Innovation Endeavors was founded on the thesis of the Super Evolution: that technological advances across data, computation, and engineering would converge and translate into significant, fast changes for the world. We’ve seen this firsthand. After a decade of investment — the Super Evolution is HERE.

But more importantly, this era of innovation is made possible by people: changemakers working to revolutionize computing infrastructure, engineering biology, climate, intelligent software, and the physical economy. Today, we’re pleased to launch a new series that highlights the stories of these leaders and gives you a glimpse into how these entrepreneurs bring their work to light, what lessons they’ve learned along the way, and how they hope to change our world.

We hope their candid insights are helpful for anyone tackling meaningful problems and that their stories inspire you.

Meet Andrew Job, Founder and CEO of Plotlogic

In 2018, Andrew combined his research with his extensive experience as a mining manager to develop a solution for autonomous material characterization in mining and build Plotlogic. But his journey to entrepreneurship started long before that, “in a roundabout way,” said Andrew.

“I worked in the mining industry for 20-odd years. I’ve always been passionate about how we can deliver the world’s resources without damaging the planet along the way. I went and did a Ph.D. for a couple of years, quit my job, and got right into the problem and what the opportunity might be,” Andrew continued.

Plotlogic aims to make precision mining a reality for the entire industry and deliver critical metals that the world needs to transition to a clean economy. Through its intelligent sensors and AI capabilities, Plotlogic can deliver highly accurate ore characterization in real time, enabling greater recovery, reducing mining waste, and enhancing the geological model.

“If we’re successful, the world is going to be a very different place. We’ll be able to transition to a clean economy and electrify the grid and vehicles. But at the same time, we’ll actually be able to create mining environments that are super clean and not causing destruction to forests or natural vegetation,” said Andrew.

The road to electrification is long, and to consider the process successful, we have to source raw materials far more efficiently.

“To put into context, if you take all the copper that’s been mined in the world over the last 120 years, pull it out of every computer, every cable, every car on the planet, and squish it through a giant copper bowl and then redistribute that for the electrification of the planet that would last for one year and one year only. So there’s a massive gap in terms of commodities needed,” said Andrew.

Watch the video to learn more about Andrew’s journey to entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned throughout the fundraising process, and how he hopes to revolutionize the mining industry.