# VIA BioFuels

> VIA BioFuels is a Houston synthetic-biology company that engineered a strain of brewer's yeast to produce 3-methylanisole (3-MA), a bio-aromatic fuel molecule that evaporates out of the fermentation broth on its own and condenses back as a high-purity liquid. That trick skips the expensive distillation that weighs down most biofuels, and the resulting molecule packs more than 150% of ethanol's energy density. VIA sells 3-MA and its derivatives as drop-in gasoline, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen carriers, and feedstock for plastics.

- **Founded:** 2023
- **Headquarters:** Houston, Texas, United States
- **Founders:** Lewis J. Dutel (CEO & Co-Founder), Patty Rohs (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** 3-4 (four-person leadership team)
- **Products:** 3-Methylanisole (3-MA), Methylcyclohexane (MCH), Toluene / BTX aromatics, Drop-in fuels & chemical feedstocks
- **Notable:** Engineered an S. cerevisiae yeast strain that produces 3-methylanisole and lets it self-separate from the broth via volatilization., Reported energy density exceeding 150% of ethanol and above gasoline., Selected into IndieBio (SOSV) and Greentown Labs.

## Products & services

- **3-Methylanisole (3-MA)** — A bio-aromatic molecule produced by a proprietary engineered S. cerevisiae yeast strain. Because 3-MA is hydrophobic and volatile, it evaporates from the fermentation broth and is condensed back as a high-purity liquid, enabling continuous fermentation and skipping energy-intensive distillation. Energy density is reported at more than 150% of ethanol's and above gasoline.
- **Methylcyclohexane (MCH)** — A single-step catalytic derivative of 3-MA used as a hydrogen carrier and transportation fuel component.
- **Toluene / BTX aromatics** — 3-MA converts to toluene and BTX aromatics, feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel blends and para-xylene for PET plastics.
- **Drop-in fuels & chemical feedstocks** — Premium drop-in fuels and chemical feedstocks sold to transportation, aviation, and chemical industries, compatible with both first-generation (1G) and second-generation (2G) feedstocks.

## Achievements

- Engineered an S. cerevisiae yeast strain that produces 3-methylanisole and lets it self-separate from the broth via volatilization.
- Reported energy density exceeding 150% of ethanol and above gasoline.
- Selected into IndieBio (SOSV) and Greentown Labs.
- Named to the inaugural 2025 Agventure Downunder cohort.
- Demonstrated single-step catalytic conversion of 3-MA to MCH and toluene for multiple fuel and chemical markets.

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — Included in the inaugural cohort of the Agventure Downunder Program, targeting agricultural feedstock and market opportunities in Australia.
- **2024-03** — Raised a convertible note round backed by IndieBio/SOSV while pursuing a ~$2.0M seed round.

## Links

- Website: https://viabiofuels.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viabiofuels

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/via-biofuels
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-20