Even after 20+ years in process development and industrial scale-up, techno-economic analyses continue to reveal unexpected constraints. This article explores the real-world surprises TEAs uncover — and why seeing them early can change how startups design, scale, and invest.

Most founders enter the Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)  process thinking it’s “just a model that will tell me how much my product will cost.” In reality, TEA often becomes the first time a team sees their entire bioprocess and scale-up pathway  without the comfort of early-stage assumptions. And when that happens, three things emerge: hidden cost drivers unrealistic expectations scale-up realities that no one teaches in the lab or academia These aren’t criticisms. They are pa

Every founder scaling a biotech or foodtech process knows the feeling, lying awake at 2 a.m., running scenarios in their head: Where should we build? When will be the right time? And how big before it’s too big? Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)  gives you a framework to answer all three, with data, not gut feeling or personal preferences. It translates technical progress into business logic, helping founders make decisions that investors trust. 1️⃣ WHERE — Site & Region Selecti

Scaling up a bioprocess from the laboratory to a pilot plant or from pilot to demo is one of the most exciting and risky stages for any startup. The leap from proof-of-concept to pilot or industrial production brings not only technical challenges but also financial uncertainty. That’s where Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)  comes in. At Sustech Innovation , we help biotech, foodtech, and sustainable-materials companies translate their technical data into clear economic insigh

When scaling up a biotech or food-tech process, the big question isn’t just “is it feasible?” . It’s “will this process make sense...

(Hint: It’s not just about cost per kg, it’s about stepping back from R&D and seeing the full picture) I’ve heard this many times: “We...

I hear this a lot from founders:  👉 “Our plan is to use CMOs.”  👉 “We’ll license the tech anyway, so why bother with a facility TEA?”...

I hear this often. And every time, my brain freezes for a second. 🤯   Why? Because 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭...

Everyone talks about the “Valleys of Death” in biotech — but here’s one few mention: 🚨 Building your business case around the wrong...