Summerville, SC – The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), a public, non-profit corporation fueling South Carolina’s innovation economy, today announces that GEF Capital Partners (“GEF Capital”), a private equity fund making investments in companies that promote resource efficiency and that are building a more sustainable future, has acquired a controlling interest in innovative water and wastewater solutions provider EnviroMix, Inc. (“EnviroMix”), an SC Launch, Inc. Portfolio Company.
EnviroMix became an SC Launch Client Company in 2009 and successfully progressed to receiving a Product Development Fund grant from SCRA in 2012 and two rounds of investments from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc., in 2011 and 2012. The company designs and manufactures innovative compressed gas mixing systems and process control technology primarily for the water and wastewater industry.
“The successful progression of EnviroMix throughout our SC Launch Program is a model for all startups. We are gratified to see their stellar team and innovation be recognized by a global investment firm like GEF Capital. The guidance, mentoring, networking opportunities and funding we provide are designed to move startups from infancy to being highly investible, and EnviroMix has proven, once again, the effectiveness of our formula,” said SCRA Executive Director Bob Quinn.
“I have been fortunate to work with Ted Jenkins and the EnviroMix management team since 2009. With the EnviroMix technology, Ted and his team have consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce power consumption for wastewater treatment facilities,” said Derek Willis, investment manager at SCRA. “We have had the opportunity to work with EnviroMix from prototype development to production and see the value the company has created for their customers. EnviroMix is a poster child for the SC Launch Program, and we congratulate them for their success.”
“I met Derek Willis and his team in the very early days of the business,” said Ted Jenkins, EnviroMix’s chief executive officer. “From the beginning, they were committed to accelerating the launch of our technology that supported their initiatives for our state, including innovation and job growth. They later helped us scale with growth capital, which is critical for any growing business. In short, we’ve benefited greatly from our relationship with SCRA and SC Launch, Inc., and we are thrilled to see a return for them.”
Visit EnviroMix to learn more about their industry-leading, revolutionary and environmentally safe solutions for water and wastewater treatment facilities.
About SCRA
https://scra.org/
Chartered in 1983 by the State of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation, South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy through the impact of its four programs. SC Academic Innovations provides funding and support to advance multi-institutional, translational research and accelerate the growth of university-based startups. SC Facilities offers high-quality laboratory and administrative workspaces for technology-based startups and academic institutions. SC Industry Solutions facilitates and funds partnerships between and among startups, industry and academia. SC Launch mentors and funds technology-based startups that may also receive investments from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc.
About SC Launch, Inc.
Established in 2006, SC Launch, Inc. is an independent, non-profit corporation affiliated with SCRA, which provides loans and investments to selected South Carolina-based companies participating in the SC Launch Program.
About EnviroMix
Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, EnviroMix designs and manufactures treatment systems for municipalities and industrial facilities to dramatically reduce energy costs and help meet nutrient removal limits. Utilizing patented and proprietary technology, EnviroMix provides complete mixing systems, process controls, and energy management solutions to enhance plant performance in the water and wastewater markets. Visit http://www.enviro-mix.com for additional information.
Media Contact
Adrian Grimes
Director of Marketing and Communications, SCRA
O: (854) 888-2033
C: (843) 277-7295
adrian.grimes@scra.org
