Octavia Carbon, a Kenyan-based cleantech startup, has secured a $5 million seed round to accelerate the development of its Direct Air Capture (DAC) storage plant. This innovative technology removes carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, filtering it out and storing it safely underground, thereby reducing the excess CO2 that depletes the earth's ozone layer.

Founded in 2022 by Martin Freimüller and Duncan Kariuki, Octavia Carbon aims to become a leading player in the global carbon removal market. The company's machines harness Kenya's abundant geothermal energy to power the DAC process, significantly reducing costs. With this new funding, Octavia Carbon plans to open the first phase of its plant this year and increase its carbon removal efforts.

The startup has already pre-sold 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide, generating potential revenue of over $1 million. Its goal is to capture 1,000 tons of CO2 per year and reduce the cost of extraction to around $100 per ton.

This development is crucial in the fight against climate change, as direct air capture technology is essential for achieving the United Nations' global climate goals. Octavia Carbon's innovative approach and scaling up of its technology could pave the way for a new era in carbon removal.