Kemvera, formerly known as New Iridium, has reached major process development milestones that advance domestic manufacturing of bio-based chemicals. The company is leveraging cost-advantaged U.S. bio-ethanol feedstock while supporting American corn farmers through its advanced chemical manufacturing platform.
Major Process Development Milestones Achieved
Kemvera, a sustainable chemical innovation company, has completed the process design package (FEL 1) for its planned 50,000-metric-tons-per-year commercial-scale plant. In parallel, the company designed a 500-metric-tons-per-year pre-commercial demonstration reactor to support scale-up efforts.
In addition, Kemvera recently commissioned its 20-metric-tons-per-year pilot reactor and validated its robustness by demonstrating continuous operations. Collectively, these milestones mark significant progress toward commercializing Kemvera’s bio-based acetic acid and bio-ethyl acetate manufacturing process, as per a Kemvera Press Release.
Rebranding Reflects the Company’s Growth Strategy
As the company enters its next phase of growth, it has rebranded from New Iridium to Kemvera. This new name reflects its long-term vision to scale bio-based chemical solutions using domestic agricultural feedstocks and to strengthen U.S. manufacturing capabilities.
Proprietary Catalytic Platform Supports U.S. Agriculture
Kemvera’s proprietary catalytic platform converts bio-based and CO₂-derived feedstocks—such as domestically sourced corn ethanol—into affordable, drop-in chemicals. As a result, the platform is rapidly advancing toward commercial readiness. This progress positions Kemvera to support U.S. farmers, reinforce domestic manufacturing, and sustain American leadership in bio-based chemical production.
Addressing Market Demand for Green Chemicals
Chemical manufacturing remains one of the largest segments of U.S. manufacturing; however, much of its feedstock still comes from petroleum. According to a 2025 research report, the domestic green chemicals market is projected to reach USD 7.46 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2025.
To meet this rising demand, Kemvera integrates partnerships with ethanol producers and agricultural stakeholders. Consequently, the company is building a vertically connected and sustainable domestic value chain that stretches from Midwest cornfields to industrial end users.
Leadership Perspectives on Commercial Progress
“Having reached these milestones, we are entering a new phase of development that brings us significantly closer to customer delivery,” said Dr. Chern-Hooi Lim, Founder and CEO of Kemvera. “This progress represents the culmination of first-principles-based research and engineering into scalable, affordable chemical production using American-grown feedstocks. Along with our renaming to Kemvera, this marks a defining moment for our company.”
Industry and Agricultural Support
“The Iowa Corn Promotion Board supports the continued development of bio-based chemicals that use domestically grown corn as a feedstock,” said Joe Roberts, President of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and a farmer in Belmond, Iowa. “Innovations like this create new, high-value markets for corn, strengthen rural economies, and build on the success of corn ethanol by expanding domestic bio-manufacturing.”
Applications and Supply Chain Resilience
In the near term, Kemvera plans to deploy its flagship products—bio-acetic acid and bio-ethyl acetate—in applications such as footwear and disinfectants. Over time, the company expects these materials to expand into a wide range of everyday consumer products. By producing chemicals from domestic bio-based inputs, Kemvera provides reliable alternatives to fossil-derived products while strengthening U.S. supply chain resilience.
Funding and Partnership Strategy
Kemvera’s vision aligns closely with national priorities around domestic manufacturing, agricultural value-add, and U.S. leadership in advanced materials. To support this mission, the company is raising Series A funding and actively seeking partnerships with ethanol producers, chemical companies, and consumer brands.
By anchoring production in renewable American agricultural products, Kemvera aims to unlock new demand for chemicals made from domestically grown crops—such as corn—while reducing reliance on imported and fossil-based chemical products.
