Tough Tech Fast Five: Circe's Shannon Nangle

Fast Five with Tough Tech Leaders highlights the founders and builders commercializing Tough Tech breakthroughs that have the potential to change the world. Today, we hear from Shannon Nangle , Co-Founder and CEO of Circe .

1. What problem is Circe working to solve? How are you doing it?

We are scaling carbon-negative manufacturing. Our technology transforms CO2, water, and electricity into products. We are currently focusing on making triglycerides—fats, butters, and oils—through advanced fermentation technology. Our process uses genetic engineering and gas fermentation that consumes 3 kg of CO₂ for every 1 kg of oil produced.

2. At scale, what impact will your Touch Tech solution have for everyday people?

We aim to make our products ubiquitous. We believe access to inexpensive and clean alternatives to the incumbent product is necessary. We want our manufacturing facilities to drive shared value economic growth all over Massachusetts with secure employment opportunities. We intend on creating a multitude of stable manufacturing, high-tech and general and administrative jobs. Lastly, we hope to reverse some of the less permanent impacts of climate change. We know climate change disproportionately impact those who don’t have a voice. We intend on advocating for better manufacturing practices to keep our planet thriving.

3. What does Tough Tech mean to you? How is this industry ‘tough’?

The science is hard, the financing capex is hard, and the current market conditions are not propulsive. We are constantly balancing burn with development with the added kicker of us scaling a biotechnology, which scale differently than other hard technologies.

4. Why is Massachusetts the right home for your Tough Tech company? What unique opportunities exist here?

Massachusetts offers one of the most highly concentrated high-tech talent pools as well as a variety of cities that can support manufacturing. Often, the second act of tough tech is underappreciated. Once the technology has been de-risked at lab and pilot scale, where deciding where we build the next facility is non-trivial. Massachusetts has many manufacturing-based towns that have the tie-ins and the infrastructure to support the new wave of tough tech manufacturing.

5. What’s one piece of advice that you’ve either received or would give to another Tough Tech innovator about navigating tough challenges?

Leverage your technology to access government funding as often as you can. It will help reduce your net burn, keep your cap table clean, and act as a great signal to future investors.