(1888PressRelease)
May 22, 2009 - Cary, N. C. Guerry Grune holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, and has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. The combination of degrees and his passion for the environment, has proven to be a potent recipe for new product development.
As the CEO of 3rd Rock Sunblock, he is the sole inventor of 3rd Rock technology. He has 12 issued patents and 25 pending patent applications. Almost all of his chemistry research is based upon creating “green” environmentally-friendly products that help provide energy and health-related issues.
At the May 20 RTP Angel Capital Exchange, in Cary, N. C., Grune explained that his last name means “Green” in German, and that he has been committed to the green revolution for over fifteen years. His sunblock product is the only immuno-enhancing, cytoprotective, non-toxic, non-endocrine-disrupting high SPF barrier protection currently available to the market.
He began his presentation by citing recent evidence from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that revealed that 97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient known as oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage.
He said he was determined when he set out on his research five years ago to make a safe sunscreen product that he would eliminate the use of oxybenzone and the other active SPF ingredients which have been determined to be endocrine disrupters. “I wanted to produce a product that solved more health problems than it created,” he said.
Grune along with cofounders David Bradin and Marty Trivette, of CPS Biofuels, also turned his research attention to the energy crisis, and an unintended consequence of the federal government’s mandate on the use of biofuel E10 as an additive to auto gasoline. The use of E10 reduces auto miles per gallon (MPG) by 15-20%, yet with the government mandate, E10 holds over 50% of the US auto fuel market.
Applying their patented methods and research, Grune and his partners developed an alternative to E10 based upon the ingredient, GTBE (Glycerol Tert Butyl Ether). Their new product, PowerShot, is the only renewable, green, greenhouse gas emission reducing biomass derived biofuel additive on the market.
In laboratory tests, the new product was shown to increases MPG by 5-15%, by boosting octane and energy content in auto fuel tanks (BTU). The product reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGE), and offers consumers a cost savings of up to $.45/gallon at pump.
Both of Grune’s products are at the product launch stage, but are being hindered from full commercial viability due to constraints in the private capital market.
“Grune is a prime example of what the political elite in North Carolina should be focused on for job creation,” said Tom Vass, the organizer of the RTP Angel Capital Exchange. “It is extremely unfortunate that the private sources of capital available in North Carolina are so disorganized that these two new products have not obtained adequate capital to launch.”
The RTP Angel Capital Exchange is an open business network that provides both existing companies and new ventures a platform for describing their growth plans. The Angel Capital Exchange is one part of 3 other business networks in the RTP that work together to increase the rate of technology innovation and deal flow in the regional economy.
The monthly event is held at the BNC Center in Cary, and begins at 5:00 PM on May 20, 2009. There is a $10 fee at the door to attend. Pre-registration is available at MeetUp.com. http://newtech.meetup.com/115/calendar/
About CPS Biofuels Inc.: Company is located at 1225 Duplin Rd. Raleigh, NC 27607. Contact Marty Trivette, acting CFO, info ( @ ) cpsbiofuels dot com phone: 860-655-5253 dot
About 3rd Rock Sunblock, Inc.:
The company is located at 784 S. Villier Ct., VA Beach, VA and develops and distributes a patented sunblock that yields superior UV protection from the sun and contains beneficial, healthy, immune boosting ingredients for the skin. Its active ingredients are inorganic. Contact Guerry Grune, ggrune ( @ ) 3rdrocksunblock dot com 757-570-1921
About the RTP Angel Capital Exchange:
This is an informal business networking event for innovative companies and startups who are seeking capital. Each month, there will be 30 minutes of social networking in the BNC Wine Bar, followed by power point presentations by the companies seeking capital. The cost to make a presentation is $100. Contact Tom Vass at 919 9754856.
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