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Buckhead Investment Partners Funds Qoil Technologies, Inc.
Buckhead Investment Partners, LLC (BIP) announced today that it has agreed to fund the Series A Fundraising Round of Qoil Technologies, Inc. (www.qoiltech.com).
Qoil Technologies (Qoil), an Atlanta-based business, has developed a patent-pending sensor that provides analysis of hydrocarbon-based fluids. Use of the Qoil sensor will provide a broad array of industries with significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Qoil was founded in May 2006 by Dr. Steven Danyluk, Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Morris M. Bryan Jr. Chair of Advanced Manufacturing Systems, and Dr. Frank Mess, also from Georgia Tech.
In its infancy, Qoil was supported through the Georgia Tech VentureLab program and the Georgia Research Alliance. Since May 2006, Qoil has focused on developing, building, and installing sensor systems that are used to monitor engine oil condition on commercial vehicles. In May 2008, Qoil gained admission to the Advanced Technology Development Center (www.atdc.org) one of the world’s most-recognized business incubators.
“Qoil is a great fit for our investment portfolio,” said Mark Buffington, Managing Partner of Buckhead Investment Partners. “Qoil’s social and environmental values mirror those of BIP and its economic prospects provide our clients with the opportunity to earn outstanding returns on invested capital. That is a great combination for us,” Buffington stated.
Buffington continued, “We invested in Qoil because its sensor represents a considerable improvement over current fluid monitoring processes and sensor technology. In a world where efficient use of resources is becoming more important, Qoil is ideally positioned.”
Frank Mess, Qoil’s CEO, summed up his company’s advantage: “Other techniques are restricted to measuring bulk physical properties of fluids, viscosity for example. Viscosity is a lagging indicator of oil health, and is therefore a reactive measure in nature. By the time viscosity changes are detected, substantial chemical breakdown of the oil has typically already occurred. In contrast, by measuring changes in the electrochemical properties of a given lubricant – engine oil, for example – the Qoil Sensor can provide an early warning of chemical degradation without having to physically take oil samples for external chemical analysis. It is through a series of chemical degradation processes that engine oil breaks down and ultimately loses is ability to protect the moving parts of an engine. By monitoring the chemical changes that are precursors to oil breakdown, Qoil sensors will provide equipment owners and maintenance personal with the ability to reduce the use of oil and optimize maintenance schedules. The overall impact of such a switch in oil monitoring and maintenance philosophy should save businesses millions of dollars, and substantially reduce the amount of used oil that must be disposed of.”
About Buckhead Investment Partners
Buckhead Investment Partners is a Registered Investment Advisory firm that focuses on combining top-tier, empirically-driven investment advice in the public markets with unique exposure to equity investments in privately-held companies. Founded in 2007, Buckhead Investment Partners manages assets worth over $75 million. The company focuses on servicing high net worth and institutional investors. For more information on Buckhead Investment Partners or its affiliated companies, please visit www.buckheadinvestments.com.
Qoil Technologies (Qoil), an Atlanta-based business, has developed a patent-pending sensor that provides analysis of hydrocarbon-based fluids. Use of the Qoil sensor will provide a broad array of industries with significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Qoil was founded in May 2006 by Dr. Steven Danyluk, Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Morris M. Bryan Jr. Chair of Advanced Manufacturing Systems, and Dr. Frank Mess, also from Georgia Tech.
In its infancy, Qoil was supported through the Georgia Tech VentureLab program and the Georgia Research Alliance. Since May 2006, Qoil has focused on developing, building, and installing sensor systems that are used to monitor engine oil condition on commercial vehicles. In May 2008, Qoil gained admission to the Advanced Technology Development Center (www.atdc.org) one of the world’s most-recognized business incubators.
“Qoil is a great fit for our investment portfolio,” said Mark Buffington, Managing Partner of Buckhead Investment Partners. “Qoil’s social and environmental values mirror those of BIP and its economic prospects provide our clients with the opportunity to earn outstanding returns on invested capital. That is a great combination for us,” Buffington stated.
Buffington continued, “We invested in Qoil because its sensor represents a considerable improvement over current fluid monitoring processes and sensor technology. In a world where efficient use of resources is becoming more important, Qoil is ideally positioned.”
Frank Mess, Qoil’s CEO, summed up his company’s advantage: “Other techniques are restricted to measuring bulk physical properties of fluids, viscosity for example. Viscosity is a lagging indicator of oil health, and is therefore a reactive measure in nature. By the time viscosity changes are detected, substantial chemical breakdown of the oil has typically already occurred. In contrast, by measuring changes in the electrochemical properties of a given lubricant – engine oil, for example – the Qoil Sensor can provide an early warning of chemical degradation without having to physically take oil samples for external chemical analysis. It is through a series of chemical degradation processes that engine oil breaks down and ultimately loses is ability to protect the moving parts of an engine. By monitoring the chemical changes that are precursors to oil breakdown, Qoil sensors will provide equipment owners and maintenance personal with the ability to reduce the use of oil and optimize maintenance schedules. The overall impact of such a switch in oil monitoring and maintenance philosophy should save businesses millions of dollars, and substantially reduce the amount of used oil that must be disposed of.”
About Buckhead Investment Partners
Buckhead Investment Partners is a Registered Investment Advisory firm that focuses on combining top-tier, empirically-driven investment advice in the public markets with unique exposure to equity investments in privately-held companies. Founded in 2007, Buckhead Investment Partners manages assets worth over $75 million. The company focuses on servicing high net worth and institutional investors. For more information on Buckhead Investment Partners or its affiliated companies, please visit www.buckheadinvestments.com.