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Still Bright
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Ambient-temperature hydrometallurgical copper extraction
Still Bright
Work Here?
Ambient-temperature hydrometallurgical copper extraction
Overview
Still Bright uses a hydrometallurgical RACER process to extract copper from sulfide ore at ambient temperature, employing a vanadium-based leach that dissolves copper. The copper-rich solution is regenerated with electricity to reuse the vanadium medium, enabling electrometallurgy and allowing up to about 99% copper recovery with renewable-powered operations. The system is modular and cheaper to scale (70–90% lower capital cost) and can process high-grade ore, tailings, and other difficult materials at mines of various sizes. The company aims to scale from a 2 t/year pilot to a 500 t/year demonstration by 2028 and ultimately deploy 10,000 t/year commercial units to establish a domestic copper supply chain.
About Still Bright
Industries
Hardware
Industrial & Manufacturing
Energy
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$18.7M
Headquarters
Newark, New Jersey
Founded
2022
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- It avoids smelting, cutting toxic sulfur emissions and enabling renewable-powered operation.[1][2]
- It can process waste tailings and low-grade ores previously uneconomical to refine.[1][6]
- The company plans a 500-ton annual demonstration unit, then 10,000-ton commercial systems.[1]
What critics are saying
- Pilot-scale performance remains unproven outside laboratory and small pilot conditions.[1][2]
- Copper producers can switch to established flotation, smelting, or electrowinning pathways.[5][10]
- Vanadium supply and pricing can pressure operating economics and reagent availability.[1][2]
What makes Still Bright unique
- RACER extracts nearly all copper from ore at ambient temperature and pressure.[1][2]
- The process uses a vanadium-based solution regenerated by electricity for reuse.[1][2]
- Still Bright targets modular copper extraction with far lower capital costs than smelting.[1][2]
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Funding
Total Funding
$18.7M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
1 Rounds
Industry standards
Benefits
Company Equity
Hybrid Work Options
Growth & Insights
6 month growth
↑ 6%1 year growth
↑ 6%2 year growth
↓ -5%Still Bright is Hiring for 6 Jobs on Simplify!
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About Still Bright
Industries
Hardware
Industrial & Manufacturing
Energy
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$18.7M
Headquarters
Newark, New Jersey
Founded
2022
Still Bright is Hiring for 6 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today