Biotechnology innovators Kemvera and Låkril Technologies have secured top honors at the inaugural Biomanufacturing Shark Tank competition in Omaha, Nebraska. Held during the Bio Innovations North America 2026 conference, the pitch event featured six startups presenting sustainable chemical solutions to industry investors.
Chicago-based Låkril Technologies won the $4,000 Shark Choice award for its renewable acrylic acid platform. Spun out from the University of Minnesota, Låkril utilizes a proprietary catalytic dehydration process to convert corn-derived lactic acid into bio-based acrylics. The process achieves cost parity with conventional petrochemical acrylics while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent. The resulting drop-in molecules serve major commercial markets, including paints, industrial adhesives, and super-absorbent polymers.
Kemvera claimed the $1,000 Audience Choice award for its low-carbon chemical conversion technology. The company utilizes a thermocatalytic process to transform surplus Midwest bioethanol into USDA BioPreferred-certified bio-acetic acid and bio-ethyl acetate. By converting corn ethanol into high-value chemical building blocks, Kemvera targets the global acetyl value chain. Its renewable ingredients displace fossil feedstocks across diverse consumer goods, including footwear, coatings, disinfectants, and fragrances.
Financially supported by ADM, the pitch competition was hosted by Bio Innovations in collaboration with the NSF RuralSTAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine. Pitching startups delivered three-minute presentations followed by direct questioning from an expert investor panel. The panel evaluated nominees on technical viability, scalability, and market impact.
Both companies showcase a broader shift in industrial chemistry toward agricultural feedstocks. By scaling bio-based drop-in replacements, Kemvera and Låkril are advancing sustainable manufacturing and offering lower-carbon alternatives to traditional petrochemical processes.
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