FuelGems

FuelGems has developed a revolutionary fuel additive.

This additive decreases emissions and increases engine lubrication. It also reduces fuel consumption by nearly twenty percent. Just five grams of this additive can treat 265 gallons of fuel — competing additives require as much as 20,000 more material to treat the same amount — and it’s capable of treating gasoline, diesel, and biofuel.

FuelGems’ additive is both affordable and user-friendly, which could open the door to mass adoption across the three-and-a-half-trillion-dollar fuel industry. It can be used by gas-station operators, refineries, and anyone who operates a car or truck.

The company believes these benefits give it a notable advantage. And it’s a reason why four of the biggest corporations in the world, with combined annual revenue in 2022 of more than $400 billion, are in pilot and pre-pilot stages with FuelGems.

Electric cars may be the future. But by 2050, diesel and gasoline will still power almost sixty percent of all vehicles.

Even if the current fuel market shrinks by seventy percent over the next thirty years, that still leaves a trillion-dollar market with demand for gasoline, diesel, and bio-fuel — not just to power vehicles, but trains, ships, planes, and generators.

Simply put, the opportunity for FuelGems’ additive is enormous and it’s not going away.

Today’s fuel has several problems. For one, it creates harmful emissions. For another, it’s become more corrosive over the years, and more damaging to vehicles and machines.

Fuel is also expensive, a cost that companies and individual drivers try to minimize. Meanwhile, existing fuel additives are largely chemical-heavy, creating even more problems with respect to emissions and expense.

FuelGems’ additive is a century-long breakthrough in the fuel industry. Benefits include:

Decreased Emissions — It decreases unburnt hydrocarbons by nearly fifty percent, and decreases carbon dioxide by nearly ten percent. It also reduces particulate pollution and soot.

Increased Lubrication — This additive increases the life of both the engine and fuel pump.

Saves Fuel — Drivers will notice up to a twenty-percent improvement in their fuel efficiency.

Versatile — It can treat gasoline, diesel, and biofuel.

Tiny Amount Needed — Just five grams can enhance 265 gallons of fuel.

In 2023, FuelGems made a breakthrough in using its advanced nanoparticle catalyst to boost the batteries’ performance. It achieved excellent results when it tested its material vs. material used in a regular battery. With its material one-fourth the weight of the competing material, FuelGems’ battery delivered seventeen times more power and reached peak power thirty percent faster.

Notably, nanotechnology for batteries has huge commercial applications and is a hot investment space. Nanotech startups that improve battery performance are sought after by venture capitalists. And these startups are profitable and often reach high valuations.

According to research-website Crunchbase, there are 673 nanotechnology startups with more than one million dollars in revenue. Of these, 142 have made a successful “exit” so far. And the median initial public offering value of those that went public is $150 million — nearly 10x FuelGems’ current valuation.

FuelGems is backed by Sputnik ATX, a venture-capital fund. And notable angel investors include those with experience at Shell, GE, Apple, IBM, and Amazon. The company has patents filed in more than forty countries.

Team Background

Jacek Jasinski - Nanotechnology Scientist

Jacek has an extensive background in the energy research field.

He began his career as a faculty member at Warsaw University, where he taught physics. After that, he became a post-graduate researcher, and later a research scientist, at the University of California, Merced.

Most recently, Jacek spent twelve years as a team leader with the Materials Characterization Group at the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. While there, he studied the relationships between the structure, chemistry, and physical properties of various technological materials.

He earned a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Warsaw.

Timothy Rose - Automotive Engineer

Timothy is a materials scientist with more than twenty years of experience. His areas of expertise include biofuel process equipment design and manufacturing, and biodiesel chemistry.

He began as a production technician with Goodfellow Cambridge Limited, a chemical supply company. From there, he spent three years as a researcher with British Gas, a utilities company. While there, he conducted research into combined heat and power systems, and performed analysis on various mechanical components.

Notably, he spent twenty-two years at Cranfield University, serving as a research fellow, and later a senior research fellow, in the school’s Materials Engineering department. During his time there, he focused on surface chemistry and materials science with the goal of producing renewable liquid fuels.

Timothy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from Coventry University and a Ph.D. in Surface Science and Engineering from Cranfield University.

Irina Nazarova - Scientist

Irina is an electrical engineer who has worked at various research centers throughout her career. She’s received four awards for scientific achievements and authored thirty-five publications.

She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

Dima Vynnichenko - Scientist

Dima was a research scientist at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, where he also earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences.

While there, he earned multiple awards, including an award from the Government of Ukraine. He also authored nearly seventy publications.

Kirill Gichunts - CEO

Kirill has guided over fifteen startups throughout his career, and achieved two successful exits.

Most recently, he was Co-Founder & CEO of H2 Energy Renaissance, an energy company using nanotechnology to produce hydrogen. Prior to that, he was a managing partner with Eastlabs, a venture-capital fund.

He gained earlier financial experience as Director of M&A with KBC Securities, an investment banking company. Before that, he was an investment banker with Raiffeisen Investment AG, and a senior associate with Deloitte, a management consulting company.

Prior to this, Kirill was a founding member at inFreeDA, a communications company acquired by AT&T. Before that, he was an investment analyst with Global Asset Capital, and began his career as a strategy consultant with United Airlines.

He studied Business and Political Economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Co-Investors

Sputnik ATX

A VC fund investing in early-stage startups.