Ecovaleric is a sustainable technology company revolutionizing the materials, fuels, and chemicals industries by converting renewable biomass into high-value products.

About Ecovaleric

Ecovaleric is a sustainable technology company revolutionizing the materials, fuels, and chemicals industries by converting renewable biomass into high-value products. Focused on green chemistry, Ecovaleric utilizes innovative electrochemical processes to produce 4-Hydroxyvaleric Acid (HVA), a versatile platform molecule essential for biodegradable bioplastics, renewable biofuels, and eco-friendly applications. Our mission is to foster a circular economy, reduce waste, and promote environmental stewardship by offering sustainable alternatives to fossil-based materials.

e-HVA™

e-HVA™ is a revolutionary molecule derived from renewable biomass through an advanced electrochemical process, providing a sustainable alternative for industries seeking high-performance materials, fuels, and chemicals. Biobased, biodegradable, biocompatible, and compostable, e-HVA™ supports applications ranging from eco-friendly bioplastics and advanced polymers to renewable fuel additives, green solvents, and pharmaceutical intermediates. Its unique combination of versatility, sustainability, and scalability positions it as a critical solution for replacing fossil-based products, reducing environmental impact, and driving innovation in green chemistry. By promoting a circular economy, e-HVA™ is set to revolutionize industries across various sectors.

Our proprietary electrochemical process transforms lignocellulosic biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) into HVA using electricity. This scalable, modular, and highly efficient process achieves exceptional selectivity (>99%) and Faradaic efficiency (80%), providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional fermentation or catalytic methods. The result, electro-HVA (e-HVA), is a renewable foundational molecule with diverse applications in sustainable materials, fuels, and chemicals. Our technology marks a breakthrough in utilizing biomass waste streams to create valuable, high-performance products.

The Technology: Electrochemical Conversion of Biomass into HVA

  • POLYMERS & BIOPLAST

    e-HVA™ plays a transformative role in advancing sustainable polymers and bioplastics, offering a vast array of potential applications due to its ability to be polymerized into biodegradable and biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Its versatility allows for the production of innovative materials with enhanced mechanical properties such as improved strength, heat resistance, flexibility, and toughness.

  • BIOFUELS

    e-HVA™ serves as a critical precursor for advancing renewable biofuel technologies, offering a wide range of applications that contribute to reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Its unique properties and versatility enable the production of cleaner, more sustainable fuel solutions that are compatible with existing infrastructure.

  • BUILDING BLOCK CHEMICALS

    e-HVA™ is a versatile molecule that can be transformed into a variety of high-value building block chemicals, providing the foundation for numerous industrial and commercial applications. . Its renewable origin and inherent sustainability make it an ideal alternative to fossil-based feedstocks.

  • PHARMACEUTICAL SYNTHESIS

    e-HVA™ provides a sustainable and biocompatible alternative for pharmaceutical synthesis, offering new opportunities for greener, more efficient drug production processes. Its versatility as an intermediate enables the development of advanced drug delivery systems and chemical synthesis pathways, reducing environmental impact while enhancing performance.

Meet the Team

  • Roberta Leão, MBA

    Chief Executive Officer

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  • Adam Holewinski, PhD

    Chief Science Officer

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  • Will Lucas, PhD

    Chief Technology Officer

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News

Ecovaleric wins CU’s Lab Venture Challenge

Fourteen teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $1.25 million in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Ecovaleric emerges from CU Boulder’s Deep Tech Embark

The Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator pairs seasoned entrepreneurs with CU Boulder technologies to bring those breakthroughs to market in response to urgent societal needs. Embark has launched its second Entrepreneurs in Residence cohort and will provide Intellectual Property rights, salary support, grant funds and investor introductions to launch startups with real-world impact.