Hades Mining, a deep-tech startup in Munich, has come out of stealth mode with a €5.5 million pre-seed round to create innovative drilling systems for accessing ultra-deep geothermal energy and critical minerals. Led by Project A, the round included Visionaries Tomorrow, Founders Factory, and strategic angels from sectors like aerospace and advanced manufacturing, featuring Florian Seibel, Roman Hölzl, and others.
Established in 2025 by Dr. Max Werner, Björn Dressler, and Dan Gengenbach, Hades Mining aims to revolutionize Europe’s access to underground resources. They are developing a new class of drilling systems for energy and mineral projects to reach previously inaccessible depths, with a focus on precision and sustainability.
“Europe can’t lead the energy transition while relying on others for essential resources,” said Dr. Max Werner, CEO of Hades Mining. “We’re integrating the entire process from licensing to production, combining tech company efficiency with resource owner responsibility. Our goal is to set a new standard for accessing deep minerals and energy sustainably and transparently.”
Europe’s reliance on external critical minerals and energy has led to policy changes like the EU Critical Mineral Act and Germany’s geothermal initiatives. Hades Mining is addressing this with technology to extract from extreme depths beyond conventional methods.
Their proprietary systems target deep geothermal reservoirs and mineral formations using in-situ recovery (ISR), a fluid-circulation method that eliminates traditional excavation, minimizing environmental impact while accessing baseload heat and valuable minerals.
“Access to energy and critical minerals is crucial for national independence and democratic stability,” said Jack Wang, Partner at Project A. “Hades is ensuring Europe has sustainable resource access for the future, enhancing continental resilience.”
“Hades is advancing with a breakthrough system for unmatched speed and precision,” added Thong Le Hoang, Partner at Visionaries Tomorrow. “By addressing industry bottlenecks at a systems level, they turn deep tech into a strategic asset, unlocking significant economic and impact opportunities.”
With a vertically integrated model, Hades oversees the full lifecycle from licensing to production, enhancing technology and operations. This strategy speeds up project timelines, lowers costs, and maintains transparency and sustainability.
Pre-seed funds will develop Hades’ technologies and prepare project sites for mineral and geothermal extraction. By meeting European demand in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy, Hades aims to be central to Europe’s energy independence and industrial resilience.