Investors
Unlocking value from refrigerant streams the industry cannot process.
Value Proposition
Market Opportunity
Traction
Team
FAQ
The Opportunity
Icorium unlocks value from refrigerants that would otherwise be destroyed. Our pilot-validated, IP-protected technology is designed for scalable national and global deployment.
We process challenging streams that no other system handles safely:
- Flammable A2L and A3 refrigerants
- Azeotropic blends that cannot be separated by standard distillation
Circularity in Action: High-purity reclaimed streams enable direct reuse in existing refrigerant blends and the formulation of new blends, supported by current and upcoming regulations.
Market Size & Dynamics
Key Stats:
- ~15M lbs of refrigerants reclaimed annually in the U.S.
- Tens of millions of additional pounds reclaimable through advanced separation
- 2B+ lbs of refrigerants currently installed in U.S. systems
Regulatory tailwinds are driving sustained demand for reclaimed refrigerants. The AIM Act mandates an 85% reduction in HFC production and consumption by 2036. Reclamation is the only scalable pathway to meet demand without new production.
Current Market Inefficiencies:
- Fractional distillation: High capital cost and lower recovery yield
- Incineration: Permanent material loss and compliance risk
- Stockpiling: Ongoing storage costs and deferred economic value
Traction & Validation
Milestones:
- NSF STTR Phase I ($275K) and Phase II (~$1.2M) awards
- Pilot-scale validation demonstrating >99.5% separation purity
- $1M+ raised in seed/angel financing
- 200+ customer discovery interviews across two I-Corps rounds
- Early-adopter Letters of Intent secured with industry partners
- Rice Business Plan Competition: 5th place, ~$180K in awards
Recognition:
- 2025 Startup to Watch (Startland News)
- Startup on Our Radar (Chemical & Engineering News)
- STEMMy Awards: Enterprising Innovator
- Under 30 Entrepreneur Merit Award (Kansas Department of Commerce)
Leadership
Kalin Baca, PhD, MBA
Co-Founder & CEO
PhD Chemical Engineering (KU), MBA (UNM), Sandia National Labs, NSF I-Corps, Separation Specialist
Mark Shiflett, PhD, PE
Co-Founder & CSO
Distinguished Professor (KU), 28 years at DuPont, 46 patents, 130+ publications, ACS Hero of Chemistry
Abby Harders, PhD
Head of R&D
PhD Chemical Engineering (KU), Chemist, Mathematician, Separation Specialist
Supported by academic and industry advisors with deep regulatory, operational, and commercialization expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the capital requirements?
Contact us for current financing details and use of proceeds.
What is the deployment timeline?
Commercial system design is underway, with first deployment targeted for 2027. Contact us for a detailed roadmap.
What is the go-to-market strategy?
We are partnering with established reclaimers to process their challenging feedstock streams, starting with one centralized processing site and scaling capacity with market demand.
How is the technology protected?
Our IP portfolio includes issued and pending patents, along with proprietary know-how developed through university research and commercial development.
Interested in partnering or investing?
We welcome conversations with aligned, long-term investors.
Redefining Refrigerant Reclamation.
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Contact
2029 Becker Drive, Ste. 275
Lawrence, KS 66047
785-856-0834
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