Sydney-based Oscorp Energy secured $1.3 million in pre-Seed funding led by European VC Atlas and supported by Antler and Antipodean Capital. The startup aims to reduce lithium-ion battery fires in recycling facilities by deploying AI vision and robotics to identify and extract hazardous batteries from fast-moving waste streams.
- Raised $1.3M pre-Seed funding led by VC Atlas and Antler
- Developing AI-driven robotics for lithium-ion battery detection and removal
- Partnering with ASX-listed battery recycler Livium for pilot deployment
What happened
Oscorp Energy, an Australian startup founded during the Antler residency program, raised $1.3 million in pre-Seed funding. The round was led by European venture capital firm Atlas via its AI VB fund, with support from Antler and Antipodean Capital. Oscorp is developing AI-powered vision and robotic systems designed to detect, classify, and safely remove lithium-ion batteries from fast-moving waste streams.
The company's technology integrates AI vision, edge computing, and robotics as a solution to prevent battery-related fires that pose severe risks to trucks, recycling centers, and material recovery facilities. Oscorp is collaborating with ASX-listed battery recycler Livium as a design partner and plans to deploy pilot systems at Livium’s facilities as well as with other waste and recycling operators.
Why it matters
Lithium-ion battery fires are a major and growing safety hazard in the waste and recycling industry. Estimates from the Australian Council of Recycling suggest there are between 10,000 and 12,000 battery-related fires annually in Australian waste streams. These incidents cause costly damage and pose serious risks to workers and operations.
Oscorp's AI-enabled robotic approach aims to reduce manual, hazardous sorting and minimize fire risks by identifying and removing dangerous batteries before they ignite. This innovation promises to protect workers, improve safety standards, and give operators better real-time insights into material flows and contamination within recycling processes.
What to watch next
Oscorp will use the new funding to launch commercial pilots with recycling and waste management operators, starting with its battery detection and removal technology. Success in these pilots could pave the way for wider adoption across Australia and potentially other regions facing similar risks.
Beyond batteries, the startup envisions developing a broader Vision OS platform that provides comprehensive intelligence on material streams, contamination levels, and recovery losses at multiple sites. Monitoring how Oscorp scales its AI robotics technology and expands its partnerships, including with major players like Livium, will be critical to gauge its impact on the recycling sector’s safety and automation.