Germany’s WeSort.AI Raises €10M To Recover Critical Raw Materials From Waste

The funding comes from impact investors Infinity Recycling, Green Generation Fund, Vent.io, the SPRIND agency, and other public sources, with support from the BayStartUP investor network.

With this new capital, WeSort.AI plans to expand the market presence of its AI sorting system and bolster European raw material sovereignty.

Founded in 2021, WeSort.AI develops AI-based analysis and sorting systems for the recycling industry, focusing on the recovery of critical raw materials. Its technology identifies electrical appliances, batteries, and other valuable materials, enabling their professional recycling.

Read Also - Madrid’s Webel Secures €4.3 Million Funding In Pre-Series A Round

The company highlights a major challenge for the circular economy: over 50% of discarded electrical appliances and batteries are not processed by specialized recyclers but end up in residual waste or household collection bins.

This not only causes fires in recycling plants but also results in the loss of valuable resources such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths materials the EU classifies as Critical Raw Materials (CRM), whose availability is essential for European strategic independence.

The EU Critical Raw Materials Act sets ambitious targets to reduce Europe’s dependency on imports as the continent currently relies heavily on rare earths from China, lithium from Chile and cobalt from Africa, creating economic and geopolitical risks.

WeSort.AI’s system in use since 2024 at waste management companies including KORN Recycling and PreZero (part of the Schwarz Group), both prevents fires and ensures the recovery of strategically important raw materials.

The latest €10 million funding round will support further scaling of WeSort.AI’s technology and aims to position the company as Europe’s leading provider of AI-powered critical raw material recovery.

Co-founders Nathanael Laier and Johannes Laier explain: “By recovering previously unused critical raw materials from waste, we are tapping into a previously untapped ‘urban mine’ and contributing directly to the implementation of EU requirements.”

“Our investment reflects our strong confidence in WeSort.AI’s business model and innovative technology. By preventing fires and recovering critical raw materials, WeSort.AI solves one of the industry’s biggest problems. This investment, our first in Germany, demonstrates our commitment to expanding the circular economy in Europe,” adds Nicky van ‘t Hof, Investments at Infinity Recycling.

About WeSort.AI

WeSort.AI develops AI-powered waste sorting systems that detect and separate materials with high precision. Using advanced sensors and AI analysis, the technology improves efficiency, material quality and plant safety. Its Battery.Sort solution identifies misdisposed lithium batteries and appliances reducing fire risks by up to 90% and ensuring safer, smarter recycling.