# Fluid Efficiency

> Fluid Efficiency is a Caltech spin-out that builds MegaSupraMolecules (MSMs), self-assembling polymers that change how fluids move. Its flagship product is a removable drag-reducing agent for natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines - a fluid class where conventional drag reducers can't be used because leftover polymer fouls downstream fractionation equipment. By letting the additive be removed before sensitive processing, Fluid Efficiency helps midstream operators push more volume through existing pipelines without building new ones. The same polymer platform also reduces fuel misting (and the explosion risk that comes with it), improves lubricant viscosity, and aids long-distance pumping of crude and refined products.

- **Headquarters:** Houston, Texas, United States
- **Founders:** Simon Jones (Founder & CEO (also referenced as CTO)), Julia Kornfield (Co-founder, Caltech professor of chemical engineering), Ming-Hsin (Jeremy) Wei (Co-founder & Chief Science Officer)
- **Team size:** ~8 employees
- **Products:** Removable NGL Drag Reducing Agent, MegaSupraMolecules (MSMs), Flow improvers for crude and refined products, Fuel safety additives (mist control), Lubricant viscosity index improvers
- **Notable:** Spun MegaSupraMolecule technology out of Caltech's Kornfield Lab into a commercial company, Secured U.S. EPA registration of MegaSupraMolecules as gasoline and diesel fuel additives (2018), Featured by the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Oil & Gas Facilities for pipeline drag-reduction potential

## Products & services

- **Removable NGL Drag Reducing Agent** — A patented drag reducer designed for natural gas liquids pipelines that can be removed before downstream fractionation, solving the fouling problem that blocks conventional DRAs from NGL service.
- **MegaSupraMolecules (MSMs)** — Long telechelic end-associative polymers whose small units self-assemble into very large supra-molecules. They improve the material properties of organic liquids yet resist degradation under high-temperature, high-shear conditions.
- **Flow improvers for crude and refined products** — Single-injection flow improvers that reduce frictional pressure loss for long-distance pumping of crude oil and refined fuels.
- **Fuel safety additives (mist control)** — MSMs that suppress misting in fuels, reducing the risk of post-impact fires and explosions - the original Caltech use case.
- **Lubricant viscosity index improvers** — Polymers that improve lubricant performance and viscosity index without shear-induced breakdown.
- **Drilling fluid additives** — MSM-based additives for drilling fluid performance.

## Achievements

- Spun MegaSupraMolecule technology out of Caltech's Kornfield Lab into a commercial company
- Secured U.S. EPA registration of MegaSupraMolecules as gasoline and diesel fuel additives (2018)
- Featured by the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Oil & Gas Facilities for pipeline drag-reduction potential
- Developed a removable drag reducer specifically engineered for NGL pipelines, addressing fractionator fouling
- Raised ~$17.4M including an $8M Series A with strategic backing from ONEOK and SCG Chemicals

## Latest updates

- **2024-06** — Cortado Ventures announced an investment in Fluid Efficiency to support field deployment of MSM technology.
- **2023-12** — Closed an $8M Series A round with strategic and venture investors including ONEOK and SCG Chemicals.
- **2018-04** — Registered MegaSupraMolecules as gasoline and diesel fuel additives with the U.S. EPA.
- **2018-03** — Oil & gas veteran Jean-Michel Gires joined the Fluid Efficiency board.

## Links

- Website: https://fluidefficiency.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fluid-efficiency

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-15