The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), a public, non-profit corporation fueling South Carolina’s innovation economy, today announces that GEF Capital Partners ("GEF Capital"), a private equity fund making investments in companies that promote resource efficiency and that are building a more sustainable future, has acquired a controlling interest in innovative water and wastewater solutions provider EnviroMix, Inc. (“EnviroMix”), an SC Launch, Inc. Portfolio Company.

EnviroMix became an SC Launch Client Company in 2009 and successfully progressed to receiving a Product Development Fund grant from SCRA in 2012 and two rounds of investments from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc., in 2011 and 2012. The company designs and manufactures innovative compressed gas mixing systems and process control technology primarily for the water and wastewater industry.

“The successful progression of EnviroMix throughout our SC Launch Program is a model for all startups. We are gratified to see their stellar team and innovation be recognized by a global investment firm like GEF Capital. The guidance, mentoring, networking opportunities and funding we provide are designed to move startups from infancy to being highly investible, and EnviroMix has proven, once again, the effectiveness of our formula,” said SCRA Executive Director Bob Quinn.

“I have been fortunate to work with Ted Jenkins and the EnviroMix management team since 2009. With the EnviroMix technology, Ted and his team have consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce power consumption for wastewater treatment facilities,” said Derek Willis, investment manager at SCRA. “We have had the opportunity to work with EnviroMix from prototype development to production and see the value the company has created for their customers. EnviroMix is a poster child for the SC Launch Program, and we congratulate them for their success.”

“I met Derek Willis and his team in the very early days of the business,” said Ted Jenkins, EnviroMix's chief executive officer. “From the beginning, they were committed to accelerating the launch of our technology that supported their initiatives for our state, including innovation and job growth. They later helped us scale with growth capital, which is critical for any growing business. In short, we’ve benefited greatly from our relationship with SCRA and SC Launch, Inc., and we are thrilled to see a return for them.”

Visit EnviroMix to learn more about their industry-leading, revolutionary and environmentally safe solutions for water and wastewater treatment facilities.