GlycosBio: 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile
Glycos Biotechnologies
Based in: Texas
2008-09 ranking: Unranked
Business: GlycosBio uniquely discovered a number of microorganisms that biologically make green chemical intermediates from a variety of low value carbon feedstocks, like glycerol and free fatty acids. By not following the typical “sugars” based fermentation research, GlycosBio and biorefinery partners are protected from the commodity risk and single feedstock business models that have historically plagued the biofuels and alternative energy industries. GlycosBio has engineered a series of metabolic pathways that produce nearly a dozen chemical intermediaries. GlycosBio’s microorganisms produce diols, acids, and fuel alcohols’ – ethanol and butanol. Major investors are Draper Fisher Jurvetson and DFJ Mercury.
Model: Licensing to biorefinery partners. GlycosBio creates microbes and process technologies that are licensed to joint venture biorefineries. Partnership opportunities exist for chemical companies, palm oil companies, biorefiners, biofuel producers – ethanol and biodiesel plants. The partners then use the microbes to biologically produce higher value chemicals from traditionally low value carbon co-product streams.
Past milestones:
1. 250 liter pilot facility implemented
Future milestones:
1. In 2010-11, the company expects to have its first commercial-scale facilities online
Metrics: Partner biorefineries that choose to license GlycosBio’s microbial strains to convert feedstocks into higher value chemicals can increase product values between 10-15 times the original value of the carbon feedstock source.
GlycosBio quotable quotes: “GlycosBio’s genetically engineered microbial strains are available today to partner biorefineries. ”
“GlycosBio’s proprietary technology provides an alternative approach to traditional corn or sugar-based biofuel and chemical production. By creating microbial strains that can convert low-value glycerin, or non-sugar based feedstocks, into higher value chemicals, GlycosBio can help partner biorefineries create greater yields as well as an energy balance that solves the food-verse-fuel debate. Through this business model, GlycosBio’s bioconversion technologies will enable the rapid implementation of a biorefinery leveraging existing infrastructure to increase plant product diversity and business profits. The additional revenue and profitability generated by diversifying into higher value chemicals creates a financial sustainability the industry has long sought.”
The Hot 50 for 2009-10 will be released Tuesday, 12/1. Between now and then, you’ll see profiles of potential candidates in the Digest, and you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorites. Reader response will count for 50 percent of a company’s overall score in the preparation of the rankings. The remaining 50 percent is voted by a panel of experts.
Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter
Subscribe FREE to the world's most-widely read biofuels daily. Enter your email in the box below,
Related Stories
Hot Topics
The Hottest 50 Companies in Bioenergy
Latest algae-to-energy news
Latest jatropha news
Latest Waste-to-energy news
Entry Information
Filed Under: Producer News
Post a Comment | Trackback URL
You must be logged in to post a comment.
