Akroneco Co., Ltd. (CEO Mark Bae) announced its participation in “COMEUP Stars 2024.”
COMEUP Stars 2024, the core event of the global startup festival COMEUP 2024, will feature competitive IR pitching sessions in “Startup Valley.” A total of 50 teams, including 30 Rookie League companies, 10 Runners League companies, and 10 selected from the Rocket League through recommendations by the advisory committee, will compete. Finalists from 13 countries, including South Korea, the U.S., the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, India, and Türkiye, highlight the event’s global scale.
Founded in August 2021, Akroneco specializes in eco-friendly technologies. Its name, derived from the Greek word “Akron,” meaning “the highest,” reflects its mission to tackle environmental challenges through cutting-edge innovation.
Akroneco developed a proprietary ultrasonic pyrolysis technology that converts non-recyclable plastic waste into pyrolysis oil. Petrochemical companies can use this oil as a feedstock for producing new plastics. The company’s compact pyrolysis units can process 1.2 to 2.4 tons of plastic waste daily, making them suitable for small recycling firms and manufacturers.
The company also developed ultrasonic chemical decontamination technology for removing radioactive contaminants from nuclear reactor coolant pumps. The technology was successfully deployed at South Korea’s Shin Hanul Unit 1 atomic reactor, contributing to its commercial operation.
With over a decade of experience in plastic waste processing and nuclear facility decontamination, Akroneco has achieved significant milestones, including being selected as a “Core Company” by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in 2023 and receiving a commendation at the 2024 Environment Expo. It has partnered with leading domestic companies to expand its ultrasonic pyrolysis and nuclear decontamination technologies.
The company plans to scale its pyrolysis units to handle 5 to 10 tons of plastic waste daily and launch demonstration projects with municipal governments and waste management firms by 2025. Akroneco has secured agreements to supply pyrolysis oil to petrochemical giants to promote a circular economy. This partnership supports a closed-loop recycling system that converts plastic waste into valuable resources.
Akroneco has already entered the Vietnamese market and plans to expand further into Thailand, other Southeast Asian nations, and the EU. The company’s international strategy addresses global carbon reduction and environmental sustainability demands while becoming a global leader in eco-friendly technology.
Mark Bae, CEO of Akroneco, emphasized, “Our ultrasonic pyrolysis and nuclear waste decontamination technologies contribute significantly to carbon reduction and environmental conservation. We are committed to building a sustainable future through innovative waste management solutions.”
COMEUP 2024 will occur on December 11–12 at Coex in Seoul, featuring innovative startups and investors from over 40 countries. This year’s theme, “Innovation Beyond Borders,” highlights startups’ roles in driving global innovation across boundaries of nations and technology. The event will feature conferences, pitching sessions, and exhibitions focusing on deep tech, inbound innovation, and SIS (Sustainable Innovation by Startup).
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