Brinc, the Hong Kong-based accelerator backed by traders like Animoca Manufacturers, is launching a brand new program for fledgling local weather tech startups. The three-month program is tailor-made for founders who’re targeted on carbon dioxide removing (CDR). They’ll obtain fundraising help, steering on the right way to scale up and introductions to Brinc’s community of follow-on traders, mentors and corporates.
Janina Motter, Brinc’s Local weather Tech Program supervisor, advised TechCrunch that the accelerator has targeted on local weather tech for a number of years by way of its meals tech vertical. “From these successes, we acknowledged sector specificity is essential to maximise worth for founders,” she stated. “This is the reason we plan to have a number of completely different local weather tech applications over time, with this new program targeted on carbon removing, utilization and storage.” She added that Brinc has seen underinvestment in carbon removing relative to its local weather impression.
The inaugural cohort consists of 4 startups. Motter stated “the strongest candidates perceive how their method suits into the aggressive panorama and have compelling solutions about ‘why them? why now?’ for the corporate to develop. Moreover, for CDR particularly, it’s important that startups have some preliminary understanding of how their know-how suits into broader context (ecological danger, co-benefits, native communities, and so on) and are keen to develop a sturdy framework which is able to assist them scale responsibly.”
From the UK, Airhive is creating geochemical direct air seize (DAC) to scale carbon removing. Its DAC system is modular and primarily based on a fluidized nano-structured sorbent.
Based mostly in the US, CarbonBridge captures fermentation CO2, or CO2 generated by fermenting plant matter to make beer, wine and different merchandise, earlier than it enters the ambiance, and produces eco-friendly methanol by way of a microbial conversion course of. The startup says this can be a cost-effective various to mainstream methanol made out of fossil fuels.
Hong Kong’s Formwork IO needs to cut back carbon emissions in structure and different elements of the constructed setting. It does so by creating carbon-negative concrete by way of using waste carbon dioxide and supplies as binders. Formwork IO is concentrated on the Asian market, the place it says greater than 70% of cement is produced.
Poas Bioenergy, primarily based in Costa Rica, turns agricultural waste, together with espresso and pineapple residue, into biochar and syngas, making waste administration extra environment friendly and giving farms a supply of fresh vitality.
The Local weather Tech Program is supported by organizations like Artesian, Carbon Enterprise Council, CO2CRC, Direct Air Seize Coalition, PML Purposes and others.