What MCatalysis does

MCatalysis, Inc. is a Dallas-based deep tech company founded in 2025 that develops industrial microwave catalytic systems for converting waste carbon resources—including agricultural residues, plastic waste, and waste gas streams—into sustainable fuels and chemicals. The company commercializes microwave catalysis technology developed over 10 years at the University of Oxford, holding an exclusive worldwide license from Oxford University Innovation (OUI) to the foundational intellectual property and proprietary catalyst catalog. The system is claimed to deliver >98% single-pass conversion efficiencies and a target production capacity of approximately 500 barrels per day per modular site, with a stated goal of petrochemical cost parity by 2032.

The technology stack consists of the Microwave Catalytic Chemistry Platform, an AI-driven modular manufacturing module that uses machine learning for predictive fault detection, and application-specific solutions such as the Medical Waste Upcycling System. The platform is fully electrified, supports instant heating, and is designed to operate on intermittent power sources; modular, decentralized units can be deployed at the point of waste generation, eliminating biomass kiln drying requirements and enabling processing of contaminated plastics. Target end-markets are healthcare facilities, agricultural operations, plastic recyclers, and industrial emitters, with healthcare/medical waste elevated to the primary segment.

MCatalysis operates a B2B enterprise model, generating revenue through technology licensing and the direct sale of modular systems to industrial customers. Distribution is via direct enterprise sales to healthcare systems and waste management operators, supplemented by licensing partnerships for global deployment. The company is backed by HL Energy Ventures (HLEV), which led its 2025 seed round, and has secured a £1.7 million EPSRC and Defra grant for medical waste recycling via a consortium with Queen Mary University of London, Cardiff University, Imperial College London, and Barts Health NHS Trust. A European subsidiary, MCatalysis France, was established in Lyon in early 2026 with the first industrial prototype installed at the Axel'One technology platform.

Name

MCatalysis

Legal name

MCatalysis, Inc.

Website

https://mcatalysis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MCatalysis is a Dallas-based deep tech company founded in 2025 that develops industrial microwave catalytic systems to convert waste carbon resources, including agricultural residues, plastic waste, and medical waste, into sustainable fuels and chemicals for healthcare, agricultural, recycling, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Microwave Catalysis Systems

NAICS

Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Production & Combustion (C&D/MSW-derived) (EUAAAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Production & Co-processing (Cement Kilns/Industrial Furnaces) (EUAIACAH), Plastic-to-Fuel/Oil & Feedstock Upgrading (Naphtha/Cracker Feed) (EUAIAKAL), Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Microwave catalysis technology
• Waste-to-fuel systems
• Modular chemical reactors
• Carbon upcycling solutions
• Sustainable fuel production

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: The company licenses its microwave catalysis technology to industrial partners. MCatalysis has secured an exclusive worldwide license agreement from Oxford University Innovation for the foundational IP and generates revenue by sublicensing or commercializing this technology.
2. Modular System Sales: Sale of decentralized modular microwave-catalytic systems to healthcare facilities, industrial plants, and waste management operators for on-site waste processing and upcycling.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

MCatalysis develops and commercializes industrial microwave catalysis technology that converts waste carbon resources (agricultural residues, plastic waste, and waste gas streams) into clean synthetic fuels and chemicals. The company sells decentralized modular microwave-catalytic systems for on-site processing and licenses its proprietary catalyst technology, derived from 10 years of Oxford University R&D.

Product overview

MCatalysis offers a single unified technology platform centered on microwave catalytic chemistry, which uses industrial microwave processes combined with proprietary catalysts to convert waste carbon resources into sustainable fuels and chemicals. The platform is complemented by an AI-driven modular manufacturing module that employs machine learning for predictive fault detection. The company applies this core technology to specific use cases, including medical waste upcycling, targeting petrochemical cost parity by 2032.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microwave Catalytic Chemistry Platform
• Medical Waste Upcycling System

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% reduction in medical waste volume compared to current methods
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026QMUL leads the £1.7M EPSRC and Defra-funded medical waste recycling project. Dr Michael Jie, Associate Professor at QMUL, serves as CTO of MCatalysis. The partnership develops microwave-catalytic technology for converting medical waste into chemicals and synthetic fuels.
• Cardiff UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Part of the consortium awarded EPSRC and Defra grant alongside QMUL and MCatalysis for medical waste upcycling research.
• Imperial College LondonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Part of the consortium awarded EPSRC and Defra grant alongside QMUL and MCatalysis for medical waste upcycling research.
• Oxford University Innovation (OUI)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOUI granted MCatalysis an exclusive worldwide license agreement to the foundational intellectual property in microwave catalysis developed at the University of Oxford. OUI has over 30 years of experience commercializing University research.
• ONLYLYON InvestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment promotion agency that supported MCatalysis's establishment of its European subsidiary MCatalysis France in Lyon, leveraging Lyon's industrial, scientific and academic assets.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Resynergi: Resynergi uses microwave-driven catalytic depolymerization to convert end-of-life plastics into fuels and chemical feedstocks. It is the closest direct competitor to MCatalysis because both apply microwave catalysis to waste carbon, share modular on-site hardware, and target petrochemical-grade outputs.
• Plastic Energy: Plastic Energy operates commercial-scale plants that convert end-of-life plastics into feedstock oils via pyrolysis. It overlaps directly with MCatalysis on the plastic-to-fuels/chemicals value proposition, although it uses thermal rather than microwave-driven catalysis.
• Agilyx: Agilyx converts mixed waste plastics into crude-like oils and chemical feedstocks through pyrolysis and has licensing-based commercial deployments. Comparable to MCatalysis as a waste-to-chemicals platform pursuing petrochemical substitution.
• LanzaTech: LanzaTech uses gas fermentation to convert waste gases (e.g., industrial off-gases) into fuels and chemicals. It shares MCatalysis's mission of converting waste carbon resources into petrochemical substitutes, though it uses biological rather than microwave catalysis.
• Brightmark Energy: Brightmark Energy develops plastic-to-fuel projects in the United States using pyrolysis to convert waste plastics into fuels and feedstocks. Directly comparable in end-products and customer segment (waste management operators) to MCatalysis.
• Enerkem: Enerkem gasifies non-recyclable waste streams into methanol and other chemical intermediates. Comparable as a waste-to-chemicals platform pursuing petrochemical substitution, although using a different thermal conversion pathway.
• Alterra Energy: Alterra Energy operates a proprietary thermal dissolution process to convert mixed plastics into petrochemical feedstocks. It overlaps directly with MCatalysis on plastic-to-feedstock output and modular on-site processing ambitions.
• Fulcrum BioEnergy: Fulcrum BioEnergy converts municipal solid waste into synthetic crude and transportation fuels via gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Comparable as a waste-to-fuels platform targeting petrochemical displacement.

Broad incumbents

• Eastman Chemical: Eastman operates large-scale chemical recycling (methanolysis) for polyester plastics and is an established materials science incumbent. Comparable as a broad incumbent pushing into advanced recycling that could compete for feedstock and customer mindshare with MCatalysis.
• BASF: BASF is a global chemical major with significant ChemCycling and circular-economy initiatives. Comparable as a broad incumbent exploring catalytic waste-to-chemicals pathways that compete in the same end-markets MCatalysis targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 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 MCatalysis