Why We’re Doubling Down on pH7
Planetary health depends on bold, practical solutions delivered at scale. That’s why we’re proud to announce our participation in pH7 Technologies’s $25.6 million Series B financing, led by Fine Structure Ventures with participation from BHP Ventures, Energy & Environment Investment (EEI), Siteground, Gaingels, Calm Venture, and other existing investors, including TDK Ventures, Rhapsody Venture Partners, and BASF Venture Capital. Our partnership with pH7 began in 2023 when we co-led their Series A, and we have seen firsthand the company’s extraordinary momentum as they redefine what’s possible in sustainable metals extraction and closed-loop recycling.
Opportunity
The global trend towards resource sovereignty and the continued transition to electrification and low-carbon energy are driving unprecedented demand for the critical metals that form the backbone of mobility and clean energy, including platinum group metals, copper, tin, and more. Traditional mining and smelting methods are extractive, wasteful, and heavily polluting, consuming enormous amounts of water and energy, and generating hazardous emissions and waste. As supply chain risk grows and expectations around sustainability and corporate responsibility remain strong, the world simply cannot afford business as usual any longer.
The result: a clear, massive market need for efficient, profitable, and sustainable processes that unlock both primary and secondary metal sources, without compromising on cost or environmental values. That’s where pH7’s closed-loop, chemistry-driven extraction platform excels.
A Leap Forward in Closed-Loop Extraction
pH7’s organo-electrochemical process achieves what legacy metallurgy cannot. Their platform recycles and refines metals from spent catalysts and low-grade ores delivering:
Recovery rates up to 50% beyond conventional methods for precious and critical metals
84% less energy and 98% less water use than conventional methods
Nearly zero carbon emissions, no hazardous effluents, and no hazardous waste
Flexibility to process feedstocks that were previously uneconomical or destined for landfill
In a recent release, pH7 announced that they’d processed over 250 tonnes of recycled material, preventing 2,800 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, saving 27 million liters of water, and reducing energy requirements by 14,000 megawatt-hours (enough to power 1,300 homes annually); an impact impossible through legacy approaches. This is powerful, proven technology, now scaling to serve global metal supply needs while sharply reducing industry’s environmental and social footprint.
Global Validation and Momentum
Since our initial investment, pH7 has been recognized by cleantech and industrial leaders, won major innovation awards, and attracted top-tier public and private backing. Commercial partnerships now span mining companies, refiners, recyclers, and manufacturers committed to building truly circular, resilient material supply chains. Most importantly, the pH7 team delivers, translating technical promise into profitable operations that meet real, urgent customer needs.
Why We’re Doubling Down
Groundbreaking Hard Tech: pH7’s platform replaces century-old, extractive processes with precision chemistry, a leap that is measurable in emissions prevented, resources conserved, and value unlocked.
Scaling Environmental and Financial Impact: As pH7 ramps commercial operations, each expansion means more emissions avoided, metals recovered, and cost savings for partners; not theoretical impact, but action at scale.
Trusted, Tenacious Team: Over our years of partnership, we’ve watched the pH7 team blend vision, grit, and execution: proving their ability to build relationships, adapt with the market, and deliver for global customers.
A Circular Future Within Reach: We believe the next decade will be defined by materials that are widely reusable and businesses that put stewardship at their core. With pH7, that future is already being built.
Where We Go From Here
With Series B funding, pH7 is poised to expand commercial production, refine and enter new verticals, and accelerate industry adoption of their closed-loop metals recovery platform. As partners and champions from the earliest days, Pangaea Ventures is thrilled to double down, investing alongside leaders who redefine what’s possible for clean industry and a healthier planet.