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WPI Entrepreneurs Find Pricing, Awareness, and Supplies Impact Rare Earth Recycling Industry

leckelbecker — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

When a group of WPI students and faculty members first set out in 2022 to interview people connected to the rare earth magnet industry, they wanted to know if an innovative magnet recycling business could succeed.

After more than 130 interviews, says Adam Powell, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a member of the team, the group concluded that the answer is a qualified 鈥測es.鈥?lt;/p>

Adam Powell

鈥淲e learned there is demand for recycled materials, and a lot of people want a domestic recycling industry to grow,鈥?Powell says. 鈥淵et the reality is that only a small number of U.S. companies are building recycling capacity. The industry is still maturing as companies develop facilities, awareness of recycling grows, and a steady supply of old magnets builds.鈥?lt;/p>

鈥淩are earth鈥?refers to a group of metallic elements such as neodymium that are abundant in the earth鈥檚 crust but difficult and environmentally damaging to mine and process. Magnets made from rare earth minerals are used in everything from hybrid and electric vehicles to wind turbines and fighter jets, and the total market for rare earth elements was valued at more than $3 billion in 2023.

China supplies most of the world鈥檚 rare earth minerals and has used its hold on the market as a political tool. In early 2025, China threatened to limit rare earth exports, especially to Western defense contractors, as a response to U.S. tariffs.

During its review, the WPI group found that challenges for rare earth recycling include incentivizing the recycling of materials and competing with magnets made from virgin materials.

Now Entering the (Woo)Tank: WPI Student Entrepreneurs

jcain — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Three WPI student entrepreneurs demonstrated their innovative technology-based business ideas and received both feedback and financial support from Worcester-area business leaders during a regional college pitch competition on April 8. The WooTank Intercollegiate Showdown was modeled after the Shark Tank television show. A panel of three investors heard pitches from students representing eight budding companies from four schools in Central Massachusetts: WPI, the College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, and Nichols College.

A technological time-saver for landscaping companies

(L-R) Luis Alzamora and Russell Hertel present their pitch at WooTank

Robotics engineering majors Russell Hertel 鈥?7 and Luis Alzamora 鈥?6 presented QuickEst, an online tool that provides instant, accurate estimates for landscaping work. Landscaping companies can leverage the tool by loading cost points for different services into the system and embedding the tool on their website. When customers go to a landscaping company website that uses QuickEst, they could enter their address, use an online map to highlight where on their property they want work done, and choose from the list of services. The program would then calculate a quote for the customer, who could in turn request to schedule the landscaping work. The goal is to transform an outdated process of providing quotes in order to save time for contractors and clients.

Hertel and Alzamora say their idea was inspired by a former classmate with a landscaping business who lamented the travel time and cost associated with conducting a visual inspection of potential customers鈥?properties, calculating an estimate, then returning later to perform the work if the customer hired the company. 鈥淚t can take a week just to get some simple work done on your property,鈥?said Hertel. 鈥淭he whole current process of landscaping estimates is completely unnecessary.鈥?lt;/span>

After hearing the pitch, panelists Kevin Anderson, a technology entrepreneur and founder of VentureWiz and VentureMeets; Evan Cox, an investor with Wire Group; and Stephanie Ramey, vice president at Rucker Investments and co-founder of Auxilium Worcester, awarded the team $1,500. Anderson also offered to introduce Hertel and Alzamora to the owners of some landscaping companies.

鈥淭his support, both financial and by making connections, is really appreciated and helps us with our next steps,鈥?said Alzamora, who said he鈥檚 feeling more comfortable pitching ideas with each new competition QuickEst enters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 scary at first, but when you practice it, you get more fluid with it. Pitch competitions are a good way to practice your networking abilities. This was a really good opportunity.鈥?lt;/span>

An innovative approach to drying sports equipment

Calvin Lambert presents his DryPro Equipment prototype at WooTank. Photo credit: AG Digital for The Venture Forum

Data science major Calvin Lambert 鈥?7, pitched his company, DryPro Equipment, and the device he鈥檚 created to efficiently and effectively dry athletic gear after competition or practice. The drying rack consists of plastic pipes with several air vents and multiple places to hang athletic gear. The pipes are connected to an air compressor that blows room temperature air through the system to reach items resting on the three-tiered racks. DryPro seeks to eliminate bacteria and mold that can develop in damp equipment and dry the equipment faster, at higher capacity, and with less risk of causing damage to the gear than existing methods.

Lambert, who was a four-sport athlete in high school and youth sports and is now a member of WPI鈥檚 football team, says he was inspired to create the system after his experiences with both ringworm from his hockey helmet and a rash that spread through his high school football team. The WooTank panelists, citing a huge potential for the system to be used in youth sports, awarded Lambert $1,250 for further prototypes and refining the device.

鈥?lt;/strong>This opportunity to present my idea and receive feedback means a lot to me. I鈥檓 excited and blessed to be here,鈥?said Lambert who began thinking about turning his device into a business just a few months ago. 鈥淲ith events like this, I feel like maybe I am onto something, and it gives me a burst of energy to keep going forward.鈥?lt;/span>

WPI 2024 Research Expenditures Reach Record High of $71.6 Million

leckelbecker — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) spent a record $71.6 million on research and development activities during the 2024 academic year, up 8% over the previous year, as expenditures grew on projects funded by federal agencies and nonprofit organizations.

University researchers also launched 234 multiyear projects in 2024 and received a record $60 million in public and private awards for research activities.

鈥淲PI鈥檚 extraordinary faculty, staff, and students are conducting research that tackles some of the world鈥檚 most pressing problems, and the awards they have received from government, corporate, and private funders are a testament to their innovative thinking,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation.

WPI鈥檚 research growth follows a decade of investment and work by students, faculty, and staff. The university was recently designated an R1 institution, the top tier of American research colleges and universities, based on its 2023 research spending and doctorate degrees.

Newer data shows that WPI鈥檚 expansion of research and development continued in 2024. Information on research expenditures was recently submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF), and WPI published award data in late 2024.

About 83% of all research dollars awarded to WPI during 2024 were provided by the federal government. The Department of Defense sponsored more than $15 million in awards to WPI, followed by the NSF with nearly $14 million in awards, and the Department of Health and Human Services with more than $9 million in awards. Other large federal funders included the Department of Energy and the Department of Education, each with more than $2 million in awards to WPI researchers.

State and local governments sponsored about 10% of the research funds awarded to WPI, and the remaining awards were sponsored by corporate, foundation, and other sponsors.

WPI Researchers Turn Up the Heat on PFAS with Novel Removal Process

jcain — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Reducing human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as 鈥渇orever chemicals,鈥?is a significant societal challenge. In the search for possible solutions, a group of researchers in WPI鈥檚 Department of Chemical Engineering has developed a process for wastewater treatment plants that not only shows promise in removing PFAS from sewage but also may ultimately generate renewable fuel while potentially reducing the amount of carbon emissions produced by these plants.

Demonstrating WPI鈥檚 commitment to developing impactful innovations, the researchers are collaborating with academic, industry, and government partners in hopes of bringing their technological approach from the lab into communities facing the daunting challenge of remediating PFAS contamination.

鈥淧FAS are insidious. They can slowly accumulate and contribute to health risks. We鈥檙e trying to reduce those risk factors,鈥?said Michael Timko, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

(L-R) Julian Bennett, chemical engineering doctoral student, Michael Timko, professor of chemical engineering, David Kenney, chemical engineering doctoral student

The timing of WPI鈥檚 work is important: Government, health, and community leaders are increasingly pushing for reductions in PFAS in the environment. PFAS are human-made chemicals that have been used for decades in the production of goods such as nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothes, and firefighting foam used at airports and military bases. Once in the environment, they are hard to break down and the widespread use of products with PFAS has resulted in the chemicals being found in soil, water, crops, livestock, and the human food chain.

When someone drinks water or eats food with PFAS in it, the chemicals can build up inside the body. According to the federal government鈥檚 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, evidence suggests associations between increased exposure to specific PFAS and health effects including certain cancers, higher cholesterol, and higher levels of enzymes that can signal liver damage.

Michael Timko, professor of chemical engineering

PFAS often show up in wastewater, and, if they are not broken down, they can re-enter the environment through emissions as both runoff water and solid waste. But, it can be challenging, costly, and energy-intensive for municipalities and water systems to remove PFAS from wastewater and its associated by-products. That鈥檚 where the team from WPI comes in.

鈥淎s we aim to reduce the presence of PFAS and people鈥檚 exposure to health risks, we also want to reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment,鈥?said Timko. 鈥淭here鈥檚 enough energy in the incoming waste stream to power wastewater treatment facilities, and we believe these plants can be carbon-neutral or even energy-producing.鈥?lt;/p>
The team, which is led by Timko, built upon a core advanced technology known as hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to create a process called radical initiated hydrothermal liquefaction (RI-HTL). The process works by heating up wastewater treatment鈥揼enerated sewage sludge in a reactor that serves as a pressure cooker. A 鈥渞adical,鈥?hydrogen peroxide, is put into the mixture to help speed up the reactions that break down the bonds holding PFAS together. Ultimately, RI-HTL generates solid waste, processed water, gas, and biocrude oil.

A reactor inside a WPI laboratory which can be used for radical initiated hydrothermal liquefaction.

Initial tests found that heating sludge for 10 minutes at roughly 570 degrees Fahrenheit in the WPI-developed process removed 99 percent of PFAS from the processed water, 98 percent from solid waste, and 89 percent from the oil. Techniques for further processing the oil can remove additional PFAS and upgrade it into transportation fuel, such as diesel or aviation fuel.

The testing also found RI-HTL increases the amount of biocrude generated, offering a 60 percent yield, compared to a 40 percent yield from HTL. Additionally, because WPI鈥檚 RI-HTL works with sewage sludge in a 鈥渨et鈥?state, it bypasses the energy-intensive steps of drying and incinerating sludge used by some treatment facilities.

Hoping to bring this technology to the market, Timko and his team worked with WPI鈥檚 Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship to seek a patent on the technology and license it to River Otter Renewables. Timko co-founded the Massachusetts-based company in 2023 with CEO Amelia Thomas.

鈥淩iver Otter hopes to use this technology to save wastewater treatment facilities money by reducing solid waste heading to incinerators or landfills and by reducing their use of natural gas, electricity, and chemical additives for other methods of sludge disposal,鈥?said Thomas.

Sewage sludge (left) can be turned into a biocrude oil (right) using the WPI-developed process to reduce PFAS.

The Environmental Protection Agency helped advance the research in 2023 when it awarded Small Business Innovation Research funding to River Otter Renewables for testing and design work. Timko and Thomas hope to build a larger pilot-scale reactor, test more sludge samples, conduct analysis on the gas generated through RI-HTL for PFAS and hydrocarbons, and investigate other potential radical initiators or catalysts.

鈥淭here isn't going to be a one-shot solution to the PFAS problem. There will be many different solutions in different areas,鈥?said Timko. 鈥淲e think we have a sweet spot with a technology that could benefit wastewater treatment. It has very complex and rich chemical engineering science behind it that I hope to further understand through testing so we can help reverse some of the damage PFAS have been silently causing for decades.鈥?lt;/p>

WPI Attains Designation as an R1 Research University

leckelbecker — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been designated an R1 institution and joined the ranks of the nation鈥檚 top-tier research institutions in a new classification of American colleges and universities published by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The R1 designation, which identifies WPI as one of 187 institutions with 鈥渧ery high research spending and doctorate production,鈥?caps a decade of efforts to expand research and innovation at the university.

鈥淭his recognition is a real accomplishment for our entire community, especially our talented faculty members, students, and staff, who have demonstrated their excellence and commitment to high-impact research and innovation,鈥?said Grace Wang, WPI president. 鈥淲PI鈥檚 research is expanding knowledge, enabling new solutions, and enriching the education of our students. I am thrilled to see WPI recognized nationally for its research achievements.鈥?lt;/span>

Under new benchmarks implemented this year by ACE and the Carnegie Foundation, colleges and universities that spend at least $50 million on research and award at least 70 doctorates annually are designated as R1 institutions. WPI spent $66 million on research and awarded 88 doctoral degrees during fiscal year 2023.

鈥淲PI鈥檚 research portfolio has grown to record levels in recent years, thanks to the quality and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students, who collaborate across disciplines in ways that promote scientific and technological advancements,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. "The work of our researchers amplifies the impact of WPI."

Much of the university鈥檚 research is in the expanding fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, robotics, advanced materials and manufacturing, and biotechnology and life sciences.

鈥淥ur faculty members are accomplished scientists, engineers, and thinkers who collaborate globally and have the respect of their peers,鈥?said Andrew Sears, WPI provost. 鈥淩ecognition of our university as an R1 institution shows others what we have long known鈥攖hat WPI is a great place to conduct research.鈥?lt;/span>

President Grace J. Wang Receives Prestigious National Honor for Inventors

jcain — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester, MA鈥?The National Academy of Inventors (NAI), an esteemed organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring academic innovation, has named Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Grace J. Wang, as an NAI Fellow. This distinction, the highest professional honor awarded exclusively to academic inventors, highlights President Wang鈥檚 exceptional contributions to pioneering research and innovation.

An accomplished materials scientist and esteemed leader in higher education, government, and industry, Wang holds seven U.S. patents. Her inventions have focused on materials, design, and manufacturing process improvements for magnetic recording media, such as hard disk drives. The patents stemmed from her work as a scientist and engineer at IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies on the research and development of thin-film magnetic recording media and carbon overcoat for data storage. Wang played an integral role in the R&D of perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) for computer hard disk drives. Working closely with her colleagues, they introduced the PMR technology into the marketplace, achieving a significant industry milestone.

Wang is one of 170 people named to this year鈥檚 class of NAI Fellows. Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include more than 2,000 researchers and innovators who hold more than 68,000 U.S. patents.

鈥淚 am honored to receive this prestigious recognition from the National Academy of Inventors. Throughout my career, in industry and higher education, it has been a privilege to focus on creating and supporting the research and development of innovative technologies that can have a meaningful impact for society,鈥?said Wang. 鈥淚鈥檓 humbled to be named an NAI Fellow and join an amazing list of renowned professionals who have dedicated their work in universities and government and non-profit research institutes to pushing boundaries and advancing solutions.鈥?lt;/span>

Wang鈥檚 career has reflected a commitment to research and innovation. Prior to coming to WPI, she spearheaded efforts at The Ohio State University to support research, creativity, and entrepreneurship by faculty, staff, and students. Previously, Wang led the research enterprise at the State University of New York System and built large-scale partnerships to grow impact-driven research and innovation. Before that, at the National Science Foundation, she managed a funding portfolio of over $900 million dedicated to investing in emerging engineering research, supporting engineering education, and fostering development and technology commercialization.

In 2022, Wang was appointed by the White House to serve on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. She is a council member of the Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the New York Academy of Sciences and serves on the Board of Massachusetts High Technology Council and the Board of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).Wang is also a member of Massachusetts鈥?Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force.

WPI Plays Prominent Role in Robotics Discussion

jcain — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute鈥檚 expertise, innovation, research, and educational opportunities in robotics were highlighted during the latest installment of The New England Council鈥檚鈥淣ew England Innovates鈥?series. The event, 鈥?lt;a>Leading the Way in Robotics,鈥?sponsored by WPI and New Balance, was held at the University of Massachusetts Club in Boston. The event featured discussion of the innovations happening in the sector in New England, the ways robots could assist in our daily lives, and the importance of further investments in the field.

Bogdan Vernescu (Photo: The New England Council)

鈥淭he potential of robotics to transform how we live and work is only beginning to unfold,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, Vice President and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at WPI. 鈥淲orcester Polytechnic Institute is proud to be at the forefront of robotics education and research. We have been researching, developing, and implementing this technology and its impact on society for decades.鈥?Vernescu delivered remarks introducing the keynote speaker, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, of Worcester.

McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, praised WPI鈥檚 commitment to innovation. 鈥淓very time I walk onto that campus, I learn something new,鈥?he said. 鈥淭hey're on the cutting edge of everything.鈥?He told the business, academic, and government leaders in attendance that he believes there should be a national and regional strategy to further advance the responsible development of robotics.

鈥淚t is crucial to foster an environment where innovation thrives, but where safeguards for workers and communities are firmly in place,鈥?said McGovern. He said his vision of a defined strategy would allow small manufacturers to adopt new technologies without displacing workers, provide Americans with the skills they need for an increasingly automated economy, and help the country lead in the sector.

WPI Appoints Terry Lopaka Adams as New Director of Technology Commercialization

leckelbecker — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Terry Lopaka Adams, an accomplished leader in intellectual property protection, management, and marketing in both the commercial and academic sectors, has been named director of Worcester Polytechnic Institute鈥檚 (WPI) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC).

Adams will work with WPI faculty researchers, staff members, and students to identify, protect, and commercialize intellectual property while also encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship at the university, which had research expenditures of more than $60 million in 2023. Adams also will manage a growing portfolio of more than 60 active intellectual property licenses plus relationships with nearly two dozen start-up companies that have spun out of WPI. He begins his duties today.

鈥淚 am excited to join WPI as the new director of technology commercialization and to be part of an institution known for its innovation and commitment to advancing technology,鈥?Adams said. 鈥淚 look forward to leveraging my knowledge and expertise to enhance and expand the technology commercialization program, aligning it with WPI's mission of driving positive change through cutting-edge research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.鈥?lt;/span>

Adams was most recently head of technology transfer at Howard University, where he secured multiyear funding to establish business pitch and accelerator initiatives, built a program to identify technology partnerships and spur start-up businesses, and implemented an intellectual property management system. Previously, Adams was assistant vice president and head of the technology intellectual property function at Nestl茅 S.A in Vevey, Switzerland. Earlier in his career, Adams held a number of management and executive positions at Kimberly-Clark Corp., Dial Corp., and Procter and Gamble. He is listed on the IAM Strategy 300 World's Leading IP Strategists and earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in chemical engineering at Howard University.

Adams replaces former OTC director Todd Keiller, who retired from WPI in 2023 and was instrumental in supporting and growing the innovation portfolio to its current level.

鈥淲PI鈥檚 commitment to purpose-driven research is continuing to expand and produce remarkable interdisciplinary collaborations and discoveries,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, vice provost for research. 鈥淲e are delighted that Terry is joining WPI at this time of growth to lead tech transfer, which is critical to ensuring that the inventiveness of WPI faculty and student researchers translates into solutions that advance the economy and improve lives.鈥?amp;nbsp;

WPI鈥檚 Tech Commercialization Efforts Grow Under Todd Keiller鈥檚 Leadership

leckelbecker — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

When Todd Keiller arrived at WPI in 2012 to lead the office that patents and licenses researchers鈥?inventions, the university had no active license agreements in place.

Now, as Keiller retires from his job as director of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), WPI can count more than 60 active licenses and nearly two dozen start-up companies that have launched with unique technologies invented by faculty and students. Together, those businesses have hired more than 500 employees and raised more than $1 billion in capital for the development of the technology they licensed from the university.

鈥淲PI has an ecosystem that encourages innovative thinking, ranging from the value creation mindset encouraged by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship to the start-up incubation activities at The Business School鈥檚 Business Development Lab,鈥?Keiller says. 鈥淚t has been incredibly satisfying over the last 11 years to be part of that ecosystem and work with all the faculty and students who have come forward with ideas for inventions.鈥?lt;/p>
WPI faculty and students have long turned their minds to inventing, and the technologies patented and licensed over the last decade range from medical devices to inventions focused on environmental sustainability:

Awards presented to WPI inventors

A lithium-ion battery recycling process invented by Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, to address the glut of discarded batteries in the waste stream. Wang鈥檚 invention was licensed to a WPI start-up company in 2016 that became Ascend Elements, which has raised more than $1 billion in capital.

A surgical robot that works in an MRI machine was invented by Gregory Fischer, professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering, and licensed in 2018 to AiM Medical Robotics, a company that Fischer co-founded.

A commercial drying process invented by Professor Jamal Yagoobi in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to turn food waste into feed for livestock was licensed in 2022 to Bright Feeds, a food waste recycler.

鈥淭he growth of the purpose-driven research done at WPI in the last decade has generated new technologies, and Todd has been instrumental in working with faculty and students to support the transfer of these technologies to start-ups and to well established companies,鈥?says Bogdan Vernescu, vice provost for research. 鈥淒ue to Todd and his team鈥檚 efforts in supporting faculty, we have significantly increased the impact of our researchers鈥?discoveries and our reputation as an innovative research university.鈥?lt;/p>

cbwamback — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Yan Wang, the William Smith Foundation Dean's Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has been named to the Bayh-Dole Coalition鈥檚 inaugural 鈥?lt;/span>Faces of American Innovation.鈥?Wang is among just five individuals to be recognized with the American Innovator Award by the Coalition, which consists of 鈥渁 diverse group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the Bayh-Dole Act.鈥?The awardees were chosen for their cutting-edge work in helping turn early-stage scientific discoveries into products that benefit people and the planet.

Professor Wang鈥檚 lab developed a lithium-ion battery recycling technique capable of collecting and reusing 98% of critical metals from discarded batteries. The process is only 10% as carbon-intensive as conventional lithium-ion manufacturing. WPI worked with Wang to patent the invention in 2012, and a spin-off company has since licensed the patent for commercial development.

鈥淚 am deeply honored to receive this award for my work in the field of lithium-ion battery recycling,鈥?said Wang. 鈥淭his recognition underscores the critical importance of sustainable technology solutions that address our planet鈥檚 pressing challenges. Through collaborative efforts, we are forging a path towards a greener future, where innovation and environmental stewardship intersect to create lasting impact.鈥?lt;/span>

鈥淧rofessor Wang鈥檚 immense contributions to lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling exemplify the spirit of innovation and discovery that the Bayh-Dole Coalition deeply values,鈥?said Joseph P. Allen, executive director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. 鈥淲ithout visionary innovators like Professor Wang and the ingenious tech transfer system established by the Bayh-Dole Act, many promising early-stage discoveries would fail to reach their full potential.鈥?amp;nbsp;

WPI's Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) has licensed over 60 patents to companies working to transform early-stage research findings into marketable products. During the 2023 academic year alone, the OTC received 63 invention disclosures and inked seven patent licensing agreements. In the last 10 years, start-ups licensing patents from OTC have created over 330 jobs and have raised over $1 billion in follow-on funding.