# Still Bright

> Still Bright is a Newark, New Jersey hard-tech company reinventing how the world makes copper. Its patented RACER process (Rapid and Complete Electrochemical Reduction) soaks copper-bearing ore and mine waste in a vanadium-based solution that pulls the metal out in minutes at room temperature and pressure, then uses electricity to regenerate the solution - a trick borrowed from vanadium flow batteries. The result: up to 99% copper recovery with equipment that runs 70-90% cheaper than traditional smelters and produces no toxic emissions. Founded in 2022 by CEO Randy Allen and CTO Jon Vardner, the company raised $18.7M in seed funding in 2025 and is scaling toward pilot production of domestic, clean copper.

- **Founded:** 2022
- **Headquarters:** Newark, New Jersey, United States
- **Founders:** Ranulfo "Randy" Allen (Co-founder & CEO), Jon Vardner (Co-founder & CTO)
- **Team size:** ~15 employees
- **Products:** RACER Process, Vanadium-based leaching system, Co-product recovery, Modular on-site processing units
- **Notable:** Raised $18.7M seed round led by Material Impact and Breakthrough Energy Ventures (2025)., Developed patented RACER process recovering up to 99% of copper from sulfide ore at room temperature and pressure., Equipment estimated 70-90% cheaper than conventional pyrometallurgical gear.

## Products & services

- **RACER Process** — Rapid and Complete Electrochemical Reduction - a patented hydrometallurgical process that extracts copper from concentrates, ores, and tailings in minutes at ambient temperature and pressure, recovering up to 99% of the copper.
- **Vanadium-based leaching system** — Copper-bearing material is soaked in a vanadium solution that draws out the metal; spent solution is regenerated with electricity, a closed-loop approach inspired by vanadium flow batteries.
- **Co-product recovery** — The process also enriches and recovers precious and critical metals - gold, nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum - from the same feedstock.
- **Modular on-site processing units** — Compact, low-footprint equipment designed to integrate with existing mine infrastructure for domestic, distributed copper production.

## Achievements

- Raised $18.7M seed round led by Material Impact and Breakthrough Energy Ventures (2025).
- Developed patented RACER process recovering up to 99% of copper from sulfide ore at room temperature and pressure.
- Equipment estimated 70-90% cheaper than conventional pyrometallurgical gear.
- Attracted strategic mining investor Fortescue and climate funds to a first institutional round.
- Secured global HQ and pilot-manufacturing space at the NEST campus in New Jersey.

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — Closed $18.7M seed round led by Material Impact and Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
- **2025-07** — TechCrunch profiles Still Bright's electrochemical, vanadium-based copper extraction.
- **2025-08** — Leased ~15,000 sq ft at Kenilworth's NEST campus as global HQ and pilot-manufacturing site.
- **2026** — Advancing from ~2 tonnes/year pilot toward a 500 tonnes/year demonstration unit.

## Links

- Website: https://stillbright.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/still-bright

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/still-bright
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-02