Ecovaleric Inc.
The University of Colorado Connection
Ecovaleric is an electrochemical manufacturing company developing scalable production of biomass-derived chemicals and materials. Its first commercial product is gamma-valerolactone (GVL), a bio-based, high-performance solvent and chemical intermediate that could replace hazardous solvents in advanced manufacturing applications.
Ecovaleric was founded in 2024 through the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator at CU Boulder, part of Venture Partners. Co-founder and CEO Roberta Leão joined the program to commercialize technology developed by Adam Holewinski , associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU Boulder and fellow in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), and F. Will de Souza Lucas , then a researcher in chemical and biological engineering at CU Boulder.
Funding Status and Investment Opportunities
- Industry Applications: Advanced Materials, Environment and Sustainability, Cleantech, Manufacturing, Chemicals
- Funding Round: Pre-Seed
- Contact for Investment Inquiries: Roberta Leão , roberta@ecovaleric.com
In the News
- Ecovaleric wins Innovation in Material award (2026, Plastics Industry Association)
- CU Boulder hosts showcases highlighting breakthrough innovations and investment-ready ventures (2025)
- CU researchers to compete for share of $1.25M in grant funding to bring bio- and physical-sciences innovations to market (2024)
- RASEI Innovators awarded Lab Venture Challenge Prizes (2024)
- CU Engineering advances innovation through startup success (2024)
- 2024 cohort of CU Boulder’s Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator launches new startups (2024)
Venture Partners Programs
Technology Development Funding
U.S. National Science Foundaiton (NSF), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
This page was last updated on July 31, 2027. Please email vpnews@colorado.edu for corrections or updates
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