4 minutes with…Chad Joshi, CEO, Altranex Corporation

Tell us about your organization and it’s role in the advanced bioeconomy.

Altranex is a developer and marketer of bio-based chemicals including high-quality renewable lubricating base oil, marine fuels, and chemicals for the polymers/plastics industry. Our base oil have higher viscosity index and purity than oils on the market today thereby improving fuel economy in vehicles and reducing the frequency of oil changes.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

Altranex is focused on
1) building strategic partnerships with lubricant producers and feedstock suppliers to complete the value chain from plant to crankcase;
2) having demonstrated the process at the laboratory-scale, we are ready to scale the technology to a pilot facility; and
3) Altranex is expanding its patent portfolio to protect its innovation around the world.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?

The industry must overcome the disappointments that has followed the bio-economy’s hyped projections. While it is necessary to project optimism for the industry, there is a lot of behind the scenes work going on to bring the industry to fruition which does not get recognized by the public or the lay press.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the advanced bioeconomy, what would you change?

There has been a lot of dis-information in the industry including food vs. fuel, indirect land use changes, etc. which have adversely affect the industry’s progress. In addition, the on-off-on energy policies of the last decade or more has stifled the commercialization of renewable products.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the advanced bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

changing how we create and use energy is needed for humans to survive on the planet.

Where are you from? 

I have lived in India, Canada and US.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway? 

Engineering. it was a natural fit for a tinkerer.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?

Operate lean even in the best of times and you will bring out the creativity in your organization.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry? 

Woodworking, hiking and biking

What 3 books would you take to read, if stranded on a desert island?

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?

The Quest
Eating the Sun
Sailor Girl

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

Anyplace with lots of natural beauty.