കാർത്തിക ഗോപി, രാഹുൽ ബാബു എന്നിവർ ചേർന്ന് സ്ഥാപിച്ച ക്ലൈമറ്റ്-ടെക് സ്റ്റാർട്ടപ്പായ കാർബെലിം 10 കോടി രൂപയുടെ നിക്ഷേപം നേടി. മൈക്രോ ആൽഗേ അധിഷ്ഠിത സാങ്കേതികവിദ്യയിലൂടെ കാർബൺ ഡൈ ഓക്സൈഡ് ആഗിരണം ചെയ്ത് ശുദ്ധവായു നൽകുന്ന സംവിധാനമാണ് ഇവർ വികസിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. ഈ ഫണ്ടിംഗ് വഴി 50 പുതിയ തൊഴിലവസരങ്ങളും 100 കോടി രൂപയുടെ വിറ്റുവരവും കമ്പനി ലക്ഷ്യമിടുന്നു.
The climate-tech company, founded by Karthika Gopi and Rahul Babu, develops microalgae-based systems to capture carbon dioxide and purify air
Deep-tech startup Carbelim has secured a ₹10 crore investment from the IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, recently handed a cheque to Carbelim representatives at a function in Bengaluru.
Microalgae-based carbon capture technology
Founded by Karthika Gopi and Rahul Babu, Carbelim develops microalgae-based, bio-integrated carbon capture and air-purification systems that draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen. A leading player in the climate-tech space, the company has filed 13 patents so far (7 US and 6 Indian) for its technology, according to a press release.
Carbelim is among the first four deep-tech companies selected for initial funding from the Unicorn Frontier Fund and the first startup from Keralam to receive investment from it.
Investment to create jobs and boost turnover
Karthika Gopi said that the new investment is expected to create over 50 additional jobs and lift the company's turnover to ₹100 crore through international markets.
"Our technology delivers efficient carbon capture, clean air, sustainable resource production, and advanced Micro Algae Tree (Liquid Tree) solutions for climate-positive cities and industries. This investment will support our efforts to develop and scale our technology, while also drawing attention to Kerala's growing deep-tech startup ecosystem," she said.
Funding to support Kerala's deep-tech ecosystem
Calling it a major recognition for Kerala's deep-tech startup sector, Anoop P. Ambika, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission, said such funding would help the growth-stage deep-tech startups of the State gain international recognition, and would serve as a strong stimulus for startups in the deep climate-tech space to realise new ideas and to develop and scale their technology.
Unicorn Frontier Fund backs deep-tech startups
Raised as patient capital by IIT Madras, IIT Madras Research Park, and Unicorn India Ventures, the Unicorn Frontier Fund backs India's deep-tech startups. Announced in February with a target corpus of ₹1,000 crore, the fund raised ₹450 crore in its first phase and has so far deployed nearly ₹55 crore across the first four startups.