
#96 - Assia Kasdi - Milvus Advanced - "Can we create metals like we create shampoos?"
From New Wave. by Hugo Rauch
June 9, 2026 · 42 min
About this episode
Assia Kasdi discusses the development of earth-abundant nanoalloys to replace critical minerals in clean energy technologies.
Brought to you by: Heights : a design agency founded by Gabri Grassi, helping impact-driven tech companies sharpen their brand, attract investors, and scale their reach. Grab your free brand checklist here or reach out to Gabri to elevate your brand. **** Subscribe to the newsletter: New Wave | Hugo Rauch | Substack **** 🌊 The New Alchemy of Clean Energy Why the future of climate-tech may depend on replacing critical minerals altogether. We’re joined by Assia , CEO of Milvus Advanced , an Oxford-born materials startup developing earth-abundant nanoalloys that can replace critical minerals like platinum, iridium, and indium. What started as a PhD research project became a mission to solve one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in the energy transition: our dependence on scarce, geopolitically concentrated materials. In this episode, we explore why the clean energy transition is ultimately a materials challenge, and what it takes to build entirely new metals from scratch. In our conversation, we covered: → Why Assia abandoned the idea that renewables are inherently sustainable → The journey from Oxford chemistry labs to venture-backed founder → How a 13th-century story about…
People in this episode
Host: Hugo Rauch
Guest: Assia Kasdi
Topics covered
- clean energy
- materials science
- climate technology
- nanoalloys
- sustainable materials
- energy transition
Keywords
- clean energy
- nanoalloys
- critical minerals
- sustainability
- energy transition
- climate technology
- materials challenge
Sponsors
Heights
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Milvus Advanced
Places: Oxford, Germany
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