Among the many companies trying to make low cost biofuels, one startup stands out. Instead of transforming biomass, LanzaTech uses steel mill flue gases - normally considered waste - and patented microbes that consume it and churn out valuable ethanol.
Dr. Sean Simpson, who started LanzaTech in 2005, tells about an entrepreneurial wild ride, which started with his original idea, and includes a demonstration plant in New Zealand, meeting America's foremost venture capitalist, scaling up two facilities in China, and finally landing a lucrative deal to produce jet fuel for Virgin Atlantic Airways. He provides a step-by-step guide through the far-flung global network of venture capital and modern biotechnology.