Prime Highlights:
- Digital Catapult invests £400,000 in deep tech startup Optimal Slope to drive sustainable mining innovation.
- The funding supports global expansion and the decarbonisation of mining operations.
Key Facts:
- Optimal Slope’s software automates mine pit wall design, reducing waste and emissions.
- The company plans to expand into major mining regions including Australia, Canada, and Africa.
Background:
Digital Catapult has invested £400,000 in Optimal Slope, a mining technology startup working to make open-pit mining more efficient and eco-friendly. The funding will help the company grow internationally, improve its product, and support the mining industry’s move toward low-carbon operations.
Founded in 2021, Optimal Slope has developed the world’s first software platform that automates and optimises the design of open-pit mine walls. Traditionally, these designs are created through manual trial-and-error by engineers. The platform helps reduce waste rock excavation, cut costs, increase profits, and lower the environmental impact of mining, an important step toward making the industry cleaner.
Mining is still key to producing metals for solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. By reducing waste and energy use, Optimal Slope’s technology supports the move toward clean energy and encourages more responsible mining.
The company’s platform is already used by global mining firms. With the £400,000 investment, Optimal Slope plans to grow in markets like Australia, Canada, South America, and Africa. The funding will also help the company improve its platform with user feedback and boost sales and marketing.
Co-Founder and CEO Stefano Utili said the mining industry needs to change to stay trusted and support the move to renewable energy. Our goal is to make mining cleaner, more efficient, and digitally advanced. Digital Catapult’s investment validates our mission and will help us grow globally while proving that mining can be both profitable and sustainable.”
Susan Bowen, CEO of Digital Catapult, added, “Optimal Slope is showing how deep tech can revolutionise mining for a greener future. This investment supports their expansion and highlights how innovation can strengthen industrial supply chains and promote sustainability.”
