Author: john@thrupore.com

ThruPore Announces That Early Test Data for COVID-Killing Catalyst Shows Promise

Posted on by john@thrupore.com in News, Uncategorized

Company Plans to Launch Filter Treatment in Delaware First

New Castle, DE, November 13, 2020 – ThruPore Technologies Inc. announced today that early testing data from its recently awarded grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is showing promise. ThruPore is developing a new virus-killing chemical catalyst, which could enable low cost air purification in large buildings as early as Q1 2021. The company’s CEO, Dr. Franchessa Sayler, commented, “Early data on initial product efficacy has shown that we are able to kill small non-enveloped viruses that the EPA considers representative of emerging pathogens.”

ThruPore Technologies Inc. has its headquarters location in New Castle, DE. The company also announced today that Delaware’s New Castle County has awarded ThruPore an Innovation Grant of $167,000 to launch the new filter treatment product in Delaware First. The funding was allocated from the Federal CARES Act and New Castle County selected ThruPore as a winning recipient. ThruPore proposed to NCC a “Delaware First” rollout campaign, with the filter treatment product branded as “Dr. Filter”.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said, “We are very pleased to have a technical leadership company like ThruPore in our ecosystem and grateful they want to help our Community first.” ThruPore believes that being able to successfully filter viruses out of the air and kill them on contact will have tremendous economic impact leading to the successful re-opening of many office buildings. The Company plans to communicate in January of 2021 how property managers in Delaware can access ThruPore’s new product.

Additionally, ThruPore has announced that they will be working with NAI Emory Hill, a Delaware based property management company, to test the new product in their commercial office buildings. “We are very excited to be working with NAI Emory Hill’s team of experts and we greatly appreciate access to the buildings located in New Castle. This real-world test data is a critical step to get through the EPA Registration and have a successful launch of the Dr. Filter product”, said Sayler. Commonwealth Emory Hill owns the two buildings where testing will occur.

One major hurdle remaining for the Dr. Filter product is time involved with the EPA product registration, which is expected to be fast-tracked due to being related to COVID. “We’ve received some excellent help and guidance from Chris Wade at DNREC for working with the EPA to dramatically accelerate the product registrations process, which we truly need”, said John Currie, VP of Business Development at ThruPore. DNREC is Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

About Delaware’s New Castle County CARES Innovation Grants
New Castle County was awarded $322 million from the United States Treasury as part of the CARES Act. The County is investing in daily coronavirus testing, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), COVID-19 related reimbursement for municipalities and fire companies, housing assistance and specific emergency assistance programs for non-profit organizations. The County Executive convened a Task Force of six Committees to provide recommendations on additional spending priorities, resulting in the funding opportunities listed here. https://www.nccde.org/2036/CARES-Act

About ThruPore Technologies, Inc. http://www.thrupore.com
ThruPore Technologies is an innovative materials company that developed a unique carbon manufacturing platform. ThruPore was spun out of The University of Alabama in 2012. In 2014, ThruPore re-located its’ headquarters to New Castle, DE and has been awarded over $1.7 MM from the National Science Foundation to develop various technologies. ThruPore has developed over 50 customized catalysts for various chemical processes over the last 3 years.

About NAI Emory Hill http://www.naiemoryhill.com/
NAI Emory Hill is a completely full-service commercial and residential real estate firm serving Delaware and the surrounding counties of Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Founded in 1981, we have the resources to design, build, finance, lease, sell, manage and maintain commercial and residential properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

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ThruPore Awarded Grant from National Science Foundation to Make a Covid-Killing Filter Treatment

Posted on by john@thrupore.com in News

New Castle, DE, October 13, 2020 – ThruPore Technologies Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a new research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program provides seed funding for novel R&D. The award amount is $256,000 and will be used to develop a new virus-killing chemical catalyst. The award is significant in that it could be the 1st low-cost non-toxic approach to killing COVID-19 and other viruses. ThruPore will commercialize the product into air filtration and PPE markets if successful. The innovation could enable low cost air purification treatments for large buildings by Q3 2021.

ThruPore Technologies Inc. has locations in New Castle, DE and Birmingham, AL and develops customized chemical catalysts, which are critical ingredients in chemical processes. ThruPore’s innovation is their unique carbon manufacturing platform. Back in 2012-2014, ThruPore applied to the NSF and won it’s 1st R&D grant. The company delivered on its research and a figured out how to make highly porous synthetic carbon at large scale volumes. Unlike most chemical catalysts, ThruPore’s carbon works at room temperatures and low pressures.

“This award is a perfect fit for what we are good at — developing innovative catalysts that enable new chemistry and products”, said Dr. Franchessa Sayler, ThruPore’s CEO and Founder. Being synthetic, ThruPore has the unique ability to tune its carbon to different customer specifications. Organic carbon is known to have inconsistency in its structure and purity, being based on wood, charcoal or coconut shells, which nature tends to vary. ThruPore has developed over 50 customized catalysts for various chemical processes over the last 3 years.

The formal name of the award is an NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Grant, entitled, Antiviral Activity of Novel Nitrogen-Doped, Carbon Supported Catalysts Against Covid-19 Surrogates. “NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering,” said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.” Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR such as this, it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II grant, which awards up to $1,000,000. ThruPore has plans to apply as soon as critical data is achieved from Phase I.

The R&D work will start immediately and run through Q1 2021. The ideal outcome of the program will be a new activated carbon-supported chemical catalyst that deactivates COVID-19. The new catalyst will be packaged as low-cost treatmentsthat can be self-applied to air filters and PPE masks. The technical landscape is full of potential approaches to kill COVID. Disinfectants and “foggers” use harsh chemicals like bleach, which work on surfaces and can require contact times of up to 30 minutes to take effect. Disinfectants can be harmful to the skin and lungs. All of the ingredients used in ThruPore’s new catalyst are very safe and used in common products. ThruPore plans to go through all needed regulatory organizations, such as the EPA and FDA, to get its products certified.

Other technologies under consideration for air purification in buildings include high end filters (called HEPA), UV light systems, and plasma systems — all of which are very expensive and only cover small spaces. Many PPE already use activated carbon in higher end products as an absorbent, which captures certain particles including viruses. ThruPore’s product will go further, by capturing and killing viruses. Glen Gaddy, ThruPore’s lead investor, Board Member and Managing Member of Robin Hood Ventures said, “This NSF Grant will significantly put the company on an exciting trajectory, and the investors are thrilled with this win.” 

About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs

America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research Program. https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

About Robin Hood Ventures

Robin Hood Ventures is a group of angel investors, focused on early-stage, high-growth companies in the Greater Philadelphia region. We help entrepreneurs build great companies, providing capital, mentoring, expertise and connections to help companies reach their potential. Robin Hood generally invests $250k to $500k, and collaborates with angels, institutions and VCs in our network. We invest as a single entity in businesses we know and understand, in a way that gets deals done. Since 1999, we have invested in over 50 companies in industries including software, medical devices, biotech, internet and financial technology.

About ThruPore Technologies, Inc.

ThruPore Technologies is an innovative materials company that developed a unique carbon manufacturing platform. ThruPore was founded at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2012 and was launched in 2014 after winning a National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR Grant. ThruPore operates its labs and manufacturing facility in Birmingham, AL and its headquarters are in New Castle, DE.  www.thrupore.com

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Technical Advisory Board

Posted on by john@thrupore.com in Hiring

About the Company

ThruPore Technologies, Inc. is an advanced materials company that launched in 2012 and is focused on the development of high performance catalysts for the chemical industry. ThruPore is headquartered in Delaware and operates laboratories and manufacturing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

About the Position – Technical Advisory Board Member

ThruPore is forming a Technical Advisory Board, consisting of technical thought leaders from the chemical industry. The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and guidance regarding key technology trends for industrial chemical catalysts and adsorbents. The commitment level will be several hours per month, and we expect a 1-year Term. Responsibilities include advice and validation regarding product/market fit for ThruPore in both new and existing chemical processes. Compensation will be equity-based.

Contact:   email our CEO franchessa@thrupore.com

American Coatings Show

Posted on by john@thrupore.com in Uncategorized

April 10-12, Indianapolis Convention Center

The LEADING Global chemical pigments & coatings conference and exhibition.

Booth #2943 – Pflaumer Brothers

Founded 83 years ago, Pflaumer Brothers, Inc.  is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals based on proprietary technology for coatings, inks, plastics, metalworking fluids and lubricants, and electronics.  Pflaumer’s technology covers a broad range of chemistries, including polymerized phosphate esters, polyglycerol esters, surface-active polyesters and polyamides, polymerized isocyanates, polyurethanes, epoxies, polyaspartics, acrylic polymers, and specialty amines.  Pflaumer has developed considerable expertise in the synthesis and dispersion of crystals used as high-performance organic pigments and nano-technology, such as graphene nano-ribbons and graphene quantum dots, both crystals of carbon.

In 2008 the company purchased its current location, a 40,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Ewing, NJ.  The building is equipped with 5 loading docks, 5,000 amps of electricity, 114 ton chiller, compressed air  throughout the building, a trash compactor, a state-of-the-art dust collection system, four 6,000 gallon bulk storage tanks inside the building, as well as three separate laboratories with more than 300 linear feet of bench-top lab space and five fumed hoods.   The fully equipped laboratories consist of an applications lab, an analytical lab, and a synthesis lab.

– – – – – – – – – – – – –  Earlier Conferences   – – – – – – – – – – – –

ORGANIC PROCESS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

March 5-7,  Sheraton Sand Key Hotel, Clearwater Beach, FL

The LEADING Process Chemistry Conference and Exhibition

Click to open the OPRD-Conference-Brochure

ThruPore Announces $540,000 First Close of a $1 Million Seed Round led by Robin Hood Ventures

Posted on by john@thrupore.com in News
Philadelphia, PA (February 20, 2018) — ThruPore, the maker of catalysts for the multi-billion dollar chemical industry, has announced the first close of its $1 million seed round. The $540,000 investment was led by Philadelphia-based angel investor group Robin Hood Ventures alongside Delaware Crossing Investor Group (DCIG), marking ThruPore’s first institutional funding round.

The funds have been earmarked to expand ThruPore’s customer acquisition and product manufacturing efforts. In the coming weeks, the company is expected to close the round at up to $1 million, including funding from angel investors in Alabama where the company was formed.

ThruPore Technologies was cofounded in 2012 at the The University of Alabama by CEO Dr. Franchessa Sayler and Professor Martin Bakker. As a graduate student, Sayler was approached by a staff scientist who was dissatisfied with the performance of current catalysts. She saw an opportunity to apply the technology developed in Bakker’s lab to make a better catalyst. Sayler figured out how to control the pore size of a catalyst’s support structures, creating 50 percent more accessible surface area and producing a catalyst that is six times more active than its competitors.

Though Robin Hood is well known for funding early stage technology companies, the opportunity to support chemical process innovations in this stage is unique. Because such innovations can require large capital expenditures, they are often led by corporations rather than startups. Beyond this, ThruPore boasted a patented innovation and a CEO with unrivaled subject matter expertise.

By investing in ThruPore, Robin Hood Ventures will add to a portfolio of women-owned and female-founded businesses such as Lia Diagnostics and tassl.

“I am excited to see that Robin Hood Ventures has taken the initiative to help close the gender gap in funding for women-led tech ventures,” said Sayler.

Robin Hood first connected with Sayler through one of its members, Glen Gaddy, PhD. Currently Gaddy is the Chair of Mid-Atlantic Diamond Ventures, an organization that helps early-stage technology and innovation-based companies acquire funding and build sustainable businesses. As part of Robin Hood’s mentorship, Gaddy will join ThruPore’s Board.

“Universities are a catalyst for exciting ideas, but it can be a challenge getting their innovations into the industry’s hands,” said Gaddy. “Franchessa has not only the expertise in the chemical process industry, but the product to prove it. Robin Hood has been very impressed by what she has accomplished so far, and is excited to see how this investment will help ThruPore grow.”

“A product that reduces cost and improves yield is a real differentiator,” said Antonio Tedesco, a DCIG member since 2008. “ThruPore’s catalyst sets chemical manufacturers apart from their competitors. DCIG is confident in Franchessa’s ability to drive this value. DCIG is excited to be a part of it and pleased to invest with Robin Hood, a trusted partner.” Antonio led DCIG’s due diligence and joins ThruPore’s Board.

ThruPore also has a long lineage of National Science Foundation (NSF) support, dating back to the original innovation at The University of Alabama in 2008. NSF has invested over $1.1 million in ThruPore through the SBIR and I-Corps Programs. “The National Science Foundation has been critical in de-risking our technology by providing funding to develop and scale-up our innovation,” said Sayler. With the capital raised in this round, ThruPore will also be eligible for a potential two-to-one matching grant through the NSF SBIR Phase IIB Program.

About ThruPore Technologies, Inc.
ThruPore Technologies is an innovative materials company focusing its 1st product in the chemical catalyst industry. ThruPore was founded at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2012 and was launched in 2014 after winning a National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR Grant. ThruPore operates labs and has manufacturing in Tuscaloosa, AL and has headquarters in New Castle, DE.

About Robin Hood Ventures
Robin Hood Ventures is a group of angel investors, focused on early-stage, high-growth companies in the Greater Philadelphia region. We help entrepreneurs build great companies, providing capital, mentoring, expertise and connections to help companies reach their potential. Robin Hood generally invests up to $1 million over the lifetime of a company, and collaborates with angels, institutions and VCs in our network. We invest as a single entity in businesses we know and understand, in a way that gets deals done. Since 1999, we have invested in over 65 companies in industries including software, medical devices, biotech, internet and financial technology. For more information on Robin Hood Ventures portfolio companies like ThruPore, visit here.

About Delaware Crossing Investor Group (DCIG)
Delaware Crossing Investor Group DCIG is a network of former and current executives and entrepreneurs who provide counsel and capital to early-stage companies. Over the past 13 years, members have backed entrepreneurs and their companies with investment capital and key domain expertise across a wide array of industries. Most of DCIG’s investments are in the Mid-Atlantic Region and often in conjunction with other Angel groups and early stage venture capitalists. DCIG meets monthly alternating between Doylestown, PA and Princeton, NJ.