Durin has raised $3.4 million in a pre-seed funding round to innovate the drilling process for critical minerals exploration. Founded by Ted Feldmann, the startup aims to integrate robotics into drilling operations, reducing the heavy reliance on human labor, which accounts for 60% of costs in conventional methods. Durin's first drilling rig, capable of reaching 300 meters deep, is currently under development and equipped with sensors to collect data for future automation. The company anticipates that unattended drill rigs could become a reality within two to three years, streamlining operations significantly.