# Aaron Fitzgerald from Mars Materials

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/energytech-startups-5673200/aaron-fitzgerald-from-mars-materials
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/energytech-startups-5673200/aaron-fitzgerald-from-mars-materials.md
Podcast: [Energytech Startups](https://stenobird.com/podcast/energytech-startups-5673200)
Published: 2025-08-21T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://energytechstartups.collide.io/episodes/aaron-fitzgerald-from-mars-materials
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/606c63ff/bfc2f1c4.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/energytech-startups-5673200/episodes/aaron-fitzgerald-from-mars-materials
Duration seconds: 4054

## Resource

Turning CO₂ into carbon fiber sounds like science fiction, but Aaron Fitzgerald and the crew at Mars Materials are making it happen. Their process creates carbon-negative acrylonitrile, the stuff that goes into everything from sleek carbon fiber to water filters and high-tech textiles and they’re doing it with big-name partners like NREL and Shell. Aaron talks about reshoring carbon fiber production to the U.S., cutting carbon from supply chains, and what it takes to build a climate-driven company from the ground up. It’s a mix of chemistry, entrepreneurship, and a clear vision for a more sustainable future. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy. Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward. Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Energy Tech Nexus 00:17 - Intro to Mars Materials 03:48 - Aaron’s Background in Energy 08:11 - Overview of Kairos Aerospace 10:46 - Understanding Acrylonitrile 14:33 - Acrylonitrile Production Process 17:29 - The Sohio Process Explained 22:04 - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 24:40 - Tech Transfer from National Labs 27:39 - Finding the Right Technology 29:26 - Carbon180 Overview 30:35 - Collaborating with Lawrence Livermore Lab 32:19 - EnergyTechNexus Insights 33:56 - LabStart Initiatives 35:37 - Request for Information (RFI) Explained 38:36 - Building a Business Deliberately 41:15 - Mars Materials Today and Future 48:30 - Fundraising Strategies 52:40 - What's Next for Mars Materials 54:45 - Erin's Shell Partnership Journey 57:16 - Shell's Support for Erin 1:00:11 - Wrapping Up and Final T…

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## Transcript

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