmental impact reduction. 

This vertical seeks technological solutions that enable: 

  • Reuse of mining waste and tailings, focusing on iron ore recovery and the development of new market applications for sand and overburden; 
  • Valorization of metallurgical residues, such as steel slag, through metal recovery and the creation of new industrial uses; 
  • Mine closure with future use, exploring innovative applications for depleted mining areas, turning liabilities into environmental and economic assets. 

This vertical is aligned with the Vale 100 strategy and the vision of building the Vale of the Future—a more sustainable, efficient, and innovative company. We believe the mining of the future will be digital, clean, and connected. 

This vertical seeks technological solutions that enable: 

  • Zero fatalities – Focused on eliminating fatalities and high-potential incidents through technology and a strong safety culture. 
  • Net-zero emissions mining operations 
  • Smart mines 

To enable the energy transition through strategic metals, this vertical focuses on: 

  • Responsible supply of critical metals 
  • Technologies for electrification and renewable energy 
  • Sustainable and circular value chains 

Benefits Offered to Startups

In addition to financial investment, Vale Ventures provides a robust and integrated ecosystem to accelerate the growth and impact of its partner startups. Our value proposition includes:
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Access to Vale’s Global Ecosystem

Direct connection to a network of technical experts, cutting-edge research centers, and Vale’s global operations—spanning from mineral exploration to advanced logistics. 

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Strategic Collaboration with Industry Leaders

Active partnerships with Vale’s multidisciplinary teams to co-develop solutions that address the industry’s most complex challenges, driving joint transformation aligned with global sustainability goals. 

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Exclusive Infrastructure and Resources

Access to industrial facilities, specialized laboratories, and collaboration networks for testing, validation, and scaling of innovative technologies. 

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Integration with Real Operations

Opportunities to run pilots in real operational environments, enabling startups to validate their solutions at industrial scale and accelerate market adoption.

Our Portfolio

We invest in startups at the forefront of sustainable innovation—companies whose technologies are already generating tangible impact within Vale’s operations and across the broader industry. Meet some of our strategic partners: 

Allonnia

Allonnia is an environmental biotechnology company that applies synthetic biology to solve complex challenges related to waste and circularity. It operates across the mining, energy, industrial, and plastics sectors, offering solutions such as PFAS degradation, bioremediation, CO₂ biomineralization, and material upcycling. The company is a spin-off of Ginkgo Bioworks.

Boston Metal

Boston Metal is developing an innovative, zero-emission steel production pathway based on Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE). Powered by renewable electricity, the technology enables the transformation of any type of iron ore into high-quality green iron, with potential applications for high-value metals as well. 

Electrified Thermal Solutions

Electrified Thermal Solutions (ETS) has developed an innovative thermal energy storage technology that uses electrically conductive refractory bricks to generate heat of up to 1,800 °C. This solution replaces natural gas in industrial furnaces, reduces carbon emissions, and offers cost savings by leveraging clean, low-cost electricity. 
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Mantel

Mantel Capture has developed a high-temperature carbon capture technology based on molten borates, enabling high thermal efficiency and low-cost CO₂ removal. The solution shows strong potential for industrial decarbonization, particularly as an alternative to meet Scope 3 emissions targets.

Our Partners 

Cathay Innovation

Cathay Innovation is a multi-stage venture capital firm affiliated with Cathay Capital. It goes beyond the traditional venture capital model by offering entrepreneurs the support of a global ecosystem. 

Evok Innovations 

Evok Innovations is a venture capital firm based in Vancouver, Canada. It is a cleantech fund focused on accelerating the development of critical technologies for the energy transition in North America.

These partnerships exemplify our commitment to integrating innovative solutions that not only optimize our operations but also set new standards of sustainability and efficiency for the global mining and metals industry. 

Meet the Team

Our team is composed of experienced professionals in innovation, technology, and venture capital, dedicated to identifying and accelerating startups with transformative potential. Get to know our team members and connect with them on LinkedIn: 
Vale Ventures Team - Global (except China)
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Bruno Arcadier

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Lucas Grossi

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Talia Lemos

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Yago Zocoli

Vale Ventures Team - China 
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Grace Mei

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Johnson Yan

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Lexi Zeng

What’s happening at Vale Ventures? 

Here is a curated list of links to national and international media coverage featuring Vale Ventures. (Note: “national” refers to Brazilian outlets.)

1.    Valor Econômico – Vale cria Vale Ventures para investir US\$ 100 milhões em startups
Access here


2.    Exame – Vale cria Vale Ventures para investir US\$ 100 mi em startups com foco em sustentabilidade
Access here


3.    O Povo / Agência Estado – Vale Ventures anuncia investimento em startup voltada à substituição de gás natural (Electrified Thermal Solutions)
Access here


4.    Brasil mineral - Vale Ventures vai investir em startup americana para reduzir GEEs
Access here


5.    Startups.com.br – CVC da Vale entra em rodada de US\$ 30M da greentech Mantel
Access here


6.    Estadão - Vale (VALE3) levanta US$ 19 milhões com outras empresas para investir em nova tecnologia de mineração
Access here


7.    Suno Notícias – Vale (VALE3) investe em startup de captura de carbono (Mantel)
Access here


8.    Sala de Imprensa Vale – Vale Ventures anuncia investimento na startup Mantel
Access here


9.    Forbes Brasil – ale investirá R$ 490 milhões em soluções para mineração sustentável
Access here


10.    Exame – Com US$ 100 milhões para aportes, fundo da Vale escolhe startup americana como terceira investida
Access here

1.    Business Wire – Mantel Secures \$30 Million to Bring Low Cost, Energy Efficient Carbon Capture to the Heavy Industrial Sector (with Vale Ventures)
Access here

2.    Business Wire – With New \$30M Series A Extension, Allonnia Takes Aim At Scaling Solutions to the World’s Toughest Environmental Challenges (with Vale Ventures)
Access here

3.    Business Wire – Boston Metal Expands Series B to Deliver Emissions-free Steel (with Vale Ventures)
Access here

4.    TechCrunch – Electrified Thermal Solutions has a plan to help industry replace natural gas with bricks
Access here 

5. Financial Content - From Brazilian Roots to Global Dominance: The Enduring Legacy of Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE)
Access here

6. Reuters - Brazilian miner Vale invests in US startup as part of decarbonization push
Access here

7. Global Corporate Venturing - Energy transition is pushing mining companies to innovate faster, says Vale Ventures head
Access here

1.    Energy Evolution (S&P Global) – Venture capital arm of mining giant Vale hunting for sustainable mining tech
Duration: 27 min | Theme: Vale Ventures’ strategy for decarbonization, circular mining, and metals for the energy transition.
Listen here

2.    Energy Evolution (Amazon Music) – Venture capital arm of mining giant Vale hunting for sustainable mining tech
Duration: 27 min | Theme: How Vale Ventures supports startups in making mining more sustainable.
Listen here

3.    CVC Unplugged (Global Venturing Review) – Can mining be at the forefront of the energy transition?
Duração: 52 min | Theme: The role of mining in the energy transition and the challenges of large-scale innovation.
Listen on Podtail
Listen on iVoox
Listen on SoundCloud

4.    Brief.News – Vale Ventures: Pioneering Sustainable Mining for the Energy Transition
Theme: How Vale Ventures invests in disruptive technologies for sustainable mining.
Read and listen here

To enable the energy transition through strategic metals, this vertical focuses on: 

  • Responsible supply of critical metals 
  • Technologies for electrification and renewable energy 
  • Sustainable and circular value chains 
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Is Your Startup Driving Innovation in Mining and Sustainability? 

If your startup is working on innovative solutions that can transform the mining industry and promote sustainability, we want to hear from you! 

Please fill out the form with: 

  • A 3-minute pitch video 
  • A presentation (PPT) 
  • Your name and email address 

To enable the energy transition through strategic metals, this vertical focuses on: 

  • Responsible supply of critical metals 
  • Technologies for electrification and renewable energy 
  • Sustainable and circular value chains