MIT Technology Review · Feb 2025
Describes Solugen as a $2B company, recounts the seed-funding origin story, and reiterates the company's bio-based chemistry platform and 2023 EPA Green Chemistry award.
Company research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Overview
Solugen is a Houston-based chemical manufacturing company that uses its Bioforge platform—engineered enzymes, metal catalysts, and bio-based feedstocks—to make sustainable industrial chemicals that replace petroleum- or natural-gas-derived inputs.
Primary product
Bioforge platform and sustainable industrial chemicals (including hydrogen peroxide, gluconic acid, and glucaric acid)
Founded
2016
Headquarters
Houston, Texas, United States
Team size
101-200
Work style
Onsite
Industry
Chemical Manufacturing
Sub-industry
Sustainable chemicals / biomanufacturing
Offices
Houston, TX
Slaton, TX
Marshall, MN
Business model
B2B industrial chemical manufacturing
direct sales to industrial customers
strategic supply partnerships
Funding
Stage
Late-stage venture/growth + debt financing
Total raised
$820.9M
Latest round
DOE loan guarantee · Jun 2024
Latest amount
$213.6M
Jun 2024 · U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office
Jan 2022 · Kinnevik, Lowercarbon Capital, Refactor Capital
Sep 2021 · GIC, Baillie Gifford
Jan 2019 · Founders Fund
Jan 2018 · Fifty Years, Founders Fund, Y Combinator
Mar 2017
People & investors
Leadership
Co-Founder & CEO
Co-Founder & CTO
Chief Operating Officer
President of Energy & Water
VP of Manufacturing
Work & culture
Mission-driven, fast-paced startup culture focused on safety, customer impact, and continuous learning. Public values include 'First, Do No Harm,' 'Think Big, Act Now,' 'Delight Customers,' and 'Never Stop Growing.'
Work style
Onsite
Compensation
No public salary bands were found in the reviewed sources. Public benefit signals include a 401(k) and generous parental leave.
Benefits
401(k) retirement plan
generous parental leave
Product & market
Pricing
B2B industrial chemical sales; pricing appears to be quote- and contract-based rather than publicly posted
Differentiators
- —Bioforge modular manufacturing platform
- —engineered enzymes plus metal catalysts
- —low-temperature / low-pressure chemienzymatic production
- —local and decentralized manufacturing near customers or feedstock
- —high yield claims (over 95% integrated yield in some processes)
- —sustainable feedstocks that reduce emissions and waste
Technology
Bioforge
Bioflex fermentation plant
engineered enzymes
metal catalysis
AI / machine learning
cell-free enzyme oxidation reactor
analytical chemistry
chemical synthesis
strain engineering
process development
pilot plant
fermentation
Customers
industrial water treatment customers
energy and produced-water operators
agriculture customers
cleaning and personal care customers
aerospace and defense customers
float therapy spas (early customers)
Competitors
BASF
Dow
LyondellBasell
Ashland
Eastman Chemical
Ginkgo Bioworks
LanzaTech
other petrochemical manufacturers
Scale & contact
Estimated revenue
$40M-$50M
Estimated monthly visits
16K
Traffic estimate as of Jun 2026
Latest news
MIT Technology Review · Oct 2024
Profiles Solugen's Houston and Marshall facilities, capacity expansion, and the challenge of competing on price against incumbent petrochemical manufacturers.
CNBC · Jun 2024
Reports Solugen secured a $213.6M DOE loan guarantee to build its Marshall, Minnesota Bioforge and noted the company had raised more than $640M in venture funding before the loan.
CNBC · May 2024
CNBC profile says Solugen was founded in 2016, had about $643M funding and a $2.2B valuation, and highlighted its Bioforge platform and commercial markets.
Solugen blog · Apr 2024
Official announcement of the Marshall, Minnesota Bioforge groundbreaking, with ADM partnership, 120 KTA capacity plan, and expected jobs and emissions-reduction claims.
Jobs and careers at Solugen
0 jobs at Solugen
No open positions
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