Eco Mercantile Corporation
EcoMerc accelerates e-waste recycling by using AI-powered optical sensing to identify valuable metals swiftly.
Company overview
Eco Mercantile Corporation addresses the growing e-waste crisis with innovative technology. Their compact spectroscopy instrument, coupled with machine learning, enables real-time analysis of e-waste components in recycling warehouses. This solution accurately identifies high-value metals and their quantities, allowing for precise trade pricing and reduced operational costs. By making e-waste recycling more economically viable, Eco Mercantile aims to increase recycling rates, currently at just 15% in the Americas, and help manage the projected 30% global increase in e-waste by 2030. Their approach supports resource conservation and the circular economy, offering a practical solution to divert more e-waste from landfills.
Market opportunity
Circular Economy
Status
Prototype Development
Impact Area
Mitigation
LabStart Stage
Phase 2 : Accelerate
Technology
Optical Sensing
Cohort year
2024
Roadmap and Asks
Develop MVP
01
Industry Partner for Co-Development and Pilot Testing
Recyclers and e-waste processors would be ideal industry partners
02
Funding to reach MVP
Reaching 500k in non-dilutive funding by 2025 year-end
03
Optic Hardware Suppliers
Suppliers that build parts for spectrometers would be ideal
Become a partner
The Problem
Low accuracy or time-consuming visual identification of metals present in e-waste component
Using chemical assaying to characterize the metals in e-waste can take up to 6 weeks to process
Inaccurate identification of material leads to inaccurate valuation leaving money on the table
Lack of low-cost transparency causes newcomers to get worse deals and possibly leave the industry
The Solution
Using spectral technology to lower the time of metal identification from weeks to days
Identifying metals and not consumer products
Current systems are too large for a lab setting, our system is portable and compact for field use
Market Timing
Clean Energy and Computing Infrastructure in the US Require a US Supply Chain
Developing clean energy and computing infrastructure requires high-value and rare earth metals, many of which are mined primarily abroad. Enabling the recycling industry to lower costs and grow enables the local supply chain of these materials.
Market Opportunity
E-waste Generation Will Grow 30% to 82 Million Annual Tons by 2030
The US generates 6.9 million tons of e-waste annually and only recycles 15%. This means that 85% of the material is sent to a landfill to sit idle. With a growing need for materials and their less carbon-intensive production, recycling is a helpful alternative. Enabling recyclers to operate more inexpensively allows the industry to grow our recycling rates.
Meet Team
Eco Mercantile Corporation
15+ years of machine learning, sustainability, and leadership skills in technology and operations
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Guillermo
Gutierrez
CEO and Co-founder
Guillermo has managed over $100M of capital projects.
Manish spent 4 years developing algorithms for autonomous transport.
Industry players and trade organizations confirmed demand for product.
Start with us
We're actively seeking partners who share our vision. Connect with us to drive climate innovation forward!
