What Universal Fuel Technologies does

Universal Fuel Technologies (UniFuel) is a Los Altos, California-based climate technology licensor founded around 2013 that has developed Flexiforming, a proprietary zeolite-based catalytic process for converting naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, and their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene, and BTX aromatics. The core platform centers on an HZSM-5 catalyst modified with zinc and rare earth promoters, offering a 3-5 year catalyst lifetime, sulfur tolerance up to 1,000 ppm without prior hydrotreatment, and operator-adjustable feed and product slate. The technology is protected by 33 patents across 12 countries and has been proven in 4 commercial plants since 2015 with more than 6,000 hours of testing on 50+ feedstocks.

The company sells into two primary enterprise segments: oil refiners, where Flexiforming is deployed as a bolt-on to existing idle naphtha hydrotreaters (NHT) or catalytic reformers to produce semi-renewable gasoline and a path to SAF, and HEFA plant operators, where the technology upgrades renewable naphtha byproduct into high-octane renewable gasoline and, with a Stage 2 reactor, into Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) for 100% drop-in SAF. Revenue is generated through a mix of technology licensing, modular equipment sales ($5-15M per deployment depending on configuration), and ongoing catalyst supply and process services. Customer acquisition is direct enterprise field sales supported by website-driven economic assessments, with conversion economics of $100-115+/ton and projected EBITDA potential of $7-15M annually per deployment.

UFT's most recent operational milestones include a five-month SAF pilot at RPD Technologies in Crosby, Texas (August-December 2024), independent blend validation by Washington State University, acceptance into the ASTM D4054 qualification process (with full D7566 pathway certification targeted by end of 2026), and a $3M funding round in October 2024 led by TO ventures. The company is founder-controlled, employs 1-10 people, and is actively pursuing aviation-fuel regulatory clearance as the principal gating event for commercial scaling.

Name

Universal Fuel Technologies

Legal name

Universal Fuel Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://unifuel.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Universal Fuel Technologies licenses Flexiforming, a proprietary zeolite-based catalytic process that converts naphtha, alcohols, and light olefins into high-octane gasoline, SAF, and BTX aromatics for oil refiners and HEFA plant operators using bolt-on deployment into existing refinery equipment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catalytic Process Technology for Renewable Fuels

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Petroleum Refineries (32411), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251)

SIC

Petroleum Refining (2911), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Petroleum Refining Catalysts (IMAEAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB), Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base) (IMAEAIAD), Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG), Renewable Diesel (HVO/HEFA) Production (EUAAAHAD), CO₂‑Derived Synthetic Fuels for Aviation & Marine (SAF e‑fuels, e‑ammonia/e‑methanol bunkering pathways) (EUABAIAH)

Keywords

• Catalytic process licensing
• Sustainable aviation fuel
• Naphtha conversion technology
• Renewable fuel catalysts
• Refinery process technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Altos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing Flexiforming technology to oil refiners and HEFA operators. Revenue generated through licensing fees for use of proprietary catalyst and process technology. Equipment deployment as bolt-on to existing infrastructure.
2. Equipment Sales and Integration: Sale of modular Flexiforming units and engineering integration services. Total investment ranging from $5M to $15M depending on configuration. Phased deployment allows incremental revenue.
3. Catalyst and Process Services: Ongoing revenue from proprietary catalyst supply and process optimization services. Catalyst lifetime of 3-5 years provides recurring service opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Universal Fuel Technologies licenses and sells the Flexiforming process — a zeolite-based catalytic technology that converts naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, or their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene (including Sustainable Aviation Fuel), and BTX aromatics. The proprietary HZSM-5 catalyst with zinc and rare earth promoters is delivered as a modular bolt-on unit (or licensed for deployment in existing refinery equipment), with an operator-adjustable product slate and a 3–5 year catalyst lifetime.

Product overview

Universal Fuel Technologies offers Flexiforming as a unified core technology platform with modular deployment options. Flexiforming is a zeolite-based catalytic process (proprietary HZSM-5 catalyst) that converts naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, and their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene (SAF), and BTX aromatics. The platform supports operator-adjustable feed and product slate. Two deployment pathways serve different market segments: Flexiforming for Oil Refiners (bolt-on to idle NHT or catalytic reformer equipment) and Flexiforming for HEFA Operators (upgrades HEFA naphtha byproduct to gasoline and Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene). The technology has been proven in 4 commercial plants since 2015, with 6,000+ hours of testing on 50+ feedstocks, protected by 33 patents across 12 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flexiforming: Proprietary zeolite-based catalytic process technology that converts naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, or their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene, or BTX aromatics. Registered trademark of Universal Fuel Technologies, Inc.

Products and services

• Flexiforming Proprietary zeolite-based catalytic process that converts naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, or their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene (including Sustainable Aviation Fuel), or BTX aromatics. Uses a proprietary HZSM-5 catalyst modified with zinc and rare earth promoters, with a 3–5 year catalyst lifetime and operator-adjustable process parameters. Protected by 33 patents across 12 countries.
• Flexiforming for Oil Refiners

Quantifiable outcome

• Conversion margin >$100/ton for HEFA naphtha upgrading
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State UniversitycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Washington State University performed independent testing validating that a blend of 16% Flexiforming-derived aromatic SAF and 84% HEFA-derived paraffinic SAF met all critical performance parameters including density, viscosity, freeze point, flash point, and heating value.
• RPD TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024RPD Technologies hosted a five-month pilot of Flexiforming technology at their facility in Crosby, Texas (August-December 2024). The pilot produced SAF sample material across multiple pathways, demonstrating the technology's commercial viability.
• ASCENT (Aviation Sustainability Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal Fuel Technologies is a member of the ASCENT Advisory Committee. ASCENT is co-led by Washington State University and MIT, funded by FAA, NASA, DoD, Transport Canada, and EPA. Zachary Schmidt serves as the member representative.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Topsoe: Licenses refining and petrochemical catalysts and process technology (including zeolite-based hydroprocessing and reforming catalysts) globally. Directly comparable as a refining catalyst and process technology licensor with deep oil refiner relationships.
• Axens: Licenses refining, petrochemical, and renewable fuel process technologies and catalysts, including hydroprocessing and aromatics technologies. Direct comparable as a refining/renewables process technology licensor with established refiner customers.
• Lummus Technology: Licenses process technologies for refining, petrochemicals, and renewables including FCC, hydrocracking, and renewable diesel/SAF pathways. Comparable as a technology licensor competing for the same refiner and renewables capex budgets.
• Albemarle: Major producer of hydroprocessing and FCC catalysts used in petroleum refining. Comparable as a supplier of specialty refining catalysts with global refiner relationships.
• W. R. Grace: Supplies specialty catalysts and materials for petroleum refining (FCC, hydroprocessing) and chemical manufacturing. Direct comparable as a refining catalyst vendor competing for similar refinery customers.
• Clariant: Produces specialty catalysts including for refining, petrochemical, and biofuel applications. Comparable as a catalyst supplier with a portfolio spanning conventional refining and renewable fuels.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell UOP: Incumbent licensor of refining and petrochemical process technologies including catalytic reforming and SAF process packages. Competes with UFT for refiner capex and is increasingly active in HEFA/SAF process licensing.
• BASF (Catalysts division): Global chemical major with a large catalysts business serving refining, petrochemical, and emissions control. Comparable as a broad incumbent refining/petrochemical catalyst supplier with substantial R&D and customer footprint.

Emerging players

• Gevo: Develops alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) SAF pathway using zeolite-based catalysis similar in chemistry to UFT's alcohol upgrading step. Comparable as an emerging SAF technology player pursuing ASTM qualification for an alternative drop-in pathway.
• LanzaTech: Gas-fermentation-to-ethanol pathway with LanzaJet joint venture producing ATJ SAF. Comparable as an emerging SAF technology player competing for the same aviation decarbonization budget and ASTM approvals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universal Fuel Technologies