Riki Franco President & CEO, Prime 6 Charcoal and Biofuels Riki Franco is the visionary founder and driving force behind Prime 6 Charcoal, a trailblazing biochar and biofuels company redefining solid carbon for a cleaner future. With an MBA in International Business Management and Finance, Riki began her career consulting for “new economy” startups—several of which operated in the culinary sector and later influenced the creation of Prime 6. In 2018, Riki and her husband, a former chef, co-founded Prime 6 with a mission: to reinvent the charcoal industry using innovation, sustainability, and science. Prime 6 turns upcycled hardwood biomass into premium biochar—a high-performance, clean-burning, and carbon-negative alternative to traditional fossil-based solid fuels. In 2025, Prime 6 will officially launch its U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Virginia, marking a major milestone in the industry. It will be the first carbon-negative charcoal and biochar plant in the country—designed to scale clean energy alternatives while minimizing environmental impact. The facility integrates proprietary manufacturing processes developed under Riki’s leadership, combining clean-tech innovation with circular economy principles. Prime 6’s breakthrough business model gained national attention in 2020 when Riki appeared on Shark Tank, securing investment and long-term support from Kevin O’Leary, who remains a shareholder and advisor. Nicknamed #CharcoalLady, Riki has carved out a bold space in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Through her woman-owned business and as a proud working mother, she champions the next generation of female entrepreneurs—proving that it’s possible to build both a successful company and a sustainable future, one eco-friendly product at a time.