DOE, USDA hand out $24M to biomass projects
Biomass is often overlooked in favor of sexier renewable energy sources like solar and wind — it’s dirty, capital intensive and not emissions free — but it is one of the only drop-in technologies in the alternative fuel space (meaning that it will work with legacy technology, traditional gas tanks and the like). Finally, it has captured the attention of the Department of Energy, which partnered with the Department of Agriculture to give out $24.4… Continue Reading
Amyris takes $24.7M for renewable biofuels
Amyris Biotechnologies, one of the best-funded companies deriving biofuels from synthetic microorganisms, has raised $24.75 million of a targeted $62 million third round of venture financing, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Emeryville, Calif. company has raised an impressive $120 million before now.
Both Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers have invested in Amyris — also setting it apart as one of the companies to watch in the… Continue Reading
Gevo raises another $17M for synthetic biofuels
Gevo, the Pasadena, Calif., based developer of synthetic biofuels just wrapped up a $17 million third round of funding. New investors Burrill & Co. and Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund joined cleantech regulars Khosla Ventures and Virgin Green Fund; the biofuel start-up has already raised over $30 million since the beginning of last year.
Like competitors LS9, OPX Biotechnologies and Amyris (see our prior coverage here, here and here), Gevo is trying to change the face… Continue Reading
Gevo, biofuel company, gets money from Branson’s Virgin Fuels
Gevo, a biofuel company seeking to create replacements for gasoline and jet-fuel, has raised an undisclosed amount in a second round of financing from Virgin Fuels and Khosla Ventures.
Entrepreneur Richard Branson formed Virgin Fuels last year to make investments in renewable energy companies.
The investment in Pasadena, Calif. Gevo is part of an effort to find an alternative airline fuel for his Virgin Airways. Branson burns $1 billion of fuel a year, and feels bad about… Continue Reading
LS9 and Gevo latest biofuel companies, backed by Khosla Ventures
LS9 and Gevo are the two latest biofuel start-ups in Silicon Valley backed by venture capital firm Khosla Ventures.
LS9, of San Carlos, was first mentioned by the Mercury News after it launched recently. It is using synthetic biology to produce proprietary biofuels that resemble petroleum — but which are designed to be “renewable, clean, domestically produced, and cost competitive.”
It was founded in 2005 by Khosla Ventures, Flagship Ventures, along with two scientists, Chris Somerville,… Continue Reading