Pitch Day Event
Connecting Emerging Ethanol Start-ups with Capital
On Wednesday, June 12th, the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo will be hosting two 90-minute pitch sessions for startups in the ethanol industry. All pitches will be open-door. Each finalist will receive 10 minutes to pitch, followed by a 10 minute Q&A session with a panel of judges and other investors in attendance. While only one startup will be selected to compete in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, all presenting companies will have opportunities for investment from the group of investors in attendance.
The six companies selected to give an in-person pitch at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo are:
- Universal Fuel Technologies
Universal Fuel Technologies is licensing its proprietary chemical technology, Flexiforming, to make sustainable aviation fuel and renewable chemicals from a wide range of feedstocks including alcohols, ethers, and naphtha. The technology is 50% cheaper and generates 75% less emissions than alternatives. Unifuel signed up its first customer in 2024, and 15 other companies are in the sales pipeline. Its $5M seed investment round is scheduled to close in early July, term sheet with lead investor signed.
- CapCO2 Solutions
CapCO2 Solutions is building a network of small, modular green methanol factories distributed across the ethanol heartland. Their patented green fuel technology reduces ethanol plant CI scores by 25 points (GREET verified). They leverage the CO2 coming from ethanol plants to make valuable new products and deliver $100M new revenues. Their first customer is Adkins Energy in Lena, IL and will be in operation this summer. They are focused on green methanol now, with low carbon SAF in the future.
- G2B BioSolutions Aps
G2B BioSolutions Aps is committed to transform food waste to higher value products like bioethanol, high protein for aquafeed along with CO2 capture using their innovative technology SustainMax to create a strong circular bioeconomy. G2B BioSolutions is now ready for commercial scale up.
- Rondo Energy
Rondo is purpose-built for industrial facilities. Its Heat Batteries are constructed from proven, durable materials and are designed for seamless integration with existing industrial equipment and processes. Whether deployed as a drop-in replacement for retiring fossil-fueled heating equipment or as a resilient complement to existing systems, Rondo requires no disruptive changes to customers' operations.
Rondo currently operates the world's highest temperature, highest efficiency commercial energy storage system, at Calgren Renewable Fuels in Pixley, California. Working with its partner Siam Cement Group (SCG), Rondo is expanding the production capacity of its storage media from its current 2 GWh/yr to an industry-leading 90 GWh per year. Rondo Energy is headquartered in Alameda, California.
- Phase Biolabs
Phase Biolabs is a biotech startup that makes chemicals and e-fuels from carbon dioxide using fermentation. Their carbon recycling technology helps industrial emitters decarbonize by converting their waste CO2 into new revenue streams. Backed by leading climate investors including Bill Gates, through his Breakthrough Energy Foundation, Phase’s technology uses proprietary and engineered microorganisms that are six times more efficient and 100 times faster at converting CO2 into electrofuels than typical plants or algae.
- Proof Energy
Proof Energy is commercializing next-generation Metallic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (M-SOFC) technology developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
Proof Energy's breakthrough M-SOFCs use ethanol and other renewable hydrogen carrier fuels to deliver cost-competitive carbon-neutral solutions for clean transportation and stationary power applications.
In response to immediate customer needs Proof Energy is commercializing its zero-emissions ethanol-fueled ClearTherm™ Range Defender™ heater in 2024 to maintain winter driving range of Battery Electric vehicles (BEVs).
Interested in becoming an Angel Investor?
Looking to invest in up-and-coming technologies, solutions or services in the ethanol industry? Consider attending our pitch day as an investor.
On Wednesday, June 12th, the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo will be hosting two 90-minute pitch sessions for startups in the ethanol industry.
To apply to sit in the room as an investor, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- The federal securities laws define the term "accredited investor" in Rule 501 of Regulation D, in part, as: "a natural person who has individual net worth, or joint net worth with the person's spouse, that exceeds $1 million at the time of the purchase [of securities], excluding the value of the primary residence of such person, or a natural person with income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with a spouse exceeding $300,000 for those years and a reasonable expectation of the same income level in the current year."
- Individuals who represent an investment firm or state enterprise may also qualify. Consult your advisors to determine your status as an accredited investor.
All pitches will be open door.
A steering committee will select the six finalists who will be giving their pitches at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Those six finalists will be announced by May 24, 2024.
About Startup World Cup
Startup World Cup was created by Pegasus Tech Ventures to celebrate entrepreneurship around the world. Startup World Cup is a global series of conferences and competitions that bring together the top startups, investors, entrepreneurs, media, and tech CEOs around the world. Starting with thousands of applications for regional competitions in approximately 50 countries across six continents, hundreds of selected startups compete for the chance to move onto the Grand Finale event in San Francisco to win a $1 million investment grand prize. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures in partnership with investors and local sponsors.
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