“Analyzing Metafuels’ $8M Climate Tech Seed Pitch Deck”

In a world where approximately 2% of CO₂ emissions come from pressurized, jet-powered sausages soaring through the sky, one startup is determined to find a solution for reducing aircraft emissions. Earlier this week, we delved into the pitch deck of Metafuels, a company seeking to tackle this environmental challenge with an $8 million seed round.

If you have your own unique pitch deck and would like us to review it, you can submit it through TechCrunch+ and receive valuable feedback. But first, let’s take a closer look at the slides included in Metafuels’ deck.

TechCrunch+ had the privilege of reviewing the full deck provided by Metafuels, with some minor redactions. Despite this, the majority of the slides remain intact.

Cover slide
Market size slide
Product / technology slide
Product manufacturing slide
Unit economics (production at scale numbers)
Unique selling points
Technology roadmap
Business model slide (production)
Business model slide (licensing)
Commercialization slide
Market traction slide
Team slide
Closing slide

Despite our excitement to dive into this deep-tech startup’s presentation, there are some key elements missing that are worth noting. The challenges facing companies like Metafuels, who have promising technology but a long road to reaching the market, create unique obstacles when presenting their pitch deck. While there may be information gaps, the company does an admirable job of addressing these challenges and positioning itself as a key player in the industry.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a high-soaring market size. Metafuels boldly claims that its market is “all aircraft fuel,” displaying the type of confidence that is necessary in the startup world. Currently, the sustainable aviation fuel market is relatively small, with a projected production of 300 million liters in 2022 and 600 million liters in 2021. Compared to the staggering amount of fuel consumed by commercial airlines, it seems like a drop in the ocean. However, the company is looking to the future, projecting its success in 2030 when it will hit full production and take advantage of the growing demand for sustainable fuel.

Metafuels presents a convincing argument by tying their product to wider macro changes, such as the implementation of RefuelEU Aviation regulations, which require airlines to blend sustainable fuel with traditional petroleum.

Nerding out about the technology behind a deep-tech company is inevitable. For Metafuels, this is the cornerstone of their presentation. With a clear roadmap, they showcase their unique tech and how it will allow them to produce their fuel at scale and a reasonable cost. The company takes a straightforward approach, outlining a three-slide set that outlines their process, small-scale production, and plans for large-scale manufacturing. This level of transparency is refreshing and demonstrates their confidence in their product and its potential.

One valuable lesson to take from this portion of the deck is the importance of considering future scalability. Having a clear picture of unit economics and how they change with increasing volume is essential in predicting the success of a company. Metafuels describes their plans to start producing 1-2 liters per day and eventually scaling up to 700 million liters per day. While this may seem like an overwhelming undertaking, the company has carefully calculated the necessary steps and costs to achieve their goals.

In the following teardown, we will take a closer look at three areas where Metafuels could have improved or done things differently. But first, let’s review the full pitch deck.