Carbelim
Microalgae-based systems for urban carbon capture and utilization.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | N/A | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Carbelim is a climate-tech startup that develops systems powered by microalgae to address urban air pollution. Founded in 2023 by Dr. Karthika Gopi (PhD, Environmental Sciences), Rahul Babu, and Gopakumar G, the company is headquartered in India with strategic hubs in the UK, UAE, and the US. The founding team combines deep domain expertise in environmental sciences with over 35 years of collective experience in R&D engineering, technology, and AI.
The company's core technology utilizes biomimetic photobioreactors that integrate microalgae into architectural structures to capture CO2 and other pollutants like PM2.5, VOCs, and CO. Carbelim's flagship products include the BioMimetic Façade™, which turns building surfaces into active air purification systems, and the OmegaPod™, a containerized micro-farm for producing spirulina. Each square meter of the facade can capture up to 52 kg of CO2 annually. These systems are monitored by an AI-driven dashboard that provides real-time data on air quality, carbon sequestration, and biomass yield.
Carbelim operates on a circular bioeconomy model, converting captured carbon and pollutants into revenue-generating byproducts. The harvested algal biomass is processed to create high-value products such as vegan Omega-3 oil, plant-based protein, and other derivatives for nutraceutical, cosmetic, and bioenergy applications. The business model includes direct product sales, the sale of byproducts, and recurring revenue from annual maintenance contracts and software access. The company targets clients in green building development, urban infrastructure, and industries seeking to meet ESG and emission reduction targets. Having been incubated at IIT Madras and accelerated by IIM Lucknow, Carbelim has secured pre-seed funding to scale its R&D and production facilities.
Keywords: carbon capture and utilization, microalgae technology, biomimetic facades, air purification, circular bioeconomy, climate tech, urban infrastructure, sustainable architecture, algal biomass, photobioreactors