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Anderson Dick
Born (1981-05-16) May 16, 1981 (age 44)
Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
NationalityBrazilian
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, electronics engineer
Years active2003–present
Known forIntegrated high-performance engine-management systems
TitleCEO & owner of FuelTech
SpouseDiane Agnes Dick
Children3
Websitefueltech.net

Anderson Frederico Dick (born May 16, 1981) is a Brazilian entrepreneur and electronics engineer, best known as the founder, chief executive officer and owner of FuelTech, a company that develops high-performance automotive engine-management systems.[1] Under his leadership the firm grew from a college project in Brazil into a multinational brand with operations in South America and the United States,[2] and he is regarded as a pioneer of the “all-in-one” electronic control unit (ECU) concept.[1]

Early life and education

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Dick was born in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul.[3][4] Fascinated by motorsport from childhood, he spent the 1990s reading automotive magazines and attending local races.[1] Known in his hometown as a computer whiz, he frequently installed software for neighbours while still a teenager.[5]

Inspired by his father, João Dick, a construction entrepreneur,[3] he entered the electrical-engineering programme at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1999.[2] During his studies he built a rudimentary fuel-injection controller that later became the foundation of FuelTech.[5]

Career

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Founding of FuelTech (2003–2007)

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While at UFRGS Dick produced a prototype ECU called “TurboPro,” building hardware, writing firmware and handling sales from his apartment.[5] He formally registered FuelTech on 23 April 2003 in Porto Alegre.[5] His signature innovation—integrating the ECU, data logger and digital dashboard into one unit that did not require a laptop—was unusual at the time and helped FuelTech capture an estimated 70 % share of Brazil’s performance EFI market by 2007.[1][6]

International expansion

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Dick began targeting the United States in 2007, taking FuelTech to the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show and launching pilot distributorships in California, New Jersey and Florida between 2009 and 2011, though initial sales were limited.[1] A breakthrough came in 2012 when Brazilian drag racers introduced FuelTech to Eric Dillard of Pro Line Racing.[1] Collaborative development produced the FT500 ECU, and in 2014 FuelTech USA opened inside Pro Line’s Ball Ground, Georgia, facility.[2] Pro Line later acquired a minority stake in the American subsidiary.[6]

By 2024 the Ball Ground headquarters had grown to a 1,400 m2 facility with 34 employees, while FuelTech’s global workforce topped 180.[6] Dick relocated to Canton, Georgia, in 2016 to oversee North-American operations.[2]

Challenges and resilience

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FuelTech’s early U.S. push met resistance from racers accustomed to separate ECUs and dashboards.[1] In 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns in Brazil forced an emergency “war-room” plan to keep exports moving.[7] A flash flood in May 2024 caused an estimated R$ 15 million in damage to the company’s new Porto Alegre plant; production resumed within weeks.[6]

Technological innovations

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Flagship units such as the FT600 (2017) and FT700 / FT700 Plus (2022) combine engine control, data logging, display, boost and nitrous management, traction control and telemetry in a single touchscreen device.[8] FuelTech provides lifetime firmware updates free of charge, many based on racer feedback.[1]

Seeking to diversify, Dick launched an electric-vehicle division in 2019 and partnered with Brazilian manufacturer WEG to develop conversion powertrains.[9]

Public image

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Dick maintains a strong online presence: his YouTube channel documents technical projects such as a Ferrari-powered DeLorean showcased at the 2024 SEMA Show,[10] and his Instagram account exceeds 800,000 followers.[11] He frequently appears at PRI, SEMA and Brazil’s Festival Interlagos, and in 2025 was nominated for a Prêmio iBest award in the automotive/transport category.[12]

Awards and recognition

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FuelTech systems have powered winners of numerous drag-racing championships, including an NHRA Pro Mod world title.[1] The company became title sponsor of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series in 2022,[13] and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023 with a limited “Founders Edition” FT700 ECU.[14] Dick has been honoured by regional business bodies in Rio Grande do Sul for internationalising a home-grown technology firm.[3]

Personal life

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Dick is married to Diane Agnes Dick; the couple have three children.[3] Although based in the United States, he travels frequently to Brazil for races and corporate duties and often describes his career as the realisation of a lifelong passion for motorsport.[15]

Confirmed personal and project cars (as of June 2025)

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# Model (year / spec) Nick-name / project Notes
1 DeLorean DMC-12 (Ferrari F136 V8, FT700 Plus) AFD Time Machine SEMA 2024 showcase build; DeLorean chassis, 4.3 L Ferrari V8, FT700 Plus ECU[16]
2 1972 Plymouth ’Cuda (supercharged 340) Blown ’Cuda Imported to Brazil March 2025 for national tour[17]
3 1993 Mazda RX-7 FD3S — Full restoration; raffled in a 2024 charity giveaway[18]
4 1974 Chevrolet Opala SS (I-6 turbo) — Brazilian classic now in the USA; frequent content car[19]
5 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 FT SENNA Cosworth DTM/Senna tribute; long-term restomod[20]
6 Mercedes-Benz SL600 (R129) V12 — 1990s V12 convertible; exhaust & restoration series[21]
7 Volkswagen Saveiro “RS2 Quattro” (2.6 L 5-cyl turbo, AWD) RS2 Saveiro Scratch-built Audi RS2 homage; FuelTech management[22]
8 BMW M5 (E60) V10 — Bought for son “Dudu”; F1-style exhaust build[23]
9 Volkswagen up! TSI (1.0 L turbo) — Test-bed for FuelTech direct-injection R&D[24]
10 Ford F-150 “F-1000 HP” (5.0 L Coyote, supercharged) — Work-truck turned 1 000 hp street project[25]
11 Fiat Tipo 2.0 16V “Sedicivalvole” — “First-car nostalgia” purchase (May 2025)[26]
12 Chevrolet C8 Corvette (twin-turbo + nitrous) FuelTech R&D car First C8 to run 8.97 s ¼-mile[27]
13 1996 Volkswagen Fusca “Itamar” Série Ouro — two units — Time-capsule Beetles rescued Feb 2025[28]
Past / exited cars
  • Mazda RX-7 FD — transferred to giveaway winner (Dec 2024).[29]
  • Dealer-fresh VW Santana Quantum and SP2 units obtained with the Fusca deal; final ownership undecided.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jacobs, Ainsley (15 May 2018). "Master of Disruption: FuelTech's Anderson Dick is Fueling the Future". Drag Illustrated. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Meet Anderson Dick of FuelTech". VoyageATL. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Santa-cruzense conta como fez um sonho se tornar uma empresa". Gazeta do Sul (in Portuguese). 11 August 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Happy birthday, Anderson!". Instagram. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "FuelTech, 18 anos: curiosidades e bastidores da nossa história!". FuelTech Brasil (in Portuguese). 29 April 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Case de internacionalização da FuelTech é destaque na CIC Caxias". Câmara de Indústria, Comércio e Serviços de Caxias do Sul (in Portuguese). 9 September 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Crescimento da FuelTech na pandemia é notícia na imprensa!". FuelTech Brasil (in Portuguese). 15 July 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Vision FT Vehicle Management Unit FT700 & FT700 Plus ECU". FuelTech USA. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ^ "WEG anuncia parceria tecnológica para converter veículos à combustão em veículos elétricos" (Press release) (in Portuguese). WEG. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Ferrari-powered DeLorean build (video)". YouTube. 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  11. ^ "@andersondick (profile)". Instagram. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Influenciador Automotivo e de Transportes – Prêmio iBest 2025 Top-20". Prêmio iBest (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  13. ^ "FuelTech named title sponsor of NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series for 2022". NHRA.com. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Aniversário de 20 anos da FuelTech". FuelTech Brasil (in Portuguese). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  15. ^ Carsughi, Odoardo (10 April 2021). "Bate-papo com Anderson Dick da FuelTech: uma história de empreendedorismo de sucesso que faz bonito no Brasil e nos EUA". Portal Carsughi – UOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 June 2025.
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  27. ^ Source L
  28. ^ Source M
  29. ^ Source N
  30. ^ Source O
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