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Startup with NC State Jenkins program roots is among Cleantech Open Regional Finalists

Tethis, a water solutions company which evolved from a Jenkins MBA team project in the NC State Poole College of Management, is one of five cleantech startup finalists in the 2013 Southeast Region Finals of the Cleantech Open, the world’s largest cleantech accelerator.

As regional finalists, the startups will receive a “Startup in a Box” package that includes cash and donated services worth up to $20,000 and will advance to compete at the Cleantech Open Global Forum next month for a chance to win a $200,000 award package and the title of 2013 Top Cleantech Entrepreneur.

“We have a technology that bridges the gap between cleantech and other industries. Sustainability is an area that our customers and investors are interested in and the Cleantech Open provides us an opportunity to build that competency,” said Scott Bolin, chief executive officer and co‐founder of Tethis.

Bolin was one of the team of NC State graduate students who evaluated the Tethis technology – developed by researchers in NC State’s College of Natural Resources – and determined it had startup potential. Their assessment was done as part of the Jenkins MBA program’s technology, entrepreneurship and commercialization concentration.

The startup company develops and markets super-absorbent biodegradable foams and powders in various water treatment industries under the product name Tethex. Their product is made from a combination of readily available organic, bio-degradable materials and is able to absorb many times its weight in salt, based on a patented technology developed by researchers at NC State’s College of Natural Resources in the Department of Forrest Biomaterials.

Tethis solves the risk, cost, and technical difficulties found in the treatment of highly concentrated brine waste as well as other hazardous wastes, Bolin said, adding that there is no other known substance that can match its performance. Tethis has a worldwide license from North Carolina State University for all uses of the Tethis technology.

The five finalists were selected from among 20 companies founded by innovative cleantech entrepreneurs. Three of the finalists – Bio-Adhesive Alliance, Inc., Nova Synthetix, and Tethis – are located in North Carolina and the Research Triangle Park area. The two other finalists, Trash 2 Cash Energy and Shelton Group/Fiveworx, are based in Florida and Tennessee, respectively.

The mission of the national Cleantech Open is to “find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges,” according to the Cleantech Open Southeast website.