San Francisco Startup Tuurny Builds AI Robot to 'Mine' Electronic Waste for Critical Chips

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A San Francisco startup Tuurny announced it is developing a platform that solves world’s two massive, contradictory problems: a critical shortage of computer chips and a growing mountain of electronic waste.

The company, currently in its prototyping phase, is building an AI-powered robot that does what was previously thought impossible: it intelligently "mines" old electronics for valuable components, keeping them perfectly usable.

For decades, e-waste recycling has meant "shredding" a brute-force process that destroys billions of dollars in valuable chips, connectors, magnets, and capacitors, leaving only a low-grade scrap commodity. Tuurny’s autonomous "scalpel" approach is different.

Using computer vision, the system looks at a circuit board, identifies all the valuable parts, and then uses precision robotics to surgically remove them without damage. This proprietary process creates a new, high-margin, and secure supply of tested and documented parts from our own domestic waste.

"Shredding electronics is like putting a classic Ferrari into a car crusher just to sell the metal as scrap," said Sina Ghashghaei, CEO of Tuurny. "You've just destroyed a priceless engine and transmission to get a few dollars of steel. We're the expert mechanics who surgically remove that engine, certify its condition, and make it ready for a new chassis. We are turning a toxic waste stream into a secure, high-value resource."

The timing for this technology is critical. As global supply chains remain volatile, Tuurny is creating a new, domestic supply chain by on-shoring critical materials that are already here.

The company's advanced approach has gained significant validation:

• NASA Grant: Tuurny was awarded a grant from NASA to collaborate with Texas A&M on the development of its advanced computer vision brain.
• NVIDIA Inception: The company was accepted into the NVIDIA Inception program, which supports startups revolutionizing industries with AI.
• While the platform is designed to extract value from all electronics, its unique documentation capabilities solve a critical challenge for high-stakes industries like aerospace and defense.

"Many long-life defense platforms rely on 'sunset' or legacy electronic components that are no longer in production," added Sina Ghashghaei. "Sourcing these obsolete parts is a massive logistical and security challenge, with a high risk of counterfeit infiltration. Our system addresses this head-on by creating a digital certificate for every component it removes from trusted hardware, proving exactly where it came from. This provides a direct, automated way to comply with the Pentagon’s stringent DFARS 252.246-7007 (Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance System) mandate."

Based in San Francisco with a warehouse in Texas, Tuurny is currently raising a Seed round to expand its engineering team, complete its first production-intent system, and launch its first paid pilot programs.