Many products benefit from tight integration, where companies design and even manufacture key components in-house: Apple with its custom microprocessors and Tesla with its Superchargers are well-known examples.
General Galactic, a new startup emerging from stealth mode, is hoping to drive down prices for e-fuels, which produce hydrocarbons from captured carbon dioxide, by taking a similar integrated approach, the company exclusively told TechCrunch.
Founded by Halen Mattison, who previously worked at SpaceX, the company aims to produce methane from carbon dioxide using renewable power. The startup has raised a $1.9 million pre-seed round from investors like Box Group and Refactor.
The goal is to design and develop the entire system in-house to capture carbon dioxide, produce hydrogen from water, and convert the two into methane. This contrasts with other companies that focus on only one aspect of the process.
By integrating the entire stack and selling just the fuel, General Galactic aims to reduce costs significantly. The startup's modular approach to key components is becoming standard in climate tech startups, making mass production and long-distance transport easier.
General Galactic has initially focused on methane production, targeting the wider natural gas market rather than sustainable aviation fuel. The ambitious plan to handle all components in-house presents engineering challenges, but the company is determined to succeed.
