The global climate crisis demands innovative and scalable solutions, and Alt Carbon, a deep-tech science and data startup, has successfully raised $12 million in seed funding. This substantial investment, led by Lachy Groom with continued participation from existing investors, is set to propel the company’s mission to build the foundational agricultural infrastructure for effective climate action, particularly in the Global South. This funding round marks a pivotal moment for Alt Carbon as it gears up to accelerate its unique carbon dioxide removal (CDR) efforts, expand its Earth Sciences R&D, advance hardware innovations, and scale operations for durable climate solutions, starting in India.
What is Alt Carbon’s Innovative Approach to Carbon Removal?
Alt Carbon is at the forefront of a novel carbon removal method known as Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW). This ingenious process involves sourcing waste basalt rock dust, a byproduct from mines, and strategically spreading it across agricultural fields. This volcanic rock isn’t just an inert material; it’s a powerhouse for both environmental and agricultural benefits.
Beyond improving soil health and boosting crop yields, basalt dust naturally reacts with rainwater to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The science behind it is fascinating: when CO₂ dissolved in rainwater interacts with the basalt dust, a chemical reaction transforms it into stable bicarbonate ions. These ions are then safely stored within the soil. Over time, these bicarbonate ions embark on a journey through river networks, eventually reaching the ocean where they settle as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) for an impressive duration of over 10,000 years, ensuring permanent carbon sequestration.
The Darjeeling Revival Project: A Holistic Climate Initiative
Alt Carbon’s flagship initiative, The Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), exemplifies its holistic approach to climate action. This pioneering endeavor goes beyond mere CO₂ removal, aiming to seamlessly integrate climate solutions with cultural and ecological restoration. The DRP’s ambitious goal is not only to remove carbon dioxide at scale but also to revitalize livelihoods, rejuvenate degraded soils and ecosystems, and, crucially, safeguard Darjeeling’s globally renowned tea—one of India’s most valued exports. This project showcases how effective climate action can simultaneously address pressing social and economic needs.
Alt carbon Leadership’s Vision for a Climate Revolution
Co-founder & CEO Shrey Agarwal emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, stating, “The climate crisis demands bold bets on science innovation, rethinking infrastructure, and deploying capital. Enhanced Rock Weathering is one of the most promising, permanent carbon removal pathways we have, and yet it’s vastly underbuilt.” He further highlighted Alt Carbon’s commitment to scientific rigor: “What sets us apart is our obsession with scientific depth: we’re building advanced labs and engineering the scientific backbone of a new era of climate action grounded in the Global South. Extraordinary crises require outsized ambition, and we now have the capital to kickstart a climate revolution and have a shot at gigaton-scale carbon removal.”
Co-founder & President Sparsh Agarwal underscored the immense financial and environmental challenges facing India and the world. “India needs $1 trillion of climate finance by 2030 alone to adapt our soil, rivers, and cities to climate impact. Globally, we need to remove 10 billion tons of CO₂ every year by 2050. We’re nowhere close to either of these targets. Our goal is to make India a hub for carbon removal. We plan to remove CO₂ at scale from the Global South, for the planet.” He extended gratitude to the partners who have joined them in this “ambitious, whirlwind journey, to revive Darjeeling, remove CO₂ and undo the clock for this planet.”
Alt carbon Strengthening the Team for Scaled Operations
To accelerate its ambitious goals, Alt Carbon has strategically expanded its leadership team. Yashovardhan Bhagat, former co-founder of ed-tech platform Seekho, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, tasked with scaling carbon removal operations across India. Adithya Venkatesan, with a strong background as brand head at Gojek, Meesho, and Last9, will now lead the in-house Climate Studio. Furthermore, Dr. Sourav Ganguly, holding a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, will head the crucial science and modeling team, ensuring robust scientific backing for Alt Carbon’s initiatives.
Lachy Groom, an investor and co-founder of Physical Intelligence, praised Alt Carbon’s vision: “Alt Carbon is tackling a once-in-a-generation challenge. The personal journey of the founders, their technical approach, and ambitious vision will help us remove CO₂ from the atmosphere at gigaton scale — all while adapting agricultural land for climate impact.” He concluded by calling Alt Carbon a “category-defining deep-tech company that will reshape how the world thinks about climate action,” highlighting the team’s rapid progress in building a world-class lab and creating proprietary models within just 18 months.
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