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Forsaking funding at a $1 billion valuation, Solugen preps a new green chemical product and a big 2021

TechCrunch

Late last year, Solugen , a startup using synthetic biology to take hydrocarbons out of the chemicals industry, decided against pursuing a new round of funding that would have valued the company at over $1 billion, TechCrunch has learned. Chemicals are everywhere and they’re a huge business.

Chemicals 230
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Dow turns to AI to accelerate chemical search

CIO

With several million compounds to choose from, chemists often must resort to intuition when trying to solve complex problems around chemical processes. US multinational Dow Chemical was working with a pulp and paper manufacturer to improve inefficiencies in its chemical process with a goal of producing a better, safer pulp yield.

Chemicals 143
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Katakem’s ‘robot chef’ speeds up drug development with reliable chemistry

TechCrunch

It occurred to him that automation and robotics could make the drug development process more predictable, and so he founded Katakem , one of the startups in the TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield 200. “The production of a chemical product is strictly regulated and standardized. Food and Drug Administration. Image Credits: Katakem.

Chemicals 211
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Magdrive secures seed funding for new propulsion system which could take us to the stars

TechCrunch

Magdrive is developing a next generation of spacecraft propulsion for small satellites. Chemical thrusters have high thrust but lack efficiency and are hazardous and expensive to handle. In order to do this right now, satellites require a chemical thruster, which requires a significant payload in fuel for launch.

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Novoloop says it’s worked out how to upcycle plastic waste, raises $11M Series A

TechCrunch

Upcycling polyethylene (the normal ubiquitous plastic we are all familiar with) into high-value plastics that can compete with “virgin” plastic (meaning plastics made directly from petro-chemicals) is a fiendish problem to solve. Novoloop is setting out to transform plastic waste into high-performance chemicals and materials.

Chemicals 222
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New Age Meats bites into $25M for cultured meat product line development

TechCrunch

CEO Brian Spears has a chemical engineering background and co-founded the company, which makes meat from animal cells, in 2018 after spending 12 years developing research laboratory and industry automation. “We

Culture 244
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Teatis, low-sugar superfood powders developer for diabetics, closes seed round

TechCrunch

Teatis develops a supplement for all consumers interested in low-sugar foods, as well as pre-diabetics, Takatoh said. A staggering number of Americans suffer from diabetes, and there is significant demand for diabetic-friendly foods that are nutritious, convenient and functional,” Takatoh said.