TechCrunch Startup News How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
Jan 16, 2026
Sasha Milston, Co-founder and CEO of Transition Metal Solutions, is on a mission to tackle the copper shortage by innovating copper extraction through prebiotics. She dives into how microbes naturally release copper from ore and critiques traditional methods that rely on isolated strains. Sasha introduces a community-focused approach using low-cost additives to enhance microbial performance, paving the way for more efficient extraction. She also shares promising lab results and plans for real-world validation, highlighting the future of sustainable copper mining.
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Microbial Additives Could Raise Copper Yield
- Transition Metal Solutions claims it can boost copper production by 20–30% using additives that enhance microbial activity.
- The startup raised a $6 million seed to scale this "prebiotics for copper mines" approach.
Whole Microbial Communities Matter
- Sasha Milston argues past efforts failed by focusing on single cultured strains rather than whole communities.
- Over 90% of microbes in heap leach environments are uncultured, so single-strain fixes underperform.
Use Site-Friendly Additives First
- Transition applies low-cost, mostly inorganic compounds already present at sites to nudge communities to higher function.
- In lab tests their cocktail increased copper extraction from ~60% to 90% in samples.