EcoGrains

Startup
Summarized by Halo AI

EcoGrains is a biotech company that converts agricultural waste into cost-competitive, drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using patented microbial technology licensed from Sandia National Laboratories.

Founded & HQ
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Company size
1-10 employees
Funding
~$5K
IP status
1 patent filed · 2 grants confirmed
Activity highlights
Joined the 2025 mHUB mPOWER Program and the 2025 Nucleate Chicago Activator cohort to scale its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) microbial technology.

EcoGrains is a biotechnology and chemical-engineering company that focuses on decarbonizing the aviation industry by converting agricultural waste, such as contaminated distillers' grains and off-spec corn syrup, into drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The company utilizes a patented multi-strain co-culture system and a catalytic upgrading process, which were developed under an exclusive commercialization license from Sandia National Laboratories. This technology is designed to operate on low-cost, readily available feedstocks while reducing the number of necessary processing steps, thereby aiming to provide a cost-competitive alternative to traditional Jet-A fuel without adoption risk for airlines.

By producing fuel that is chemically identical to conventional jet fuel, EcoGrains addresses the demand for scalable and sustainable aviation energy solutions. The company's efforts are centered on commercializing its proprietary microbial and catalytic processes to support the aviation sector's transition to lower carbon emissions. Beyond fuel production, the company also aims to produce high-value fertilizers as part of its operations. EcoGrains is actively seeking feedstock partnerships and off-take agreements to support the launch of its upcoming commercial pilot program.

AI summary generated on Jun 22, 2026
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JN
Janet Namutebi
Founder & CEO
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