MassChallenge

Ecobean is a company that develops proprietary technology to convert spent coffee grounds into sustainable raw materials and specialty chemicals. It addresses the global challenge of coffee waste by collecting spent grounds from cafes and offices and transforming them into market-ready bio-products. The process enables the production of materials such as coffee briquettes and pellets, biodegradable flower pots, biodegradable coffee capsules, oils, fragrances, and other sustainable inputs, supporting alternative energy and green chemistry strands. The approach combines waste collection with scalable, deep-tech processing to reduce the carbon footprint associated with coffee waste and to create economic value from a widely available feedstock. Ecobean positions its offerings for industries seeking greener alternatives, emphasizing circular economy principles, traceability, and supplyability through integrated waste pickup, processing, and productization.

Terra Bioindustries produces plant-based protein derived from underutilized waste materials like spent grains from beer manufacturing. This process transforms these unused parts into functional vegan protein, offering clients sustainable alternatives to soy and pea protein for use in meat and dairy replacements.

HeatNeutral is a pioneering manufacturer specializing in biofuel burners designed for carbon-neutral heating. Their burners, compatible with any liquid biofuel, generate zero harmful emissions, making them an innovative solution for the heating sector to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

ALP Technologies is a renewable energy engineering start-up from London. It focuses on developing renewable energy technologies for the developing world. Since founding in 2015, it has won multiple awards and funded research and development projects such as advanced battery systems on recycled cells, novel biogas generation, and power electronic and control systems. Its small-scale power plant for developing regions uses solar, bio-ethanol, and agricultural waste to generate uninterrupted electricity. It aims to displace diesel generation and fossil fuel based power plants and leapfrog grid infrastructure in the developing world.

MicroRio is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company specializes in producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastics using a bioprocess that converts methane, sourced from natural gas, into biodegradable plastic through the action of bacteria. This innovative approach allows MicroRio to utilize a low-cost raw material that does not compete with food production or arable land, making its PHA products competitively priced compared to conventional plastics. By focusing on sustainable practices and leveraging advanced technology, MicroRio aims to provide environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics while maintaining affordability in the market.

Biomicrogels Group develops biomicrogels, a substance derived from agricultural waste like sugar beet and apple pomace. This unique material addresses global environmental challenges by treating produced water, separating cutting fluids, extracting vegetable oils, and cleaning oil spills. The company also produces eco-friendly household cleaning products under the WONDERLAB brand.

E-POL has developed a process allowing waste glycerin from biodiesel production to be turned into a variety of products.

Made In the Commonwealth (MitC) will produce renewable jet fuel for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Using waste greases and animal fats, we will create 100% renewable, 100% fungible fuel that meets all standards and replaces imported petroleum-based products. Their plan includes appropriate and novel uses of existing infrastructure and established technology from MIT labs. We garnered support from State and local officials. If you care about the environment and the future, support MitC.