Archive for December, 2020

Cleaning up: Promising pilot test destroying groundwater contamination in Spokane Valley

Posted on: December 2nd, 2020 by Kirenaga Partners

Kaiser Aluminum’s Trentwood facility is in the early phases of testing new technology that destroys over 90 percent of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in water at their facility in the Spokane Valley.

The Trentwood facility has produced specialized aluminum products for more than 75 years and, like many facilities around the country, used PCB-containing oils in an effort to safely and efficiently operate some industrial equipment. Over the years, some of the PCB oil leaked, contaminating groundwater under the aluminum-casting building near the Spokane River.

Kaiser has been researching and implementing technologies to address the contaminated groundwater, and is now examining two processes to see which will more effectively reduce the threat posed by the PCBs.

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Space Perspective Moves Closer to the Edge of Space, with Seed Round Financing and a Stellar Investment Team

Posted on: December 2nd, 2020 by Kirenaga Partners

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – Space Perspective today announced it has closed a $7 million series seed financing for the development and early flights of Spaceship Neptune to the edge of space. The infusion of capital advances the human space flight company another step closer to fundamentally changing the way people have access to space for research and tourism.

“We are delighted to welcome our new investors to the Space Perspective team. We selected them because they are the cutting edge of venture capital. Their active approach to supporting founders is a critical component of executing on our mission to give people the life-changing experience of seeing our planet in space,” said Space Perspective Founder and Co-CEO Jane Poynter, who made the announcement today at the Web Summit 2020.

“Our ability to make space accessible in unprecedented ways carries immense importance,” added Taber MacCallum, also Founder and Co-CEO. “We are grateful that this premier group of investors recognizes that space tourism has arrived and is a significant driver in the future growth of commercial spaceflight.”

The financing was led by Prime Movers Lab, the lead investor in Momentus who recently announced its SPAC merger, and Base Ventures who is a leading Silicon Valley tech fund. The investor group also includes world-renowned entrepreneur, author and business strategist Tony Robbins, and venture capital firms Kirenaga Partners’ Central Florida Tech Fund1517 FundSchoxE2MC Ventures and SpaceFund Venture Capital. Anton Brevde of Prime Movers and Kirby Harris of Base Ventures serve on the Space Perspective Board of Directors. David Scalzo of Kirenaga is an advisor.

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