Giraffe Bio, an Argentina-based startup developing biochemical reagents for critical mineral recovery, has raised $6.4 million in a Seed funding round led by Orion Industrial Ventures. The round included participation from BHP Ventures, Twynam, Air Capital, Baruch Future Ventures, and other investors. The company had previously received backing from SOSV.
Founded in 2024 by Alejandro Buffo Sempé and Juan Pablo Fernandez, Giraffe Bio is headquartered in Buenos Aires and operates in Argentina and Chile. The company develops biotechnology-based solutions designed to improve metal recovery from mineral ores, with an initial focus on copper processing.
Its technology combines AI-assisted molecular design, cell-free biology, and testing on actual ore samples to develop mineral-specific biochemical reagents. These reagents are designed to improve the selectivity and recovery of valuable minerals during flotation, a process used by mining companies to separate minerals from surrounding materials.
The company’s reagents can be integrated into existing flotation circuits alongside conventional processing chemicals without requiring additional mining equipment or infrastructure.
Giraffe Bio said it has progressed from laboratory development to testing its technology with international mining companies across different copper ore types. It is now preparing for larger-scale pilot programmes and industrial validation.
The new funding will support manufacturing scale-up, expanded research and testing capabilities, larger industrial pilots, and growth of the company’s technical and commercial teams.
Giraffe Bio was also selected for the Breakthrough Energy Fellows programme, becoming the first Latin American company to participate, according to the company. The programme provides technical support, funding, and access to industry expertise to help emerging technologies progress towards commercial deployment.
