Ethanol Producer Magazine announced this week the six companies selected to pitch to a group of investors at Pitch Day at the 2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), taking place June 10-12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pitch Day at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo has also been selected as a Regional Competition site for Startup World Cup. The pitch event will see contestants judged by a panel of venture capitalists, with the winner attending the grand finale in California’s Silicon Valley to compete against semifinalists from across the globe for the $1 million investment prize. The judging panel will consist of venture capitalist organizations aimed at supporting startup growth.

“There are countless innovations happening in the ethanol industry,” said John Nelson, vice president of operations, sales, and marketing at BBI International. “Giving companies the opportunity to pitch new technology to investors is a prime example of how Ethanol Producer Magazine is committed to the overall growth and success of the ethanol industry.”

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).

“The International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is thrilled to announce these six companies selected to present at Pitch Day at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo,” said Marla DeFoe, marketing and advertising manager at BBI International. “Partnering with Pegasus Tech Ventures as a regional host for Startup World Cup expands the investment opportunities for these companies to gain even more exposure and investment opportunities.”

Anis Uzzaman, founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures, added, "We are thrilled to partner up with BBI International for Startup World Cup Regional in Minneapolis and are delighted by the quality and enthusiasm of the competing startups. Each year, we reach more entrepreneurs in more cities around the world, connecting more global innovation ecosystems. Critical to meeting climate goals and sustainability, innovation within climate tech is important to Pegasus Tech Ventures, and we are excited to be working with BBI International to initiate our first vertical-based regionals within this key sector."

Investors who are interested in attending Pitch Day at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop can do so by contacting Marla DeFoe at mdefoe@bbiinternational.com.

The largest ethanol conference in the world, the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is expected to draw nearly 2,500 attendees, including 600 biofuels producers from around the world, and more than 380 exhibitors. Now in its 40th year, this conference is an industry staple and a must-attend for those involved in the ethanol industry.