Columbia, SC — South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested $250,000 in VBASE Oil Company. The Pendleton-based startup manufactures a new class of sustainable, high-performance base oils that are biobased, biodegradable, non-toxic, and non-bioaccumulating.
VBASE Oil Company became an SCRA Member Company in 2024 and an SC Launch Inc. Portfolio Company with this investment.
“VBASE began from the need to produce more environmentally acceptable and sustainable lubricating solutions. They perfected their products while working as a team of scientists and engineers at a South Carolina-based advanced materials company, partly with DOE and USDA funding,” said SCRA Senior Investment Manager Rob Moser. “After developing and patenting their biodegradable solution, Secondary Polyol Ester™ technology, they formed VBASE Oil Company to bring the technology to market.”
“As soon as we became an SCRA Member Company last year, we began reaping the benefits of this partnership. This investment will accelerate our growth, enhance our global regulatory certifications, optimize operations, and broaden product applications to serve a growing customer base,” said VBASE Oil Company CEO and Founder Jeffrey DiMaio, PhD. “With partners like SCRA and SC Launch Inc., we are on track to be the most innovative and sustainable base oil brand.”
“Jeff and his team have spent the time needed to perfect their products. They’ve worked for years to create biobased and biodegradable oils that are both high-performing and designed to help lubricant manufacturers improve and quantify the sustainability of their products,” said SC Launch Inc. Executive Director Matt Bell. “Being able to build high-performance and sustainable lubricants with VBASE oils helps these manufacturers grow their customer base, creating a reciprocal effect and more jobs.”
With patented Secondary Polyol Ester™ technology, VBASE base oils help lubricant manufacturers make high-performance, environmentally friendly lubricants.
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Established in 2006, SC Launch Inc. is the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority. The independent, nonprofit corporation provides convertible loans and investment funding to qualifying SCRA Member Companies. The returns on this funding provide additional coaching grants and investments to next-generation technology startups.
Chartered in 1983 by the State of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation, South Carolina Research Authority fuels the state’s innovation economy through the impact of its comprehensive services to technology-based startups, academia, and industry. SCRA provides funding and support to accelerate the growth of academic startups; high-quality lab and administrative workspaces; facilitation and funding for partnerships between and among industry, startups, and academic institutions; assistance and funding for the relocation of technology-based companies to South Carolina; and coaching and funding for startups that may also receive investments from its affiliate, SC Launch Inc.
Media Contact
Adrianne Grimes
Director of Marketing and Communications, SCRA
adrianne.grimes@scra.org
