#chemtechvalley

[desustainablechemistry]

Investors are pouring billions into the alternative plastics industry — and these companies are racing to deliver

More than $30 trillion in global investments are driving companies to innovate new forms of plastic that can be recycled over and over.

[desustainablechemistry]

Hot Off The Press!  Congratulations to Round 2 Recipients of STEM Class EDGE Grants

WILMINGTON, Del. – A bio-based materials company, a maker of wearable medical sensors, and a bakery-café were among the 10 Delaware small businesses recognized Thursday as awardees of the second round of EDGE Grants from the state Division of Small Business.

Governor John Carney, Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, and Division of Small Business Director Damian DeStefano announced the companies at an event Thursday at the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington.

“It is incredible to see what the innovative entrepreneurs in this state are accomplishing,” said Governor Carney. “Their companies span a wide range of industries, but the one thing the owners share is the drive and determination necessary to start then grow their businesses. I am glad the State is able to support their work through initiatives like the EDGE Grant program.”

EDGE Grants provide a 3-to-1 match for each dollar an eligible business spends on qualified expenses that improve the company’s long-term chances of success, from market analysis to website design to acquiring essential equipment.

The State awarded grants this round to 10 companies, listed below. Five STEM Class companies are receiving a total of $495,000, and five Entrepreneur Class businesses are receiving a total of $216,000.

“EDGE Grants are helping to level the playing field for promising Delaware small companies as they compete with more established, larger businesses,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “And this program is just one of the many ways the Division of Small Business, since it was created under the Department of State three years ago, has made a strong, positive impact on the state’s economy by assisting hardworking business owners.”

EDGE launched in May, and the first grant round took place over the summer. In the second round, which opened in September, almost 100 businesses applied for funding.

Sixteen finalists – eight STEM Class and eight Entrepreneur Class – gave public presentations before a panel of expert judges on December 18 and 19 at Delaware Tech in Dover, after which five winners in each category were chosen.

“Several companies that applied in the first round but were not successful in winning a grant took advantage of the opportunity to work with the Division’s business resource managers to strengthen their applications for this time around,” said Division Director Damian DeStefano. “That is what this program is about. The grant funding is incredibly important to those who win, but EDGE also provides a way for all applicants learn how to improve their businesses.”

STEM class Award Recipients

2M LLC (Wilmington) This company makes an extremely fast-charging and safe battery, which can enable a less than 10-minute charge for E-mobility applications, such as enabling an electric vehicle to go 200 miles on a 10-minute charge. 2M will use the grant to scale up production to meet customer demand.

4th Phase Water Technologies (Wilmington) This company is focused on commercializing binder-free carbon nanotube sheets made using its proprietary processes. The sheets are superior filtration/separation membranes and electromagnetic interference shielding material for a host of industries including bioprocessing, defense, consumer electronics and automotive. The company will use its grant to acquire additional lab equipment and for marketing.

Lignolix (Wilmington) This company is developing sustainable products from biomass, such as that which is produced in beer manufacturing. It will use the grant to scale up its chemical process, increase production capacity and attract larger commercial customers.

MCET Technologies (Wilmington) This company developed a way of integrating sensors into textiles that can be used to monitor a patient during physical rehabilitation. It will use the grant to scale up manufacturing to increase production and expand applications.

Veramorph Materials (Wilmington) This company developed a hydrogel-based system that allows the body to absorb pharmaceuticals more efficiently. It will use its grant for critical equipment for R&D services for pharmaceutical companies and to conduct toxicology studies.

Entrepreneur class Award Recipients

Best Music Coach (Dover) This company offers online music lessons for voice and various instruments including guitar and piano. It will use its grant to upgrade its online platform and add online learning materials.

Dolce Bakery and Coffee Shop (Milford) This bakery-café will use the grant to upgrade its equipment and market its new services and a second Milford location scheduled to open later this year.

Fur Baby Tracker (Wilmington) This woman-owned company will use its grant to roll out the mobile app it developed that lets pet parents track the progress of their cat or dog’s treatment during a stay at a veterinary hospital.

Volunteer Brewing Company (Middletown) This family-owned craft brewing company located in downtown Middletown will use its grant to purchase new brewing and fermentation equipment to expand production.

WilmInvest (Wilmington) This company purchases and renovates single-family homes in Wilmington which it leases to nonprofits and governmental entities to house families in need of housing and supportive services. It will use the grant to purchase and renovate additional homes.

The Division of Small Business is currently accepting applications for the next round of EDGE Grants. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Media Contact:

Michael Chesney Director of Communications [email protected] [phone] (office) [phone] (mobile)Media Contact

[desustainablechemistry]

Congratulations to Growing Startup RiKarbon on DOE Award

Above:  Dr. Basu Saha in his lab at Delaware Technology Park.  Photo © Meghan Sapp, BioFuels Digest

RiKarbon is a growing startup that we are expecting great things from here in Delaware.  Founded by Dr. Basu Saha and originating from his research at the University of Delaware, this cutting-edge startup was recently awarded a $1.049 million SBIR Phase II grant from the DOE to produce environmentally beneficial lubricants. Dr. Saha’s work will use renewable carbon sources to produce products that will drive sustainability and minimize adverse environmental effects by reducing our dependence on the petroleum-based lubricants currently in use.

RiKarbon will use the DOE funding to focus on producing environmentally acceptable bio-lubricants for applications that have an especially high risk of accidental leakage, such as hydropower production.  Current lubricants consist of 75-90% base oil (usually petroleum-based) plus additives. RiKarbon focuses instead on combining biomolecules from plant-based natural oils (including coconut oil, corn husks, wood chips, vegetable oil) to match the efficacy of petroleum oil. The result is the ability to produce a range of high-efficacy base oils with increased flexibility for formulators and end-users, reduced regulatory challenges, and the potential to reduce the number of additives in end-use formulas. And, of course, these base oils are environmentally friendly. RiKarbon will showcase its products and technology at the 11th annual CEATI Hydropower Conference to be held in Palm Springs from March 2nd to March 4th, 2020.

Says Dr. Saha, “Our bio-lubricant products from sustainably sourced carbon have the ability of mitigate regulatory challenges of equipment operators, lubricant formulators and end-users for applications possessing high risks of accidental discharge. In addition, our products will promote environmental ecosystems and minimize the carbon footprint.”

Outside the DOE grant,  RiKarbon recently entered a Joint Development Agreement with a partner to collaborate and jointly develop lubricant products using RiKarbon’s innovative chemistries and the partner’s formulation and manufacturing expertise.

RiKarbon is another example of Delaware’s hugely co-operative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founded in 2018, the company received an STTR grant of $150,000 which enabled the team to develop their product on a small scale. They have also participated in DESCA’s TechConnect Workshops and Investor Showcase. Today, RiKarbon is housed at Delaware Technology Park on the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus, a state-of-the-art laboratory incubation space with access to resources required by development-stage companies to drive and accelerate their business and are in the process of hiring additional staff to meet their growing needs.  

To learn more about RiKarbon, visit their website at www.rikarbon.com

[desustainablechemistry]

AlgiKnit is Hiring!

AlgiKnit is a biomaterials company integrating science and design into textile production. Addressing the ecological damage caused by the fashion industry, AlgiKnit is creating durable yet rapidly degradable yarns, envisioning the next generation of sustainable, wearable and ethical materials, produced within a closed-loop life cycle.  Visit www.algiknit.com to learn more.

This growing business has three opportunities currently available:

Mechanical Engineer

Strategic Operations Associate

Marketing Internship

Please email a copy of your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. 

[desustainablechemistry]

WHY CHEMTECH?  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER.

[desustainablechemistry]

NEWS RELEASE:  DESCA Brings Together Chemistry, Tech for 1st- of-its-Kind ChemTech Conference in Delaware

Wilmington, DE, December 2, 2019:  Back in March of this year, DESCA Board Chair and White Dog Labs CEO Bryan Tracy wrote an op-ed urging us to Imagine Delaware as a Leader in the ChemTech Arena.  This idea is one step closer as DESCA launches what it hopes will be an Annual Conference that positions Delaware as a ChemTech Valley Hub.  

Slated for February 19-20, 2020 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, the event will bring together tech companies and chemical/science manufacturing to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the digital transformation of the chemistry, biochemistry, advanced materials, animal health and nutrition industries and has already garnered interest from major players in all of these areas.

The two-day event – the first of its kind in Delaware – is being organized by a Committee of business and industry leaders from organizations such as Perdue Farms, Dupont, Delaware Innovation Space, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and others.  It will cover topics such as Digital Technologies and Operational Excellence in Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Marketing & Sales, R&D Acceleration, Alternative Transaction Models, Cybersecurity, as well as Investment Models in this landscape.  It will also feature round table discussions for more intimate discussions around specific topics, as well as offer the opportunity for attendees to arrange mutual one-on-one meetings.  Among the companies participating in panel discussions are Solenis, PTC, Dupont, Cyber2020, MagnifyOne, Chemours, Perdue Farms, Predictive Analytics.

When asked why this topic is important for Delaware, newly-appointed DESCA Executive Director Dora Cheatham says, “The chemical industry landscape is evolving rapidly and while many companies have already been using digital technologies on the manufacturing side, data analytics and AI can open the door to an entirely new product-line of high-value offerings and business models. We’re only just seeing the tip of the iceberg and by bringing together these two industries, the leveraging of their core competencies can have tremendous impact on driving sustainability and economic growth.”  

More information about the event as well as background on Digital Transformation in the Chemical Industry can be found on DESCA ‘s website at www.desustainablechem.org.

[desustainablechemistry]

NEWS RELEASE:  DESCA Names Dora Cheatham as Executive Director

Above:  Dora Cheatham – Executive Director, Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance

Wilmington, DE, December 1, 2019:  DESCA is pleased to announce that Dora Cheatham will take on the role of Executive Director as the organization looks to broaden and expand its Entrepreneurial and Economic Development efforts.

Says Board Chairman Bryan Tracy, “Dora has been involved with DESCA over the last few years as we’ve focused on validating our hypotheses as they relate to the needs of entrepreneurs, technologists and industry.  Our goal is to ensure that Delaware builds on its 100 year legacy of innovation to drive the next 100 years of innovation and position Delaware as a ChemTech hub.”

Dora brings with her a background in International Business Development and entrepreneurship, and most recently led Entrepreneurial and Economic Development efforts at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce.  Her global background in new product development and commercialization, as well as her knowledge of industry and economic development needs developed throughout her time with DESCA and the Chamber of Commerce make her the ideal choice to lead DESCA to its next level of growth that will include increased levels of collaboration with academia, industry and government.

Says Ms. Cheatham, “We are fortunate at DESCA to have an active and supportive Board that is extremely forward thinking when it comes to thinking about driving programming that benefits not just entrepreneurs but supports the overall Delaware economy and ensures that the state not only continues its legacy, but is also recognized as a hub of innovation and economic development.  Our focus will be on partnerships, collaboration and ensuring that Delaware is deserving of the “ChemTech Valley” moniker.”

ABOUT DESCA

Formed in 2010, the mission of DESCA is to enable innovators and pioneers in materials, chemicals, renewable energy, water conservation, agri-science commercialize their technologies faster.  Working with thought leaders in industry, government, and academia, DESCA helps link resources in ways that can both optimize the funding essential for R&D and translate the benefits of new and sustainable discoveries into commercial opportunities.

www.desustainablechem.org

[desustainablechemistry]

Sunya Norman of Salesforce speaks during a recent discussion on technology innovation in sustainability, hosted by thinkPARALLAX. Also pictured: Mike Hower; Laura Franceschini, Google; and Bruce Klafter, Flex.