# A Bio-Based Manufacturing Future w/ Noah Helman

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-01-14
- Length: 34m
- Episode: 240
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-7ad2bf32-4bcc-47b7-8470-6fbcef5eb4b0

## Summary

Noah Helman, Co-Founder and CEO of iMicrobes, explains how his company uses engineered microorganisms to convert renewable ethanol into acrylic acid, aiming to replace petrochemical feedstocks with net-zero emissions. Helman discusses the strategic importance of biomanufacturing for national security, highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities in the US Gulf Coast and the need for domestic production of critical materials like those used in diapers and paints. He details iMicrobes' recent scale-up of its first biomanufacturing process, emphasizing the 'valley of death' in commercialization and the necessity of partnerships with organizations like Biomade to share risk and accelerate adoption.

## Chapters

- [3:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=196) Introduction: Noah Helman and iMicrobes
- [6:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=395) Replacing Oil with Ethanol to Make Acrylic Acid
- [14:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=849) National Security and Supply Chain Resilience
- [19:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=1175) Global Sustainability Priorities: US, Europe, and Asia
- [24:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=1443) Scaling Biomanufacturing and Crossing the Valley of Death
- [27:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-14-a-bio-based-manufacturing-future-w-noah-helman#t=1674) Strategic Partnerships and Biomade Collaboration

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- iMicrobes (company)
- LS 9 (company)
- Biomade (company)
- DuPont (company)
- acrylic acid (product)
- ethanol (material)
- carbon border adjustment mechanism (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-08-245-a-grassroots-approach-to-shaping-the-future-of-american-industry-with-bret-b) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Race to Replace Plastic: 2026 SF Climate Week](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-06-04-the-race-to-replace-plastic-2026-sf-climate-week) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [HIBT Lab! Armbrust American: Lloyd Armbrust](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-04-28-hibt-lab-armbrust-american-lloyd-armbrust) (How I Built This)
- [Redefining Manufacturing in a Wartime Situation with Matthew Putman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-04-07-redefining-manufacturing-in-a-wartime-situation-with-matthew-putman) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Self-Protecting Data | How to Bring Back U.S. Manufacturing | Galvanized](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-04-24-self-protecting-data-how-to-bring-back-u-s-manufacturing-galvanized) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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