Prediction Open AI assessment confidence: 95% certainty 3/5 debate potential 1/5

Feldmann: Durin aims to build thousands of automated drill rigs by 2031

Ted Feldmann · What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN · Apr 26, 2025 · at 24:00

Ted Feldmann is the founder of Durin, an automated mining and drilling startup. He explains his company's operational goals and strategy of cross-training aerospace engineers and mining operators.

0:00 / 0:18exact quote · 18.7s
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“We are we're teaching SpaceXers how to drill and drillers how to participate in a high functional, high functioning engineering organization. And so I think you gotta do both. If you're trying to build a large organization and manufacture thousands of these rigs over the next five, six years, become a leading drilling contractor.”

quote is from the automated transcript, cleaned for reading: filler sounds and stutters are removed, nothing is rephrased. names can be misheard (the analysis reads context, assessments check outside sources). how →

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Opinion
Feldmann: Drill rig manufacturers have half-hearted autonomy efforts
“We tried that with a couple of manufacturers. They were incredibly slow and all the manufacturers, they sort of have their own half-hearted efforts on autonomy. And so they didn't seem particularly eager to partner up to partner with us. And so almost out of n…”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 5:54 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Feldmann: US has no other rare earth deposits ready for production
“There are no other decent rare earths deposits in the United States that we can just spin up production at.”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 10:09 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Feldmann: Unaware of Chamath rare earth projects beyond MP Materials
“I haven't heard anything about Chamath's involvement in any rare earth project beyond he helps back camping materials five or so years ago. I haven't heard anything. Maybe he does. I hope he does. That would be great. There was some massive rare earths mine th…”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 18:48 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
Assertion Supported
Feldmann: Canada attracts much more mining capital than the US
“Canada has a lot more capital flowing into mining than the United States does today.”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 3:52 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
Insight
Feldmann: Mining firms avoid new tech due to decade-long capex cycles
“Building a mine is incredibly capex intensive and you're basically making a bet on technology early and then utilizing that equipment or software system for a decade plus. And so these companies are risk averse. I don't want to bet, bet the farm on a new, new …”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 8:07 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
Disclosure
Feldmann: Durin operates as a contractor to bypass tech sales friction
“Where I think we come in there's a few other companies with a similar model is as a contractor. So we're just replacing a separate service provider and any sort of innovation that we're creating is done internally. So we are more efficient, safer, And we're co…”
Ted Feldmann Apr 26, 2025 ▶ 8:21 What It Takes to Build a Mine | Ted Feldmann on TBPN
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