Bio Tech | Founded: 2013 | Burlington, VT, San Leandro, CA
Science for a fossil free future
Powered by proprietary Carbon Conserving(C2) microbes that convert renewable feedstocks into high value materials, Zymochem’s platform is accelerating the transition to a real zero economy. Their experienced team has developed a platform of high-performance polymers that redefine carbon footprint, end of life, and circularity for everyday products that we touch, wear, and use every day. Their process enables microbes to convert sugars and other feedstocks into a variety of chemicals including Bio-Super Absorbent Polymers (Bio-SAP), Bio-Polyurethanes, Bio-Nylons, and Bio-Plastics to compete at cost with fossil-based incumbents.
Meet the Founders
Harshal Chokhawala
Co-Founder & CEO
Harshal earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Davis and then worked as a project scientist at the UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab establishing himself as a research leader in field biocatalysis (>30 peer-reviewed publications, ~4000 citations, h-index 24) with publications in Science & Nature Communications. In true Silicon Valley style, Harshal started ZymoChem as an idea on paper to disrupt the global chemicals industry. Since then he and co-founder, Jon Kuchenreuther, have led ZymoChem’s journey to funding from private equity, government grants, and collaborations with Fortune 500 companies, built a high performing team of 35 employees, and established ZymoChem as the frontier synthetic biology company developing cost competitive and scalable bio-based technologies to produce low carbon footprint biomaterials for everyday products.
Jon Kuchenreuther
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer
Jon is a highly accomplished scientist, with back-to-back publications as lead author in the journal Science. He has deep expertise in enzyme characterization, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess development from his time at Stanford University (Ph.D.) & UC Berkeley (post-doc).
Jon has led all aspects of ZymoChem’s foundational C2 platform technology development at ZymoChem. Further, Jon has led ZymoChem’s efforts at securing >$10 MM in non-dilutive grant funding as well as is a co-PI on multiple multi-organization government-funded projects. He also oversees current collaborative efforts with external companies and institutes.
Carbon conserving technology created to replace petroleum products
