Austin Minerals Forum Kickoff

If you want to know the latest about the core materials driving every industry, come join the Forum.

Overview

The Austin Minerals Forum brings together experts in critical minerals and precious metals who can answer the big questions, innovators who are building solutions, and the investors who fuel the journey. We will have live opportunities for presentation and panels, meetups, dinners, conferences, and more.

Are you curious about the growing interest in the US in metals and mining, and the resurgence of the global mining industry? Would you like to learn more about the rising importance of minerals critical to everything from defense to iPhones? What does the mining process look like in the 21st century and how are the best practices and technology changing?

We will learn about the lifecycle of a mineral discovery from exploration to discovery to production, and explore the bigger questions. How should we think about extractive industries if we prioritize sustainability? What are the tradeoffs in mineral exploration, in terms of the environment, the workforce, energy, and economic development? How do we balance economic development with the environment, infrastructure needs, and the community?

Join us to find out, create valuable connections, and build the future...here.

Agenda

4:30 - Arrival, refreshments, and networking

5:15 - Panel

Moderator: Benjamin Salazar, Founder and Managing Partner of Salazar Capital Ventures

Ryan Finlay - CEO of Ekometall Exploration

Marek Locmelis - Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences

TBD

6:00 - Networking

Arrival and Parking

Texas Innovation Center map and directions:

For Lyft/Uber drop off, corner of Speedway and Dean Keeton or Dean Keeton just east of speedway on Dean Keeton is best.

If driving, the closest parking garages are the Speedway Garage and the San Jacinto Garage.

The Texas Engineering Innovation Center is located in the corridor connecting Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall (ECJ) and the Engineering Education and Research Center (EER) across from O’s Café. Enter on the first floor of EER and go up the stairs or elevator to the top floor. Tx Innovation Center will be on your right. Room 2.518 area

Sponsors and Partners

Ekometall Exploration

About Your Hosts

Benjamin Salazar is a banking and Investment executive with 25+ years of experience spanning venture capital, private investment funds, capital formation, strategic partnerships, fund management, philanthropy, and cross-border innovation. He serves as General Partner of a $125 million feeder fund, advises venture and private equity funds, participates in investment committees, angel networks, and leads fundraising for a faith-based philanthropic effort to feed the hungry from food surplus, with 50,000 active volunteers.

Currently, as founder of Austin Minerals Forum, he seeks to expand the investor universe beyond the traditional resource investor base, to champion innovation and best practices in geoscience, and to create a community of interested investors.

Jacob Borgeson is a technologist, founder, community builder, and advisor for climate and deep tech solutions. With over 20 years experience helping launch, grow, and scale companies across many industries, he is an expert in commercialization and growth. He founded Texas Futures Coalition and leads monthly events in Austin.