If We Don’t Run Out of Lithium, Josh Goldman Will Be One Reason Why

Josh Goldman would never describe himself this way, but he may be one of the most important people in the world. As co-founder of KoBold Metals he has helped develop technologies that do a much better job finding deposits of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, and do so at a fraction of the billions of dollars that have become the industry average.

These are items on a shortlist of what governments call critical minerals, which are vital for energy production. So, basically, Josh and his colleagues are helping keep the lights on. For example, KoBold uncovered what it projects will be one of the largest copper mines in the world. That deposit in Zambia is one reason the company, a startup, is already worth a few billion dollars.

To reach this point, Josh and his team have had to solve tough scientific problems, navigate domestic and international politics, and take a firm stance against corruption. He credits his training as a physicist with helping him think through the things that really matter and how to approach them.

1:20 Josh reflects on his early identity as a physicist and how that shaped his thinking. Physics trains strong first-principles thinkers and generalists. But the day-to-day of being a scientist is tedious.

6:00 Why KoBold Metals has a chief philosopher

6:30 The mission to discover critical mineral deposits needed for electrification and AI-driven infrastructure

7:45 The core challenge: finding hidden mineral deposits deep underground where traditional methods fail.

12:00 Josh explains his transition from academia to consulting and eventually to the energy sector.

14:10 The scarcity is not minerals themselves but knowledge of where concentrated deposits exist.

22:00 How KoBold Metals decides where to explore, including logistical, financial, and social considerations

23:30 What it's like to make a big find

27:25 Fundraising to fund a company most people won't understand

28:45 The decision to not sell technology as a service but deploy it directly in exploration

30:10 Integrating scientists, engineers, and technologists into one team.

32:15 KoBold got a number of foundational business decisions right early on.

35:45 Navigating ethical consideration and geopolitics