Leaders on a Mission
Discussions with leaders with a clear mission of creating a healthier world in today’s most innovative startups across FoodTech, AgTech (Agritech), Synbio, Sustainability, Climate Tech, and Clean Tech. Learn more about precision fermentation, cellular agriculture, alternative proteins, crop protection, biologicals, protein expression systems, carbon capture, plant health, precision agriculture, bioinformatics, human nutrition and what it takes to successfully scale your business in this budding sector.
Leaders on a Mission
Scaling the World’s First Zero-Emission Metals Company
What if the clean energy transition is built on one of the dirtiest secrets in industry—rare earth metals? They power EVs, AI, and defense systems, yet most are processed overseas with toxic, outdated methods. In this episode, Nicholas Myers, CEO of Phoenix Tailings, shares how his company is transforming mining waste into a clean, domestic source of critical materials. From backyard prototypes to pioneering world-first predictive complexation, Nick shares the grit, innovation, and vision it takes to scale deep tech in one of the world’s most entrenched industries—and why zero-waste, zero-emission metals are vital for both energy security and the environment.
Tune in to hear how backyard experiments grew into a global metals revolution.
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Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!
Check out Leaders on a Mission, where I interview climate tech leaders shaking up the industry and bringing us the next wave of sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation—exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.
Tune in on…
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726
…to listen to the latest episodes!
Timestamps:
00:58 – Nick’s unconventional journey
04:17 – Backyard experiments begin
07:22 – Tackling mining waste
11:23 – Predictive complexation breakthrough
13:40 – AI in metallurgy
17:04 – US-China supply chain exposure
19:15 – Scaling defense capacity
22:56 – Financing beyond VC
25:05 – Rare earths in production
28:27 – Lessons from fundraising
31:43 – The three-year IPO vision
33:35 – Building high-performance teams
38:31 – Values that drive Phoenix Tailings
Useful links:
Phoenix Tailings website: https://phoenixtailings.com/
Phoenix Tailings LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phoenixtailings/
Nicholas Myers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaswilliammyers/
Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/
Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/