REEgen, an Ithaca, New York-based biomining startup developing sustainable methods to recover rare earth elements from industrial waste, has secured $1.1 million in non-dilutive funding through a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The award will support the commercialization of the company’s BioREEcover technology, which is designed to improve access to critical minerals through cleaner and more sustainable recovery processes.

Unlike traditional equity financing rounds, the NSF SBIR award provides government-backed research funding to support innovation and commercialization efforts. The funding will help REEgen advance its biological approach to extracting rare earth elements and other critical minerals from unconventional sources, including industrial waste streams.

Founded in 2022, REEgen was created to address growing concerns around the global supply chain for rare earth elements, which are essential materials used in technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, solar panels, and advanced defense systems. The company is developing solutions aimed at reducing reliance on environmentally intensive mining methods while strengthening domestic access to critical mineral resources.

The company’s flagship technology, BioREEcover, uses biological processes to recover rare earth elements from industrial waste materials. REEgen’s approach is designed to provide a cleaner alternative to conventional extraction methods, which often require significant energy consumption and can generate environmental challenges. By using biotechnology to recover valuable minerals from existing waste streams, the company aims to contribute to a more circular and sustainable critical minerals economy.

REEgen was co-founded by Dr. Alexa Schmitz, Sean Medin, and Brooke Pian. The founders developed the company around research into biological methods for mineral recovery and commercialization opportunities emerging from academic innovation. The company has roots in Cornell University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and has worked to translate scientific research into industrial applications.

The newly awarded NSF funding follows earlier support from innovation and commercialization programs. REEgen previously received an NSF SBIR Phase I grant in 2023, which helped the company validate and advance the underlying technology behind its biological rare earth recovery process. The company has also received recognition through regional commercialization competitions and climate-focused startup programs.

In addition to NSF support, REEgen has been backed by organizations including Venture For ClimateTech, Cornell University, Gigascale Capital, and the FuzeHub Commercialization Competition. These organizations have supported REEgen’s efforts to advance climate technology, scale commercialization activities, and develop solutions for critical materials supply chains.

REEgen’s technology development comes amid increasing global demand for rare earth elements and other critical minerals. These materials play an important role in clean energy technologies, electronics, and national security applications. However, supply chains remain concentrated in a limited number of regions, creating challenges for companies and governments seeking more secure and diversified sources.

The company is positioning its BioREEcover platform as a potential solution to these challenges by focusing on recovering materials that already exist in industrial waste. Instead of relying only on new mining operations, REEgen aims to unlock additional sources of rare earth elements while reducing environmental impacts associated with traditional extraction.

The company has also gained recognition for its commercialization progress. In 2025, REEgen won the grand prize at the FuzeHub Commercialization Competition, receiving a $150,000 award to accelerate development of its technology. The company stated that the award would support efforts to move toward commercial production of rare earth materials for U.S. supply chains.

REEgen’s work aligns with broader efforts across the United States to strengthen domestic critical mineral production and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Government agencies, investors, and industrial companies have increasingly focused on technologies that improve access to essential materials while supporting environmental sustainability.

With continued support from organizations including the National Science Foundation, Venture For ClimateTech, Cornell University, Gigascale Capital, and the FuzeHub Commercialization Competition, REEgen is advancing its mission to create cleaner pathways for rare earth element recovery. The company aims to help build a more resilient and sustainable supply chain for the critical minerals needed in future technologies.

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