SynShark LLC

Through $5 Million in ARPA-E funding to Texas A&M, SynShark is developing tobacco derived squalene, a vaccine adjuvant through a novel photosynthetic route.

  • Stage Prototype Ready
  • Industry Biotechnology
  • Location Greensboro, NC, US
  • Currency USD
  • Founded October 2013
  • Employees 4
  • Website synshark.com

Company Summary

Through $5 Million in ARPA-E funding to Texas A&M, SynSharkTM LLC is developing tobacco derived squalene. Whether used as an adjuvant for vaccines or an emollient for cosmetics, the restrained squalene supply is a market growing at hyper rates with high price points. The result of SynShark’s research is a pure product squalene, which is normally sourced through the exploitation of millions of deep-sea sharks each year for their livers; an unnecessary biological disaster. All of the Company’s production is being done in American tobacco fields where this resource is pressured to find alternative markets. SynShark will define the next generation of renewable specialty chemicals through a novel direct photosynthetic route and an innovative business model. The Company’s international intellectual property footprint is creating the early stage biotech investment of our time.

Team

  • Jason Ornstein
    Managing Director

    Jason has over a decade and a half of experience in corporate development and investment banking. Through his holding company, Jason launched specialty chemical company start up framergy, Inc. in 2011, leading the company through revenues and a strategic Series A financing. Jason is a decorated OIF war veteran and founded the veterans charity vCaring.org.

  • Christopher Römer
    Interim-President

    Chris has over a decade of experience in Consulting and Information Technology at SAP and Deloitte, with Senior Management responsibility and Program Management experience in a number of global projects. Chris is currently the Managing Director of ORRO.CO GmbH, Germany holding company, through which he is active in technology commercialisation, devising solutions to improve technology transfer and consulting.

  • J. Patrick Short
    R&D Director

    A life long tobacco farmer, Pat operated 1,922 acres of family farmland with an annual production of 200,000 lbs of flue cured tobacco from 1975. From 2005 to 2007, Pat was the supervisor of the NCDA Oxford Tobacco Research Station, which conducted GMO inclusive research. He is involved in many North Carolina civic farming activities.

Advisors

  • Joshua Yuan
    Unconfirmed
    Susie Dai
    Unconfirmed

Previous Investors

  • Paul Ornstein
    Unconfirmed

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