Lakril Technologies

Låkril Technologies is a Chicago-based advanced materials startup commercializing bio-based acrylic acid - a foundational industrial chemical used in paints, coatings, adhesives, and superabsorbent polymers. Incorporated in 2021 as a spinout from the University of Minnesota, the company has developed the "Låkril Amber Process," a breakthrough catalytic technology that converts renewable lactic acid (derived from low-cost sugars such as corn, cane, and beet) into acrylic acid with a yield of approximately 90% - surpassing the 80-85% yields achieved by all prior approaches. Their proprietary bifunctional zeolite catalysts with engineered bases enable highly selective dehydration of lactic acid into acrylic acid, a reaction that has stumped major chemical giants including BASF, Dow, Cargill, and Arkema for over two decades. Recognized as a Global Top 10 Startup by the American Chemical Society, Låkril offers a true molecule-for-molecule drop-in replacement for petroleum-derived acrylic acid at cost parity - with zero price premium - while slashing CO₂ emissions by over 80%.

Låkril's significance to the US energy and materials supply chain is substantial. Acrylic acid is a $25B+ global market, and currently 99% of chemicals - including acrylics - are derived from petroleum. By sourcing feedstock from domestic agricultural commodities (corn, sugarcane, beets), Låkril creates a domestically resilient, regionally diversified supply chain that reduces dependence on foreign petrochemical imports. The company's long-term vision is to license its catalyst technology to third-party plant operators, targeting 40,000-50,000 metric tons per year production facilities that achieve full cost parity with conventional propylene-oxidation plants. A continuously operating pilot plant in Chicago capable of producing 4 kg of acrylic acid per day is expected to come online in late 2025, with a Series A financing round targeted for 2026.

The company has received over $2 million in federal research grants from the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture, as well as the National Science Foundation, underscoring its alignment with national priorities for domestic bio-based chemical production and energy independence. Strategically backed by GC Ventures America - the VC arm of Thai petrochemical giant PTT Global Chemical (parent company of Allnex and 50% owner of NatureWorks) - Låkril is positioning itself at the intersection of agricultural commodity supply chains and advanced materials manufacturing, offering a scalable, low-carbon alternative to one of the world's most widely used petrochemicals.