Durin

Durin is a mineral exploration technology company founded in 2024 by CEO Ted Feldmann. Feldmann, a third-generation mining professional with a background in computer science and geophysics, was motivated by the national security implications of critical mineral supply chains, having interned at a mineral exploration company during high school. He established Durin while still a student at Georgia Tech, aiming to solve the inefficiencies he observed in the industry.

The company's core business is the development and operation of automated and remotely-operated drill rigs designed to accelerate the discovery of mineral deposits. Durin operates on a vertically integrated business model, managing the design and operation of its rigs, which allows it to collect real-time geological data to continuously refine its technology. This model targets the high costs and slow pace of traditional exploration, where drilling can account for approximately 70% of the budget. By automating the process, Durin seeks to reduce labor costs, improve safety for workers, and increase the speed of exploration cycles.

Durin's rigs are equipped with sensors that provide mineralogical and structural data in minutes and assay data in days, a significant reduction from the months it can take with conventional methods. This allows geologists to make faster decisions from anywhere in the world. The company’s broader platform integrates the entire exploration workflow, including geological modeling, lab testing, and drillhole planning. After developing and proving its rigs on active North American exploration projects, Durin plans to scale production to meet global demand. The company secured $3.4 million in a pre-seed funding round in early 2025, with investors including 8090 Industries, Andreessen Horowitz, and Lux Capital.

Keywords: mineral exploration, automated drilling, robotics, mining technology, geological data, resource discovery, core drilling, critical minerals, subsurface exploration, remotely operated vehicles, exploration services, geoscience, drilling automation, mining automation, geological modeling, venture capital, Ted Feldmann, pre-seed funding, mineral analytics, exploration efficiency