Founders Factory and Rio Tinto Selected Mining Startups
A new cohort of five startups has joined the two-year-old accelerator to trial industrial mining technologies.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Founders Factory and Rio Tinto have selected five new companies for their global mining technology accelerator program. These startups were chosen from a pool of over 500 applicants to join a portfolio that now includes 29 total businesses.
Why it matters
The program aims to solve complex mining industry challenges by applying frontier technologies like AI and quantum computing to operational workflows. It provides early-stage companies with essential market validation through direct trials with a major mining operator.
The accelerator has vetted over 500 applicants over its two-year duration. Two-thirds of the companies currently in the portfolio have either successfully trialled or secured contracts with Rio Tinto.
The players
Founders Factory
A venture studio and accelerator that builds and scales startups by providing them with operational support and access to corporate partners.
Rio Tinto
A global mining and metals company that operates large-scale extraction projects and funds industrial technology trials.
The details
The program selects early-stage companies to test innovations across a range of fields, including AI, quantum computing, and deep science. These startups gain access to operational infrastructure and market validation by conducting pilot trials directly within Rio Tinto mining facilities. This process bridges the gap between laboratory research and industrial application for new mining hardware and software.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: The fifth cohort officially joined the mining tech accelerator.
The Tech Race
This cohort addition follows the trajectory of the two-year-old Founders Factory mining tech accelerator, which focuses on vetting startups for heavy industry applications. The program aims to move beyond basic research by integrating quantum computing and AI directly into field-scale extraction operations.
The program brings these startups closer to commercial scale by providing a testing environment that is often unavailable to early-stage firms. Industry participants can expect these technologies to reach mining workflows as the startups move from their initial trials to full operational contracts.
The takeaway
The program serves as a critical bridge for startups attempting to scale high-complexity industrial technologies. Interested observers should monitor the progress of the 29 portfolio companies to see which technologies transition from initial trials into permanent mining operational standards.
Further reading
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