Press Release
ZeaChem Inc. Selected as a “Red Herring Top 100 Global Company”
Lakewood, Colo. — January 20, 2009 — ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries that convert biomass into fuels and chemicals, announced that it has been chosen as a “Red Herring Top 100 Company” by Red Herring, a global media company that unites the world's best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums. Out of 1,800 successful companies, the Red Herring editorial team used a detailed process to drill-down the best companies to 200 finalists, then to the top 100 winners of this global award. Evaluations were made on financial performance, innovation, management, global strategy, and ecosystem integration.
“We were so pleased to announce ZeaChem Inc. as a Red Herring Top 100 Global Company,” commented Red Herring publisher Alex Vieux. “ZeaChem has proven to be a company excelling in their industry and its ripples have turned into waves. It was difficult for us to narrow down, but we are pleased to have included ZeaChem in our list of promising companies. We look forward to the changes it makes to its industry in the future.”
ZeaChem and other award recipients were recognized at an awards ceremony in San Diego, California as part of the Red Herring Global 2008 conference. ZeaChem CEO and President, James Imbler, participated on a conference panel titled “Clean Tech: What's Hot in 2009?”
ZeaChem recently announced the initial close of its Series B financing totaling $34 Million. The funding round was co-led by venture capital investors Globespan Capital Partners and PrairieGold Venture Partners with follow-on investment by MDV-Mohr Davidow Ventures and Firelake Capital. Valero Energy Corporation, the largest petroleum refiner in the United States, also participated in the Series B.
“ZeaChem joins the Red Herring Top 100 Global Companies at an exciting time, as we prepare to break ground on our first biorefinery,” said Imbler. “ZeaChem made remarkable progress in 2008 by securing the financing necessary to begin construction of its first plant in 2009, which will demonstrate ZeaChem's high-yield, low-carbon process to produce cellulosic ethanol and other biochemicals.”
ZeaChem's cellulose-based biorefinery platform is capable of producing a broad portfolio of fuel and biochemicals including ethanol. Using "third generation" cellulosic ethanol production technology, ZeaChem can use any kind of biomass, including hybrid poplar trees. The result is a high-quality, low-cost process with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry.
About Red Herring
Red Herring is a global media company, which unites the world's best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider's access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. More information about Red Herring is available on the Internet at www.redherring.com and www.herringevents.com/global08/redherring100.html
.About ZeaChem Inc.
ZeaChem Inc. has developed a cellulose-based biorefinery platform capable of producing third generation ethanol fuel and intermediate chemicals. ZeaChem’s indirect approach leapfrogs the yield and carbon dioxide (CO2) problems associated with traditional and cellulosic based ethanol processes. In addition, ZeaChem has a significant capital cost advantage compared to other cellulosic ethanol technologies. By efficiently extracting the most energy possible from biomass feedstocks, ZeaChem significantly increases output while reducing both production costs and environmental impacts. Incorporated in 2002, ZeaChem is headquartered in Lakewood, Colo., and operates a research and development laboratory facility in Menlo Park, Calif.
Please visit www.zeachem.com for more information.
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Press Contact:
Joey Marquart
A&R Edelman
650-762-2987
joey.marquart@edelman.com