He Sold His Company to AMD. Then Built Ocean Robots. | Oliver Gunasekara

In this episode, Anand Jha interviews Oliver Gunasekara, CEO and co-founder of Impossible Metals, about underwater mining, critical metals, and their role in the energy transition. They explore innovative technologies, environmental considerations, and the future of responsible mining to support sustainable energy solutions. Key topics Underwater robotic mining technology Environmental impact and sustainability Critical metals and their role in energy transition Innovation in deep tech and AI robotics Supply chain challenges for critical metals Geopolitical aspects of mineral resources Future trends in energy and mining Chapters 00:00 Introduction to underwater mining and Oliver Gunasekara 02:06 The motivation behind Impossible Metals and industry biases 04:27 Transition from software to underwater robotics 06:24 Overcoming industry skepticism with innovative tech 08:19 Environmental considerations in seabed mining 09:19 Importance of critical metals in modern technology 11:30 Future demand and supply challenges for critical metals 13:53 Balancing renewable energy goals with resource extraction 16:47 How Impossible Metals differentiates with new technology 20:06 Traits of successful entrepreneurs in deep tech 22:39 Mindset and skills for future innovators 24:00 Addressing misconceptions about critical minerals 25:39 Geopolitical risks and the future of energy metals 28:43 The role of technology in shaping the energy future 29:18 Key takeaways and closing thoughts Keywords deep tech, underwater mining, critical metals, energy transition, sustainable mining, AI robotics, environmental impact, innovation, energy supply chain