Clean Emission Fluids scores investment from Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund

Clean Emission Fluids has secured a $420,000 seed capital round with half of that money coming from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. That money is helping the TechTown-based startup ramp up production so it can go on a hiring spree this year.

The 5-year-old startup is developing the FAST (Fluids Affordably STored) biofuel and clean diesel system. The new technology helps blend a variety of biofuels to make the right combination of bio-diesel for the right truck when it pulls up. Most other fuel pumps don't have this blending ability.

Clean Emission Fluids has established a production center for the FAST system at the Focus: HOPE facility on Detroit's West Side. The company expects to use its seed capital to ramp up sales with marketing and increase its production capability. It's a platform that Clean Emission Fluids believes positions it for significant growth in 2012.

"Exponential," says Oliver Baer, resident of Clean Emission Fluids. "It's an emerging market. We're hitting it at just the right time."

So much so that Baer expects the startup's team (10 employees and seven interns) to rapidly expand his team this year. That includes 10-15 new hires in the next six months and doing it again by the end of the year.

Source: Oliver Baer, resident of Clean Emission Fluids
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.