Next Rung Technology

What Next Rung Technology does

Next Rung Technology (NRT) is a private engineering and consulting firm founded in 2017 by John Ellersick and headquartered at Greentown Labs in Somerville, Massachusetts. The firm supports growth-stage companies developing process-based sustainable technologies — spanning alternative proteins, biotechnology, biochemicals and next-generation materials, renewables, and water/waste treatment — by delivering services that bridge engineering and business strategy through the lab-to-commercial scale-up journey.

NRT's core offering is engineering and consulting services built around four pillars: technology development and commercialization (TEA modeling, feasibility studies, P&IDs, process flow diagrams), project development/management/execution (FEL 1/2/3 stage-gated engineering, owner's engineer, tech transfer, permitting), global manufacturing sourcing and scale-up (supplier vetting and partner selection in Mexico, India, and China), and organizational leadership strategy (org design, plant staffing, CMO vetting). Central to its differentiator is the proprietary collaborative TEA methodology that produces dynamic, client-usable models with adjustable faceplates for scenario analysis, supported by an internal equipment cost database and a 12-project FOAK dataset accumulated across 140+ projects.

NRT generates revenue through professional services engagements, including fixed-scope projects, multi-year partnerships, and the Next Rung Navigator monthly subscription program that bundles its Commercialization Toolkit at low/medium/high effort tiers. Sales motion is direct and relationship-driven, supported by thought-leadership content, case studies, industry conferences (SIMB, ABPDU), and the firm's embedded position within the Greentown Labs cleantech incubator ecosystem. The company is founder-owned and controlled, with no institutional funding rounds disclosed and team growth from four founding members to 16+ by early 2023 with continued hiring through 2025.

Name

Next Rung Technology

Legal name

Next Rung Technology

Website

https://nextrungtechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Next Rung Technology is a private engineering and consulting firm that helps growth-stage sustainable technology companies scale process-based innovations from lab to commercial, through techno-economic analysis, FEL-stage engineering, and global manufacturing sourcing, primarily serving cleantech startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Energy Systems & Power Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable technology consulting
• Process engineering services
• Techno-economic analysis
• Scale-up engineering support
• Manufacturing commercialization

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Process Consulting Services: Professional services revenue generated through project-based consulting engagements. Services include techno-economic analysis, process design, project management, manufacturing scale-up support, and engineering oversight. Engagement models include fixed-scope projects, ongoing retainer arrangements, and monthly Navigator program subscriptions.
2. Navigator Program Subscriptions: Monthly support program with customizable engagement levels. Clients pay for ongoing access to expert advisors and commercialization support services on a recurring monthly basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Next Rung Technology provides engineering and consulting services that help sustainable technology companies scale process-based innovations from lab/pilot to commercial production. Core offerings span technology development and commercialization (including techno-economic analysis and process design), project development and execution (FEL 1/2/3 engineering, permitting), global manufacturing sourcing and scale-up, and organizational leadership strategy. Services are delivered via project-based consulting engagements and the Next Rung Navigator monthly subscription program bundling a Commercialization Toolkit.

Product overview

Next Rung Technology is an engineering and consulting services firm that provides a unified portfolio of services to help sustainable technology companies scale their business and engineering processes. The core offerings include: (1) Technology Development and Commercialization - process design, techno-economic analysis (TEA), and scale-up support; (2) Project Development, Management and Execution - covering FEL 1/2/3 engineering stages and permitting; (3) Global Manufacturing Sourcing and Scale Up - supplier vetting and international manufacturing partner selection; and (4) Organizational Leadership Strategy - organizational design and plant staffing. These services are delivered through flexible engagement models including the Next Rung Navigator monthly support program, which provides access to their Commercialization Toolkit (including roadmapping, risk management, TEA, capital cost estimation, and skid development) at customizable effort levels. The company specializes in working with process-based sustainable technologies across sectors including alternative proteins, biochemicals, water treatment, and renewables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Development and Commercialization Comprehensive support from assessing technology commercial readiness through bringing it to commercial scale from lab or pilot, including process design, techno-economic assessment, due diligence, staged scale-up, and technology transfer. Targeted at growth-stage sustainable technology companies scaling process-based innovations.
• Project Development, Management and Execution Turns complex, uncertain projects into clear execution paths, including project funding support, FEL 1/2/3 engineering, owners engineering, project execution, permitting/regulatory compliance, and tech transfer. Designed for sustainable technology companies executing pilot, demonstration, and commercial plant projects.
• Global Manufacturing Sourcing and Scale Up Vets and onboards high-quality suppliers and manufacturing partners globally, covering supply chain development, fabrication shop selection, equipment sourcing, manufacturing plant layouts, and low-cost engineering in Mexico, India, and China. For sustainable technology companies ready to operationalize commercial supply chains.
• Organizational Leadership Strategy Creates resilient and productive organizations through strategic documentation, organizational structure configuration, RACI chart development, plant staffing, SOP development, and leadership consulting. For sustainable technology companies building operational muscle ahead of commercial scale-up.
• Next Rung Navigator Specialized monthly scale-up support program providing access to expert advisors and a Commercialization Toolkit, with customizable low, medium, or high effort levels over 6-9 months, focused on milestone-driven delivery for sustainable technology companies preparing for scale-up.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported $200M+ in client fundraising through TEA services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NEBRA (North East Biosolids and Residuals Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023NRT was invited by NEBRA to present on C-Green's OxyPower HTC technology for biosolids management. Susanne Feagin, P.E. presented the webinar providing overview of the hydrothermal carbonization process, current installations, and potential applications.
• Greentown LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreentown Labs is a cleantech co-working space and incubator where NRT is headquartered. This partnership provides NRT with access to a network of sustainable technology startups and entrepreneurial ecosystem resources in the Boston area.
• UC Berkeley IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRT worked with two PhD scientists from UC Berkeley incubator to develop their novel materials technology from lab bench to investor-ready package in 60 days, supporting their seed funding round.
• C-GreenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNRT supports C-Green's OxyPower HTC technology commercialization, including presenting at industry associations and supporting technology adoption in North America.
• Oasys WaterminorOthersJohn Ellersick previously worked at Oasys Water before founding NRT in 2017 after its acquisition. Not an active partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GHD: Large global engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm with dedicated sustainable process and cleantech capabilities; competes with NRT for cleantech scale-up and process engineering work but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Worley: Global engineering and project delivery firm with a strong energy transition and chemicals process practice, providing FEL engineering and scale-up services similar to NRT but for larger industrial customers worldwide.
• Stantec: International design and engineering consultancy with significant water, environmental, and energy practices that overlap with NRT's wastewater, water treatment, and renewable process work.
• Tetra Tech: Engineering and consulting firm focused on water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure with practices in water treatment and process design that overlap with NRT's water/wastewater and FEL service lines.
• ICF International: Consulting and digital services firm with energy, environment, and climate practices that include techno-economic analysis and scale-up advisory, comparable to NRT's TEA and commercialization services.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and engineering consultancy with strong process, water, and energy practices; competes with NRT on industrial process scale-up, TEA, and permitting for sustainable technology projects.
• Wood (John Wood Group): Global engineering and consultancy with energy transition and process industry practices, including feasibility and FEED studies comparable to NRT's FEL 1/2/3 offerings, though typically serving larger industrial customers.
• Black & Veatch: Major engineering, procurement, and construction firm with water, renewable energy, and process infrastructure practices that overlap with NRT's water treatment, renewables, and scale-up engineering services.

Direct peers

• NexantECA: Specialist energy and chemicals consulting firm providing techno-economic analysis, market studies, and process advisory to clean energy and sustainable chemicals clients — closely aligned with NRT's TEA and commercialization work.
• Lee Enterprises Consulting: Boutique consultancy serving the food, agriculture, and bioeconomy sectors with commercialization, scale-up, and process engineering advisory — directly comparable to NRT's alternative protein, biochemicals, and biotech scale-up practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Next Rung Technology