Unearthed
Unearthed Solutions is a Perth-based open innovation platform connecting major mining and resources companies (BHP, Rio Tinto, Origin Energy, Newcrest, Oz Minerals, South32) with a global network of 10,000+ innovators through challenge-based competitions, accelerator programs, and market intelligence services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Unearthed does
Unearthed Solutions Pty Ltd is a Perth, Australia-based open innovation platform serving the global mining and resources sector. Founded in 2014, the company operates a challenge-based ecosystem that connects major mining and resources enterprises (BHP, Rio Tinto, Origin Energy, Newcrest, Oz Minerals, South32, Dundee Precious Metals) with a global network of 10,000s of innovators, startups, and SMEs to solve operational problems in exploration, processing, safety, and sustainability. Over a decade, Unearthed has facilitated 100+ industry challenges across 26 hackathons in 14 cities on 5 continents, with documented outcomes including a 75% reduction in exploration target generation time for OZ Minerals and 120 new exploration approaches developed.
The product surface centers on three core offerings: Challenges (open innovation competitions where partner miners post operational problems and global innovators submit solutions through structured events and online platforms such as The Newcrest Crowd), Insights (targeted domain and market scans for competitive intelligence), and Launched (a weekly curation platform for emerging mining technologies). Underlying capabilities include applied data science and machine learning — including ML regression models for SAG2 crusher optimization and predictive analytics for mineral exploration — supported by an in-house data and AI engineering function. Supporting offerings include the always-on Open House submission pathway, the BUILD and OBK accelerator programs, and partnerships with technology providers such as Esri, Fugro, Data61, Cisco, and acQuire.
The business model is professional services: Unearthed designs, runs, and curates challenges and accelerators on a quote-based, individually negotiated basis with enterprise mining clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company operates with a small core team (1-10 employees), generates revenue primarily through challenge facilitation and accelerator program fees, and has not disclosed any external funding rounds. Distribution is direct to enterprise through long-term strategic partnerships positioned as an extension of the clients' internal innovation teams.
Unearthed firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unearthed
- Legal name
- Unearthed Solutions Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://unearthed.solutions
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Unearthed Solutions is a Perth-based open innovation platform connecting major mining and resources companies (BHP, Rio Tinto, Origin Energy, Newcrest, Oz Minerals, South32) with a global network of 10,000+ innovators through challenge-based competitions, accelerator programs, and market intelligence services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unearthed industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Innovation Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bootcamp & Intensive Program Aggregators/Marketplaces (EDAFAIAF)
Keywords
Where Unearthed is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unearthed business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Challenge and Innovation Program Services: Unearthed facilitates open innovation challenges for mining and resources companies, acting as a strategic partner to connect industry problems with global capability solutions
- Accelerator Programs: Running accelerator programs such as the BUILD program and OBK Accelerator in partnership with BHP Invent, connecting startups with industry partners and resources
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Unearthed product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unearthed runs open innovation challenges, accelerator programs, and curated intelligence services that connect mining and resources companies with a global community of startups, SMEs, and independent innovators to solve operational problems. Its core offerings are the Challenges platform, Insights (market and domain scans), Launched (weekly technology curation), the Unearthed Accelerator, and partner-branded crowdsourcing platforms such as The Newcrest Crowd.
Product overview
Unearthed is an open innovation platform for the mining and resources industry, operating as a gateway to a collaborative global ecosystem. The platform centers on three core offerings: Challenges (open innovation competitions connecting industry problems with global innovators), Insights (market and domain intelligence scans), and Launched (weekly curation of emerging technologies). The ecosystem includes always-open challenge submissions via Open House, the Unearthed Accelerator program for startup development, and partner-specific platforms like The Newcrest Crowd. Over 10 years of experience, the platform has facilitated 100+ industry challenges with thousands of submissions from global innovators, startups, and SMEs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Launched: A weekly curation platform for emerging technologies and innovation in the mining and resources sector. Enables innovators to be seen by industry professionals and provides product launch visibility.
- Challenges
- Insights
Products and services
- Challenges Open innovation challenge platform connecting mining and resources companies with global innovators, startups, and SMEs to solve sector challenges through structured competitive crowdsourcing.
- Insights Targeted domain and market scans providing accelerated intelligence on emerging technologies and opportunities for the resources sector.
- Launched Weekly curation platform showcasing emerging technologies and innovations in mining and resources, enabling innovators to reach industry audiences and submit new products.
- Open House Always-open challenge submission pathway on the Unearthed platform allowing innovators to submit ideas at any time for review.
- Unearthed Accelerator Accelerator program connecting mining and resources startups with industry partners, mentors, and funding opportunities to commercialise innovations.
- The Newcrest Crowd Automated online crowdsourcing platform developed in partnership with Newcrest Mining, hosting challenges for miners to solve specific operational problems through global innovation.
- Global Innovation Games Global hackathon event series connecting mining companies with tech communities worldwide to solve industry challenges through collaborative innovation competitions.
- BUILD Accelerator BUILD cohort program selecting mining, energy and resources startups into a structured accelerator track with industry partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% reduction in time to generate quality exploration targets
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Unearthed
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Unearthed technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature2 records
Unearthed partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Rio TintocoreUnearthed helped deliver Rio Tinto's 2025 The Pitch Program, an internal employee innovation program designed to foster innovation culture within the company.
- Founders FactorymajorCollaboration at IMARC 2025 for the 'Funding the Future of Mining Tech' session, bringing together capital and innovation in the mining technology sector.
- Dundee Precious MetalsmajorPartnership established in 2023 for mining innovation collaboration.
- South32majorStrategic partnership since 2020 for mining innovation and efficiency improvement initiatives.
- Origin EnergycorePartnership since 2017, connecting Origin Energy with new ideas, technologies, and innovation opportunities. Unearthed has facilitated visits to Origin operations and collaborated on energy sector innovation challenges.
- BHPcoreLong-term strategic partnership since 2016, working together on open innovation challenges, accelerator programs including the Ore Body Knowledge (OBK) Accelerator, Deep Mining Open Call, and various innovation initiatives. BHP's Think & Act Differently (TAD) team collaborates with Unearthed on multiple innovation programs annually.
- Newcrest MiningcorePartner since 2015, collaborating on The Newcrest Crowd platform development, multiple innovation challenges including Hydro Saver, rock bridges prevention, fatigue management, and blasting optimization. Won METS Ignited Collaboration Award 2018.
- Oz MineralscoreConducted the $1 million Explorer Challenge crowdsourcing competition for mineral exploration, reducing time to generate quality targets by 75%. Multiple challenges conducted including Turn up the Zinc with Glencore.
- CORE Innovation HubcoreRelated entity established in 2016, CORE Innovation Hub is empowering key local innovation infrastructure for the resource sector across Australia. Unearthed is co-located at CORE hub in Perth.
- EsrisupportingLeading GIS technology provider supporting Unearthed challenges, providing geographic information system technology for mineral exploration challenges.
- FugrosupportingGeo-intelligence technology company supporting Unearthed Accelerator program as a supporter, bringing geospacial expertise to the innovation ecosystem.
- Data61supportingPartnership through Memorandum of Understanding for supporting Australian entrepreneurs and technology innovation in the resources sector.
- CiscosupportingStrategic partnership announced in 2015 to provide greater collaboration and innovation support for startups in the Unearthed ecosystem.
- acQuire Technology SolutionssupportingGeo-scientific information management solutions provider joining the Unearthed community to support innovation in mining data management.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Unearthed competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Founders Factory: Global accelerator and venture builder that runs corporate-backed accelerator programs across multiple verticals. Directly comparable as a co-development partner on Unearthed's IMARC 2025 mining-tech session; both run challenge-driven accelerators connecting corporates to startups.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running vertical-specific programs with corporate partners. Comparable as a model for cohort-based accelerator delivery and corporate-startup matchmaking that Unearthed replicates for the mining sector.
- Plug and Play: Global innovation platform operating corporate-startup accelerator programs across multiple verticals including sustainability and industrial tech. Comparable platform model pairing enterprise innovation teams with curated startup ecosystems.
- Creative Destruction Lab (CDL): Nonprofit venture program running objective-setting cohorts for science- and technology-based startups, including mining and resources streams. Comparable as a structured cohort program pairing founders with experienced operators.
Direct peers
- METS Ignited: Australian industry-led growth centre for the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services sector. Closely comparable as a mining-focused innovation intermediary; Unearthed itself won METS Ignited's 2018 Collaboration Award for The Newcrest Crowd.
- Startupbootcamp Mining Tech: Vertical-specific accelerator programs focused on mining technology, operated by the global Startupbootcamp network. Direct competitor in delivering mining-tech accelerator cohorts to industry partners.
- Element 8: Australia-based mining and energy tech accelerator focused on early-stage ventures targeting the resources sector. Direct competitor in the mining-tech accelerator niche within Unearthed's home market.
Regional players
- New Energy Nexus: Global accelerator network supporting clean energy and climate startups, with programs across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Comparable accelerator + challenge platform model applied to a different vertical, with potential overlap via energy-sector partners such as Origin Energy.
Emerging players
- Buildit Accelerator: Hardware-focused accelerator backed by UNICEF and partners, running global cohorts for hardware startups with industrial applications. Comparable as a challenge-driven accelerator model targeting resource-sector adjacent hardware innovation.
Others
- CORE Innovation Hub: Perth-based innovation hub co-founded by Unearthed's leadership, focused on resources-sector innovation in Western Australia. Closely affiliated ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor; relevant as a peer for understanding Unearthed's local ecosystem role.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Unearthed social profiles
Digital presenceUnearthed financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unearthed leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Unearthed funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unearthed M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unearthed
What does Unearthed do?
Unearthed runs open innovation challenges, accelerator programs, and curated intelligence services that connect mining and resources companies with a global community of startups, SMEs, and independent innovators to solve operational problems. Its core offerings are the Challenges platform, Insights (market and domain scans), Launched (weekly technology curation), the Unearthed Accelerator, and partner-branded crowdsourcing platforms such as The Newcrest Crowd.
Is Unearthed a public or private company?
Unearthed is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Unearthed founded?
Unearthed was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Unearthed based?
Unearthed is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Unearthed make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Challenge and Innovation Program Services are the primary driver. The others are accelerator Programs.
Who are Unearthed's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Founders Factory, Techstars, Plug and Play and Creative Destruction Lab (CDL). Direct peers are METS Ignited, Startupbootcamp Mining Tech and Element 8. New Energy Nexus is listed as a regional player. Buildit Accelerator is listed as an emerging player. CORE Innovation Hub is listed as an others.
Does Unearthed have an API?
Yes. Users may access Unearthed via the Application Program Interface (API). Access to API is bound by the same terms and conditions as the main platform. No additional API documentation, endpoints, authentication methods, or rate limits are specified in the available source material.
What industry is Unearthed in?
Unearthed's product category is Mining Innovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAIAF, Bootcamp & Intensive Program Aggregators/Marketplaces.