Blue Whale Materials
Lithium-ion battery recycling company that reclaims cobalt, nickel, and lithium from end-of-life batteries and production scrap using proprietary processing technology.
- CEO / Founder
- Robert Kang (Co-Founder and CEO; recent reports indicate Jack Johnson named CEO in July 2026)
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Growth Stage
- Total Funding
- $80M
- Latest Round
- Venture Round
- Key Investors
- Ara Partners
Technology & Products
Key Products
Blacksand® (high-purity mixed metal precursor containing cobalt, nickel, lithium); Li-ion battery collection & logistics; battery testing & evaluation services (via BW Energy & Innovation subsidiary); discharge and shredding processing for end-of-life consumer cells, EV packs, modules, and production scrap.
Technological Advantage
Proprietary, commercially validated technology developed in Asia (Japan/South Korea); dry processing method (no water used in discharge/shredding); Blacksand® product with superior purity versus traditional black mass; full-service offering from collection through testing to processing; strategic location in Bartlesville, OK near major gigafactories.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides domestic lithium-ion battery recycling solutions that produce Blacksand®, a high-concentration, low-impurity mixed-metal precursor material (cobalt, nickel, lithium) optimized for hydrometallurgical refining, supporting a closed-loop domestic battery supply chain.
How They Differentiate
Produces Blacksand® — a high-purity, low-impurity, dry mixed-metal intermediate with up to 98% cobalt/nickel recovery, superior to conventional black mass. Uses proprietary water-free discharge/shredding technology validated in Asia. Full closed-loop service: collection, testing/grading, processing, and refining input.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Battery manufacturers, electric vehicle OEMs, energy storage companies, battery collection organizations, refiners, and cathode manufacturers needing recycled critical minerals and end-of-life battery processing.
Industry Verticals
Battery Recycling; Critical Minerals Supply; Electric Vehicle Supply Chain; Energy Storage; Consumer Electronics Recycling
Competitors
Redwood Materials; Li-Cycle Holdings; Cirba Solutions; Ascend Elements
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Bartlesville facility targeting 50,000 tons of Li-ion feedstock annually by 2028; $110M total expansion initiative; 150 permanent jobs + 180 construction jobs expected; enough critical minerals to power 100,000+ EVs annually at full capacity.
Major Milestones
2015: Founded as battery brokerage; 2022: $80M investment from Ara Partners; 2023: Acquired Eclipse Energy (now BW Energy & Innovation); 2023: Selected Bartlesville, OK for first commercial facility; 2024: Named to TIME/Statista America's Top Greentech Companies; 2025: Awarded $55M DOE grant; 2025: Commissioned baseline plant in Bartlesville; 2025: Strategic partnership with Call2Recycle; 2026: Named Jack Johnson CEO (July 2026)
Notable Customers
Call2Recycle (feedstock partner); (exact end-customers of Blacksand® not publicly named)