Category Visionaries Saurabh Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder of Metafuels: $22 Million Raised to Pioneer Synthetic Aviation Fuel Technology
Metafuels is revolutionizing the aviation industry by developing synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology that combines renewable electricity, CO2, and water to produce jet fuel without petroleum feedstock. Having raised $22 million in funding, the company was born during the COVID-19 pandemic when its founders transformed their longtime vision into reality. In this episode of Category Visionaries, Saurabh Kapoor shares insights on commercializing deep tech, addressing market skepticism, and building a new category in sustainable aviation.
Topics Discussed:
- Technical approach to synthetic sustainable aviation fuel production
- Evolution from consultancy to deep tech startup during COVID-19
- Addressing critics and market skepticism in the SAF space
- B2B marketing strategy for industrial-scale technology
- Commercialization roadmap and scaling challenges
- Vision for transforming aviation fuel infrastructure
GTM Lessons for B2B Founders:
- Timing market entry with macro disruptions: Metafuels launched during COVID when traditional consulting work slowed, allowing the team to fully focus on their vision. The pandemic created space for deep work on complex technical and business challenges before going to market.
- Building credibility in skeptical markets: Rather than trying to counter every criticism, Kapoor focused on addressing legitimate concerns while demonstrating clear technological and cost advantages. For deep tech founders, this means acknowledging valid challenges while showing how your solution fundamentally changes the equation.
- B2B marketing for industrial tech: With large-scale industrial products, traditional B2B marketing tactics don't apply. Metafuels focuses on building awareness of cost leadership and fostering long-term ecosystem partnerships rather than traditional lead generation.
- Strategic scope limitation: The team made an early decision to avoid food/feed chain competition, demonstrating how technical founders can use clear scope boundaries to strengthen their market position and narrative.
- Infrastructure-scale go-to-market: Metafuels' approach shows how to sequence a major infrastructure play - starting with demonstration facilities, then moving to commercial projects by 2026, before full fuel production and sales in 2028. This creates clear proof points for stakeholders at each stage.
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