# Impossible Metals

> Impossible Metals is a San Jose-based ocean robotics company building autonomous underwater vehicles that harvest polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed one at a time. Its Eureka Collection System uses AI computer vision and a buoyancy engine to hover above the seafloor, pick up individual nodules containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, and leave nodules with visible marine life untouched - an approach the company positions as a lower-impact alternative to both land mining and the seabed-dredging methods used by rivals.

- **Founded:** 2020
- **Headquarters:** San Jose, California, United States
- **Founders:** Oliver Gunasekara (CEO & Co-Founder), Jason Gillham (CTO & Co-Founder), Renee Grogan (Co-Founder & Director of Sustainability), Kenneth H. Nealson (Co-Founder / Scientific Advisor)
- **Team size:** ~37 employees
- **Products:** Eureka Collection System, Eureka I, Eureka II, Eureka III, Onshore processing / refining
- **Notable:** First company to apply for a critical-minerals lease in US federal waters under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (2025)., CEO Oliver Gunasekara invited to testify before the US House Natural Resources Committee on deep-sea mining (April 2025)., Demonstrated selective underwater nodule harvesting with Eureka I (2022) and completed deep-water testing with Eureka II (2024).

## Products & services

- **Eureka Collection System** — An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that uses AI computer vision, robotic manipulators and a buoyancy engine to hover above the seabed and selectively pick up individual polymetallic nodules, avoiding nodules with visible marine life and minimizing sediment plumes.
- **Eureka I** — Proof-of-concept vehicle that successfully demonstrated selective harvesting of rocks underwater.
- **Eureka II** — Larger prototype that completed deep-water testing, validating selective collection at depth.
- **Eureka III** — Full-size production-scale vehicle in development, targeting economic-scale technology readiness.
- **Onshore processing / refining** — Nodule processing and refining approach to convert collected nodules into nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese products for the battery supply chain.

## Achievements

- First company to apply for a critical-minerals lease in US federal waters under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (2025).
- CEO Oliver Gunasekara invited to testify before the US House Natural Resources Committee on deep-sea mining (April 2025).
- Demonstrated selective underwater nodule harvesting with Eureka I (2022) and completed deep-water testing with Eureka II (2024).
- Selected Pittsburgh for an Advanced Marine Robotics Hub creating engineering and science jobs (2026).

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Announced plans to open an Advanced Marine Robotics Hub in Pittsburgh, creating engineering and science jobs and supporting a China-free critical-mineral supply chain.
- **2026-04** — CEO Oliver Gunasekara scheduled to present the Eureka Collection System roadmap update at the Deep Sea Mining Summit in London.
- **2025-04** — Applied for a deep-sea mining lease off American Samoa via BOEM; CEO testified before the US House Natural Resources Committee.
- **2024-04** — Eureka II completed deep-water testing.

## Links

- Website: https://impossiblemetals.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impossible-metals
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ImpossMining
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@impossiblemetals

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/impossible-metals-yc-w22
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-31