# To power AI, Khosla and a16z bet this startup can reinvent mining

_Monday, August 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT · Capital · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![To power AI, Khosla and a16z bet this startup can reinvent mining — Primary](https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Governor-Cox-and-Turner-First-Blast-e1785520575334.jpg?resize=1200,600)

Mariana Minerals, a software-focused mining startup cofounded by Turner Caldwell, Baker Tilney and Juan Lozano, secured a $310 million Series B funding round led by Khosla Ventures with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and other investors.

The round brings Mariana's total funding to $400 million and values the company at $1.5 billion. Caldwell said the company aims to reduce the cost of core metals like lithium and copper to enable faster progress in industries such as AI. Mariana operates Copper One in Utah and Lithium One in Texas, using autonomous software to restart and develop mining sites.

## Sources

- [fortune.com](https://fortune.com/2026/08/03/power-ai-khosla-a16z-bet-startup-reinvent-mining-mariana-minerals/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/LDsl0q0WTWKBDx0dhVOWkL
Retrieved: 2026-08-06T00:59:52.260Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)