Alt Carbon, a deep-tech startup focusing on science and data, has raised $12 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by investor Lachy Groom, with support from some of the company’s earlier backers.
The startup plans to use the money to speed up efforts to remove carbon dioxide in the Global South, grow its research in earth sciences, improve its technology, and expand its work in India to support long-term climate solutions.
“Alt Carbon is tackling a once-in-a-generation challenge. The founders’ personal journey, technical approach, and ambitious vision will help us remove CO2 from the atmosphere at gigaton scale—all while adapting agricultural land for climate impact,” said Lachy Groom, Investor and Co-founder of Physical Intelligence.
In just 18 months, the team has built a world-class lab, created proprietary models, and laid the foundation for a new class of carbon removal and agricultural infrastructure,” he added.
Lachy Groom has invested in over 200 companies, including big names like Anduril, OpenAI, Ramp, Notion, Figma, and Zepto.
Alt Carbon uses a method called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW). This means they spread dust made from basalt rock on farms. When rainwater hits the dust, it helps capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and turn it into a stable form that stays in the soil and oceans for thousands of years. The basalt dust also makes the soil healthier and helps crops grow better.
The Darjeeling Revival Project is Alt Carbon’s main effort. It combines removing large amounts of carbon from the air, fixing damaged soils, helping tea farmers rebuild their livelihoods, and protecting the local environment. This project is a strong example of how communities can work together, using science to support the planet and people’s lives.
“Enhanced Rock Weathering is one of the most promising, permanent carbon removal pathways we have, and yet it’s vastly underbuilt. 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.,” added Alt Carbon Co-founder and CEO Shrey Agarwal.
Read more- Titan Capital launches fund for defence startup
