Not all critical raw materials have to come from deep pits or high-emission extraction. What if we could grow them instead?
That’s the promise of Genomines. This deeptech company is redefining how we source one of the most strategic metals of the energy transition — nickel — using a breakthrough phytomining approach. By enhancing natural plant abilities to absorb metals, they’ve built a platform that extracts battery-grade nickel from degraded soils, faster and cleaner than any conventional mine.
Now, with a €45 million Series A round co-led by Wind, Genomines is ready to scale.
Why this matters
Nickel is essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage — but current supply chains are not only heavily concentrated, they’re also carbon-intensive and often environmentally damaging.
Genomines offers a new path:
- Transformed land: They turn degraded or underused land into productive metal farms.
- Lower emissions: The phytomining process avoids the heavy footprint of conventional extraction.
- Traceable and secure: It opens the door to local, controlled, and transparent supply chains.
This isn’t science fiction. The startup is already producing nickel from harvested biomass, and aims to deliver cost-competitive output — up to 40% lower than the median cost of traditional mines, according to co-founder Fabien Koutchekian (Les Échos, 2025).
Why we invested
At Wind, we invest where frontier science meets real-world scale and urgency. Genomines embodies that convergence:
- A breakthrough in plant genetics and microbiome optimization
- A climate-aligned, industrially relevant solution
- A new model for resource sovereignty, especially in Europe
- A highly driven team, combining scientific depth and entrepreneurial execution
In the words of co-founder Dali Rashid, PhD: “Our goal is not to replace traditional mining everywhere — but to offer a clean alternative where conventional methods fail or cause harm.” That clarity of purpose, backed by strong IP and biological know-how, is what makes Genomines stand out.
What’s next
This €45M raise — supported by Wind, Engine Ventures, Forbion BioEconomy, DTCF (DeepTech & Climate Fonds), Lowercarbon Capital, Entrepreneurs First, and others — will power:
- Industrial scaling of Genomines’ phytomining platform
- Site deployment on target soils in Europe and beyond
- Expanded partnerships with battery makers, automakers, and clean tech manufacturers
In summary
Genomines is transforming nickel production from a high-impact activity into a regenerative one — and turning plants into industrial allies in the process. We’re proud to support this new frontier in clean metal sourcing.
Congratulations to Fabien, Dali, and the entire Genomines team. You’re not just mining differently — you’re growing the future of critical materials.