Imagine a world where the carbon dioxide heating our planet is no longer a waste product, but a primary ingredient for the things we use every day. It sounds like science fiction, but Twelve (Techstars 2018) is making "building from air" a reality.

Founded by Stanford researchers Dr. Etosha Cave and Dr. Kendra Kuhl, along with Nicholas Flanders, Twelve is pioneering a shift in how we think about manufacturing and climate change.

The Problem with Oil

Most people associate fossil fuels with the gas in our cars or the electricity in our homes. However, oil is also the hidden foundation of our material world. From the polyester in your clothes and the foam in your mattress to the jet fuel in airplanes, we are surrounded by products made from petroleum.

Until now, creating these essential materials required pulling carbon out of the ground. Twelve has figured out how to pull it out of the sky instead.

Rebuilding the Molecule

Twelve’s breakthrough lies in a sophisticated electrochemical process. Using a combination of renewable electricity, water, and a specialized metal catalyst, their technology performs a modern-day form of alchemy.

1. Breaking Apart: The system breaks down CO2 molecules.

2. Rebuilding: It rearranges those atoms into high-value building blocks like carbon monoxide, syngas, and ethylene.

3. Manufacturing: These building blocks are then used to create the exact same plastics, fuels, and foams we use today, without a single drop of new oil.

Unlike carbon "offsetting" or underground storage, Twelve’s approach is circular. It replaces fossil-based ingredients entirely, turning a climate liability into a manufacturing asset.

From Stanford Labs to Industry Giants

Since participating in the Techstars 2018 program, Twelve’s growth has been meteoric. They aren't just working in a lab; they are proving their tech at scale through massive global partnerships:

• NASA: Exploring ways to create resources in space.

• Mercedes-Benz: Developing sustainable materials for the automotive industry.

• Alaska Airlines: Pioneering the use of "E-Jet®" fuel to decarbonize aviation.

In 2024, the company reached unicorn status (a valuation of over $1B) after raising $645 million to scale its production facilities.

A Future Made from Air

Twelve is proving that we don't have to choose between modern convenience and a healthy planet. By transforming carbon emissions into the products we love, they are building a future that no longer relies on fossil fuels.

We are entering an era where "thin air" is the most valuable raw material on Earth.

Learn more about Twelve at twelve.co.

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