ScarabTECH
ScarabTech is a South Africa-based clean technology startup, founded in 2018, that develops modular 'Beetles' units converting waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site. It serves industrial, municipal, and impact-focused customers seeking decentralised energy and waste solutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGlenwood Springs, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ScarabTECH does
ScarabTech is a clean technology startup, established in 2018, that develops modular plastic-to-energy conversion units branded as 'Beetles'. The company describes its core technology as a process that converts waste plastic — a hydrocarbon resource — into carbon-neutral fuel on-site, using a modular core architecture in which a single core has the footprint of a sofa and can be stacked to scale from a few hundred litres per day to tens of thousands. The system is designed for hyper-local, decentralised deployment that bypasses pipelines, tankers, and distant refineries, and pairs the hardware with proprietary real-time telemetry software that provides 24/7 support, daily session reports, and fleet management at any scale. The hardware is engineered to be operated and maintained by personnel with diesel-mechanic skills, with modular maintenance that allows one core to be serviced while the rest continue running, eliminating complete downtime.
The company is designed in Johannesburg, South Africa, and self-positions as serving customers 'anywhere in the world'. Its stated go-to-market is direct enterprise sales of capital equipment to industrial and commercial energy consumers, municipalities and communities, and impact-focused organisations that need to address plastic pollution and energy security simultaneously. The revenue model is hardware sales of the modular Beetles units, likely bundled with recurring software and fleet management services, with mass production originally targeted for December 2023 following a December 2022 seed round from the GIIG Africa Fund. The company is led by founder and CEO Jeffrey Barbee and operates with 1–10 employees at the seed stage.
ScarabTech's near-term strategic posture is that of a pre-commercial or early-commercial hardware startup: a single flagship product, a small headcount, one disclosed institutional investor, and a roadmap oriented around finalising design, scaling manufacturing, and expanding into multiple regions. No named customers, pricing, patents, certifications, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed, which limits external validation of commercial traction.
ScarabTECH firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ScarabTECH
- Legal name
- ScarabTech
- Website
- https://scarabtech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ScarabTech is a South Africa-based clean technology startup, founded in 2018, that develops modular 'Beetles' units converting waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site. It serves industrial, municipal, and impact-focused customers seeking decentralised energy and waste solutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ScarabTECH industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Waste-to-Energy Conversion Equipment
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (325110)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plastic-to-Fuel/Oil & Feedstock Upgrading (Naphtha/Cracker Feed) (EUAIAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Biomass & Waste-to-Energy Plant EPC (EUAEAAAI)
Keywords
Where ScarabTECH is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glenwood Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ScarabTECH business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Modular Energy Units (Beetles): Sale or lease of modular plastic-to-energy conversion units ('Beetles') that convert waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel. The modular nature allows customers to add cores as needed, creating a scalable revenue opportunity.
- Software & Fleet Management: Real-time telemetry, 24/7 support, daily reports, and fleet management software as part of the product offering. Likely bundled with hardware or available as a service.
- Mass Production Scale-up: Revenue expected from mass production planned for December 2023, targeting commercial projects across multiple regions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
ScarabTECH product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ScarabTech designs, manufactures, and supplies modular plastic-to-energy conversion units branded as "Beetles" that convert waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site. Each unit is built around sofa-sized modular cores that can be added incrementally to scale output from a few hundred litres per day to tens of thousands, and the system is paired with proprietary real-time telemetry software for fleet monitoring, 24/7 support, and daily operational reporting.
Product overview
ScarabTech offers a single unified product: the 'Beetles' modular plastic-to-energy conversion system. This flagship offering converts waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site using a modular core architecture that scales from a few hundred litres per day to tens of thousands by adding additional cores. The system includes proprietary real-time telemetry software for fleet management, 24/7 support, and daily operational reports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Beetles Modular Plastic-to-Energy Units Modular plastic-to-energy conversion units that transform waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site. Each core has the footprint of a sofa, with capacity scaling from a few hundred litres per day to tens of thousands by adding additional cores. The system is supported by proprietary real-time telemetry software, 24/7 support, and daily operational reports, and is designed to be operated and maintained by personnel with diesel-mechanic-level skills.
Quantifiable outcome
- Scale from hundreds to tens of thousands of litres per day through modular core additions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ScarabTECH
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ScarabTECH technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ScarabTECH partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ScarabTECH competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Agilyx: Agilyx converts mixed waste plastics into crude oil and other hydrocarbon products via proprietary pyrolysis. It is a directly comparable plastic-to-fuel technology developer with a more commercialised footprint.
- Plastic Energy: Plastic Energy operates commercial-scale plastic-to-fuel plants using thermal anaerobic conversion, producing hydrocarbon oils for refining. It is the closest direct competitor in plastic-to-fuel conversion technology and target end-markets.
- Mura Technology: Mura Technology operates advanced chemical recycling processes (Cat-HTR) that convert waste plastics into feedstocks for new plastics and fuels. Directly comparable in plastic-to-hydrocarbon conversion and circular-economy positioning.
- Brightmark Energy: Brightmark operates plastic-to-fuel pyrolysis facilities in the US, converting waste plastics into transportation fuels and wax. A directly comparable plastic-to-fuel player with commercial-scale deployments.
- Recycling Technologies: Recycling Technologies develops modular plastic-to-oil systems (RT7000) that convert mixed plastic waste into Plaxx oil. Directly comparable due to its modular, decentralised hardware approach to plastic-to-fuel.
Emerging players
- Nexus Circular: Nexus Circular uses advanced pyrolysis to convert previously non-recyclable plastics into circular feedstocks for new plastic production. An emerging player with technology and end-market overlap to ScarabTech's plastic-to-hydrocarbon focus.
- Renewlogy: Renewlogy converts mixed plastic waste into naphtha and diesel via proprietary pyrolysis. An emerging player with overlapping plastic-to-fuel technology targeting similar end-markets.
Broad incumbents
- Shell: Shell has invested in plastic-to-fuel and chemical-recycling ventures and is integrating pyrolysis-based feedstocks into its refineries. A broad energy incumbent with deep resources that competes in the plastic-to-hydrocarbon value chain.
- Eastman: Eastman has launched commercial-scale chemical recycling (methanolysis) that converts waste plastic into monomer feedstocks. A broad incumbent with material R&D and capital resources that competes in the plastic-to-feedstock space.
- BASF: BASF's ChemCycling project uses pyrolysis oils from waste plastic as feedstocks for chemical production. A broad chemical-industry incumbent with overlapping plastic-to-feedstock ambitions and substantial capital.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
ScarabTECH social profiles
Digital presenceScarabTECH financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ScarabTECH leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ScarabTECH funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ScarabTECH M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ScarabTECH
What does ScarabTECH do?
ScarabTech designs, manufactures, and supplies modular plastic-to-energy conversion units branded as "Beetles" that convert waste plastic into carbon-neutral fuel on-site. Each unit is built around sofa-sized modular cores that can be added incrementally to scale output from a few hundred litres per day to tens of thousands, and the system is paired with proprietary real-time telemetry software for fleet monitoring, 24/7 support, and daily operational reporting.
Is ScarabTECH a public or private company?
ScarabTECH is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ScarabTECH founded?
ScarabTECH was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ScarabTECH based?
ScarabTECH is headquartered in Glenwood Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does ScarabTECH make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Modular Energy Units (Beetles) is the primary driver. The others are software & Fleet Management and mass Production Scale-up.
Who are ScarabTECH's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Agilyx, Plastic Energy, Mura Technology, Brightmark Energy and Recycling Technologies. Emerging players are Nexus Circular and Renewlogy. Broad incumbents are Shell, Eastman and BASF.
Does ScarabTECH have an API?
No public API is recorded for ScarabTECH.
What industry is ScarabTECH in?
ScarabTECH's product category is Waste-to-Energy Conversion Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAL, Plastic-to-Fuel/Oil & Feedstock Upgrading (Naphtha/Cracker Feed), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion). Its NAICS code is 325110 and its SIC code is 4953.