Key Deal Facts
We experienced substantial revenue growth, more than 100% YOY growth in product line and employees, to keep up with the demand
Based on extensive internal research and public data analysis, there are well over 100 million wood stove users worldwide and 1.5 million wood stoves are sold annually.
Due to new 2020 EPA emissions standards for wood stoves, we discovered more than half our competitors have been taken off the market, while MF Fire remains one of the very few companies to have met these requirements from the beginning.
Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Paul LaPorte
CEO
Technology entrepreneur, business leader, and hands-on innovator skilled at creating and launching new businesses and products. Expert at assessing and identifying market shifts with a focus on intersection of technology and shifting macro trends in business and consumer behavior. Exceptional record creating traction and growth. Led multiple venture backed startups. B.S. in Engineering from MIT and MBA from Georgetown.
Ryan Fisher
COO
Ryan has led MF Fire company operations for 6 years, including manufacturing, finance, and customer support. He is a combustion engineering and science expert, and earned a M.S. and B.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a named inventor on two wood stove related patents. Ryan helped propel MF Fire to win the MIT Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency Prize, and the Grand Prize in the 2014 Wood Stove Decathlon.
Taylor Myers
Lead Scientist
Taylor was named 2014 Maryland Innovator of the Year and was the co-inventor of the first automated smart wood stove. He earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a strong focus on combustion science, a M.S. and B.S. in Fire Protection Engineering, and a B.S. in Astronomy, all from the University of Maryland. Taylor co-captained a team of engineers that developed a wood stove that recorded the lowest ever emissions for a wood stove during the 2013 Wood Stove Decathlon. He is a named inventor on two wood stove related patents. He is an experienced programmer and innovator.
Matt Zuga
Director; a member of the board.
Matt has been an investment partner, managing director and venture capitalist for 27 years, including roles at Legg Mason, Red Abbey Venture Partners, Syngenta Ventures, and HighCape Partners. Matt graduated with an MBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BSBA in Finance from the Ohio State University.
