Location: Golden, CO

How we met: We met Lacey through our network and Olokun participated in our first Ocean MBA.

Propeller theme: Ocean Industrials

Propeller investment stage: Pre-seed

Lacey Reddix and Pilanda Watkins-Curry founded Olokun Minerals with a mission to improve our water resources and increase our supply of critical minerals in the face of the climate crisis. Olokun uses a mineral recovery process that includes a separation step, leveraging a novel resin to recover minerals from salty wastewaters with a reduced chemical footprint. This process produces cleaner water that can be reclaimed, while creating metal salts that can then be converted into compounds used for batteries.

• Why we love the founders – Lacey and Pilanda are full of purpose, drive, and tenacity, with the intellect, empathy, and experience to build an impactful company in this sector. 
• What’s novel about Olokun’s tech – Unlike most mineral recovery approaches, Olokun’s system has the potential to harvest multiple different minerals at once, and do so without harsh chemicals.   
• Why we’re excited about this market – The energy transition requires tons of critical minerals for myriad applications. As a result, these markets are large and explosive. 
• How impactful Olokun could be – Many of these critical minerals are currently harvested in ways that are detrimental to the planet. Additionally, they are overwhelmingly produced by foreign powers. Olokun can simultaneously source more sustainably, while helping improve national security.

Learn more about Olokun Minerals at https://olokunminerals.com/