Date: Dec 15, 2010 Source: PRWeb (
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The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) December 15, 2010
The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator.
Dorsan uses proprietary technology to create fungal-based biocatalysts that can convert non-food biomass and waste streams into diesel fuel and a variety of food and fragrance products. By exploiting the native capabilities of fungi to produce hydrocarbon products, Dorsan has made rapid progress and is now working with several strategic partners to design a pilot plant. The company was also recently awarded a contract from the Army under the SBIR program to produce energy-dense fuels from microorganisms.
With Thomas Hohn, the CSO and inventor, on the east coast and Kay Hammer, the CEO, on the west coast, Dorsan's immediate need was to find a landing pad and structural support to begin operations. Hammer's history with the ATI however is what sold them on the deal. In 1990 Hammer co-founded Evolutionary Technologies International, the first spinout of Austin-based tech research consortium MCC and one of ATI's earliest member companies, with membership status from 1991-93.
"Everything I knew from my previous experience at ATI suggested that starting out here would be a smart move," said Hammer. "We were particularly drawn by the Incubator's emphasis on clean energy and the wealth of talent and experience available in the Austin area."
Once in Austin, Hammer and company hit the ground running in their quest for funds, a task made easier by the credibility awarded to ATI-member companies, she said. Beyond the brand association and investor introductions, Dorsan looks to benefit from synergy with fellow member companies and from the ATI's unique access to UT-Austin talent, for both their technology and market research goals.
ATI-Clean Energy co-director Mitch Jacobson has been Dorsan's liaison to both investors and resources since they joined the Incubator. "The Dorsan team, headed by CEO Kay Hammer, stands to shake up the hydrocarbon market with their technology," said Jacobson. "Scalable on-site production of drop-in fuels represents a huge step forward in the industry, and to have it commercialized through the Clean Energy Incubator marks not only a new direction for the CEI in the biofuel market, but a tremendous testimony to Austin as a comprehensive clean-tech hub."
About the Austin Technology Incubator
The Austin Technology Incubator is a nonprofit unit of The University of Texas at Austin that harnesses business, government and academic resources to provide strategic counsel, operational guidance and infrastructure support to its member companies to help them transition from early stage ventures to successful technology businesses. Since its founding in 1989, ATI has worked with over 200 companies, helping them raise close to $750 million in investor capital. ATI is a key program of the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. For more information, visit http://www.ati.utexas.edu.
About Dorsan Biofuels
Dorsan™ is an early stage biotechnology company that develops sustainable advanced biofuel and chemical processes for agricultural and industrial applications. Their approach combines the natural advantages of filamentous fungal production systems with proprietary technology to create drop-in fuels and chemical products. For more information, visit http://www.dorsanbiofuels.com.
