Climate technology start-up Vycarb announced that it has raised $5 million in seed funding to scale its low-cost, water-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) system.
Founded in 2022, Brooklyn-based Vycarb is developing a new method to capture CO2 convert it into dissolved bicarbonate within natural waters using ocean-based chemistry and real-time sensor technology. The process uses readily available minerals and real-time monitoring to ensure the captured carbon is permanently stored and verifiable, a critical factor for growing carbon credit markets. Vycarb’s system can be integrated at emissions sources such as bioenergy facilities, power plants, cement and steel facilities, and coastal ports.
In addition to removing CO2 from the atmosphere, the process will also help to counter ocean acidification, Vycarb said.
Unlike traditional CCS systems that rely on high-cost pipelines or gas compression, Vycarb’s modular approach can be deployed at industrial sites such as cement plants, steel facilities, and ports, turning existing water infrastructure into a climate solution, according to the company.
Vycarb has demonstrated this technology through field pilots, including an installation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that captures CO2 from the East River. The company said that it will use the new capital to accelerate development and expand its growing international deployment pipeline.
Dr. Garrett Boudinot, Founder and CEO of Vycarb, said:
“Our mission is to make CCS permanent, fully measurable, and scalable to address the urgency of the climate crisis. This investment enables us to further build our expert team and expand deployments at more sites worldwide, particularly where traditional carbon storage solutions are too expensive or infrastructure-intensive to be practical.”
The investment round was led by Twynam, with participation from MOL Switch, Hatch Blue, Clocktower Ventures, Idemitsu, and SGInnovate.
Johnny Kahlbetzer, CEO and Chair at Twynam, said:
“Decarbonising industry at scale demands bold solutions and that’s exactly what Vycarb delivers. Their system is elegant, effective, and deeply aligned with our vision to remove and permanently store CO₂ at breakthrough unit economics.”
