Title: Founder
Workplace: First State Hydrogen
Alma Maters: LaSalle University, University of Florida, University of Delaware
Boards: First State Hydrogen , Adesis, UD Biopharmaceutical Innovation Advisory Board, Intern Delaware, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, The Partnership
Toughest challenge? “When I was 28 I went home to my wife and asked her for all our money to buy a bankrupt company, with no contracts and 3 weeks of money in the bank.”
As the Founder of First State Hydrogen, Andrew Cottone is tasked with developing the business plan, establishing operational discipline and leading the company through the myriad challenges towards commercial success. He built a team consisting of employees and outside strategic relationships that could lead to the first clean hydrogen plant in Delaware. Like any entrepreneurial company, Cottone not only sets the vision and long-term plan, but is leveraging his 25 years of leadership and operational success to manage day to day operations that include engineering, commercial, land acquisition and ensuring overall success of this transformational venture. Now in its first year of operations, First State Hydrogen has secured some of the funding Delaware secured as part of the $750 million Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub award.
