Graphano Energy Announces Strategic Earn-In into Graphite-Enabled Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology
Graphano Energy Ltd. (GEL) announced a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 3D Genesis Technologies to fund and earn up to a 39% equity interest in a newly formed joint venture company (JVCo). The JVCo will hold the APIC (Advanced Particle Induction Casting) technology and related international patent application (PCT/IB2025/058612). The transaction requires up to $800,000 in cash and 2,000,000 common shares, disbursed across four milestone-based earn-in stages contingent on independently verified technical progress.
The strategic move vertically integrates Graphano's core graphite focus into high-value advanced manufacturing, positioning the company at the intersection of critical minerals and metal 3D printing. Graphano holds a right of first refusal over future JVCo equity and a right to provide additional development funding at a fixed rate. Conditions precedent to the transaction include the execution of a definitive agreement, receipt of all requisite corporate and regulatory approvals, and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.
Under the terms of the MOU, Graphano’s earn-in stages are structured as follows:
- Earn-in Stage 1: $125,000 cash, 0 shares → 5% cumulative interest. Focus: Signing, IP protection, procurement of priority items and long-lead equipment.
- Earn-in Stage 2: $200,000 cash, 400,000 shares → 15% cumulative interest. Focus: Independent material characterization.
- Earn-in Stage 3: $275,000 cash, 700,000 shares → 27% cumulative interest. Focus: Integrated system and single-material demonstration.
- Earn-in Stage 4: $200,000 cash, 900,000 shares → 39% cumulative interest. Focus: Multi-material demonstration.
Cash and share payments are released only upon independently verified milestones. Graphano has no obligation to fund further stages if milestones are not met and retains equity earned from completed stages.
The APIC technology is a metal additive manufacturing process that fuses metal nanoparticle inks into fully dense parts, using graphite as the active thermal medium. The broader metal AM market was approximately $6 billion in 2025, with projections of $13 billion to $23 billion by the early-to-mid 2030s. The technology is currently at an early, segmented prototype stage with proof-of-concept results; the funded program aims to advance it to a validated, integrated prototype through systematic, independently verified milestones.
Luisa Moreno, CEO, stated: "This arrangement reflects Graphano's strategy of building value around graphite, not only as a critical battery material, but also as an enabling material for advanced manufacturing... We see this as a logical extension of Graphano's graphite strategy by vertically integrating into high-value advanced manufacturing applications."