meet the team
Powering Our Mission
Yousef Gorji
Co-founder & CEO
Yousef Gorji has a demonstrated background spanning commodity trading, manufacturing, and mining technologies. He began his career at BTG Pactual in London, Latin America’s largest investment bank, where he managed the movement of mineral concentrates and physical metal cargo to clients and warehouses worldwide. He later joined Intertek in its Oil & Gas division, based in Geneva, quickly advancing to the role of Global Key Account Manager for a tier-1 oil and gas client.
Yousef also worked with Wood Mackenzie, a globally known consultancy in natural resources, where he developed client strategies in the metals and mining sector across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the last 5 years, he has focused on entrepreneurial ventures, pursuing innovation in mining and metal processing technologies to address critical material demands.
Yousef is an ambassador for the Commodity Trading Club, the world’s largest commodities community. He has also participated as a speaker at global events, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he has addressed topics such as critical minerals and sustainability.
Yousef holds a BSc in Mathematics from Queen Mary, University of London, and an MSc in Commodity Trading from the University of Geneva.
Yousef Gorji has a demonstrated background spanning commodity trading, manufacturing, and mining technologies. He began his career at BTG Pactual in London, Latin America’s largest investment bank, where he managed the movement of mineral concentrates and physical metal cargo to clients and warehouses worldwide. He later joined Intertek in its Oil & Gas division, based in Geneva, quickly advancing to the role of Global Key Account Manager for a tier-1 oil and gas client.
Yousef also worked with Wood Mackenzie, a globally known consultancy in natural resources, where he developed client strategies in the metals and mining sector across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the last 5 years, he has focused on entrepreneurial ventures, pursuing innovation in mining and metal processing technologies to address critical material demands.
Yousef is an ambassador for the Commodity Trading Club, the world’s largest commodities community. He has also participated as a speaker at global events, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he has addressed topics such as critical minerals and sustainability.
Yousef holds a BSc in Mathematics from Queen Mary, University of London, and an MSc in Commodity Trading from the University of Geneva.
David Fourie
Co-founder & CTO
David Fourie has 25 years of experience in extractive metallurgy and chemical engineering. David’s began his career at Mintek, where he led research projects in pyrometallurgy, developing innovative process flow sheets, and conducted thermodynamic modelling for international clients. His contributions earned him a position within the team that developed a novel Magnesium Process.
He later joined Hatch as a Senior Engineer, where he consulted clients on metallurgical furnace design, and managed technical and operational reviews for large-scale projects. David has held commercial roles managing smelting operations, including an executive position at a large scale integrated metal plant that successfully led the ramp-up and optimization of a 20,000-ton per annum facility.
David is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He holds a bachelors in Chemical Engineering and masters in Extractive Metallurgy from University of Stellenbosch. In 2024, he completed an MBA at the University of Cape Town.
David Fourie has 25 years of experience in extractive metallurgy and chemical engineering. David’s began his career at Mintek, where he led research projects in pyrometallurgy, developing innovative process flow sheets, and conducted thermodynamic modelling for international clients. His contributions earned him a position within the team that developed a novel Magnesium Process.
He later joined Hatch as a Senior Engineer, where he consulted clients on metallurgical furnace design, and managed technical and operational reviews for large-scale projects. David has held commercial roles managing smelting operations, including an executive position at a large scale integrated metal plant that successfully led the ramp-up and optimization of a 20,000-ton per annum facility.
David is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He holds a bachelors in Chemical Engineering and masters in Extractive Metallurgy from University of Stellenbosch. In 2024, he completed an MBA at the University of Cape Town.
Dr. Jan Imholze
Advisor
Alicia Eastman
Advisor