Startup Founder: Daniel Ormsbee Builds Tech To Serve the World

Before he finishes college this May, Daniel Ormsbee will have already launched two companies — one developing technology to turn waste into energy and another focused on solving complex industrial problems. 

As a senior with a double major in mechanical engineering and molecular biology at Cedarville University, Ormsbee is using an academic journey that began at age 14 to pursue a much larger goal: building technology that can serve people worldwide. 

He has founded Nutrafuel Bioworks and Orme Solutions, two companies shaped by engineering, entrepreneurship and a desire to help others. 

“I want to build things that actually help people,” Ormsbee said. “Things that make life better in a real, practical way.” 

Engineering Solutions With a Global Purpose 

Nutrafuel Bioworks centers on addressing one of the world’s most persistent challenges: waste. 

The company is currently developing a zero-emissions incinerator designed to convert waste into usable energy. “The goal is to take trash and turn it into energy without producing CO₂,” Ormsbee said. “If you can do that, you’re solving multiple problems at once.” His long-term goal is to deploy the technology internationally through missions-focused efforts to serve communities in need.  

 

Alongside Nutrafuel Bioworks, Ormsbee founded Orme Solutions, a systems engineering company focused on solving complex problems through analytics and design. The company specializes in mapping complex systems and delivering what Ormsbee describes as “investable, executable solutions” across industries such as biotechnology, heavy industry and operations. 

“We’re focused on understanding how systems actually work,” he said, “and then building solutions that can realistically be implemented.” 

Business Rooted With Faith and Mission 

For Ormsbee, the work is more than innovation or entrepreneurship. 

“Business and engineering are tools,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about how you use them to serve others.” 

He describes his approach as mission-focused, rooted in his faith and in a desire to serve others through practical solutions. 

“Everything I’m doing is about loving others through what I build,” he said. 

This perspective shapes how he views both engineering and business — not simply as technical or financial pursuits but as tools to meet real human needs. 

“If you meet physical needs — like waste, energy and health — you create a foundation to really help people,” Ormsbee said. 

He hopes to eventually deploy his incinerator system in underserved regions around the world, where waste accumulation and limited infrastructure can create serious environmental and health challenges. 

“There are places where trash is a major problem,” he said. “If we can bring solutions there, that’s where this becomes really meaningful.” 

That vision, however, did not begin at its current scale. Ormsbee originally envisioned a multimillion-dollar facility capable of processing municipal waste on a large scale. As he explored the concept, he realized it was not feasible for him to execute. 

“I got deep enough into the system to realize I didn’t have the keys to unlock those doors yet,” he said. 

Rather than abandoning the idea, he refined it with missions in mind, which ultimately led him to a more scalable solution. 

“Every pivot came from a problem I didn’t know how to solve,” Ormsbee said. “You just keep adjusting until you find something that works.” 

Prepared Through Cedarville 

Ormsbee credits his education at Cedarville for preparing him to pursue his goals. “There were times when I had more work than I thought I could handle,” he said, “but that’s what stretched me and prepared me to take on bigger problems.” 

Looking Ahead 

From starting college at a young age to launching two companies before graduation, Ormsbee’s path reflects a clear focus on working hard to love others well and on using his training to bring glory to God. 

As his companies continue to grow, Ormsbee is working at the intersection of engineering, business and service, turning complex ideas into solutions with tangible impact. 

“At the end of the day,” he said, “I just want to build things that help people.” 

About Cedarville University 

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.