A tech startup developing sustainable fuel for the aviation industry won the Trailblazing Tech Award at pro-manchester’s Trailblazing Tech Conference.
Manchester-based Carbon Neutral Fuels is designing a first-of-a-kind e-fuels facility which recycles carbon dioxide from the air to make sustainable fuels for aviation.
The business, which is part of the NatWest Accelerator, has gone from strength to strength during its first year in operation. Founded by Sophie Zienkiewicz and Alasdair Lumsden, Carbon Neutral Fuels has received £1.4 million of government funding to support development of its innovative technology.
Carbon Neutral Fuels was joined by Featherbed Tales and The Path to Independence Ltd as finalists for the award which saw a record 21 entries this year. All three businesses are part of the NatWest Accelerator.
“With my accelerator manager Jess Grocutt and the wider NatWest team’s help, I’ve been working really hard on my presenting skills over the past year,” said Zienkiewicz.
“It was awesome to be standing on stage during the Trailblazing Tech Conference, feeling confident, and able to share the Carbon Neutral Fuels story and purpose with such an engaged audience.
“The support from all the brilliant businesses at the NatWest Accelerator in Manchester since our win has been really heartening.”
Zienkiewicz is looking forward to expanding the business further in the coming months.
She added: “This year we are working on finding a site to house our facility which means working with a range of technology organisations and stakeholders. We are also interested in talking to people who would want to use our fuel – airlines and fuel suppliers.”
Sam Booth, CEO for pro-manchester, said: “Carbon Neutral Fuels are well-deserved winners out of very tough competition. Their innovative approach to creating sustainable aviation fuel is a true testament to the pioneering spirit of North West tech businesses.
“They demonstrate the groundbreaking advancements that our region is capable of, and we are delighted to recognise their success with the Trailblazing Tech Award.”
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