Decarbonization and water technology startup Capture6 has raised $27.5 million in a Series A funding round to further develop its carbon removal and water recovery technology. The company’s innovative system transforms waste brine, an expensive byproduct of water treatment, into a solvent that mineralizes CO₂, effectively capturing carbon while recovering fresh water. Unlike traditional direct air capture methods, Capture6’s approach consumes less energy, making it a more efficient and scalable carbon removal solution. Given that the World Economic Forum projects a 40% freshwater supply gap by 2030, this technology presents a crucial dual benefit: reducing carbon emissions while increasing freshwater availability.
Founded in 2021, Capture6 operates in California and New Zealand and has already begun forming key partnerships. In a collaboration with the Palmdale Water District in California, the company aims to eliminate up to 100 acres of brine ponds and lower lifetime costs by 40% using its technology. Additionally, the Frontier Coalition, which advances carbon removal solutions, helped facilitate a pre-purchase of 1,000 tons of carbon removal for Shopify and Stripe, demonstrating growing commercial interest in Capture6’s model.
The funding round was led by Tetrad Corporation, with participation from Hyundai Motor Group’s ZER01NE Ventures, Energy Capital Ventures, Elemental Impact, and several other investors. Aaron Hilkemann, Tetrad spokesperson and board member, emphasized the company’s potential to transform wastewater management and freshwater acquisition, stating that Capture6’s solution not only reduces costs for businesses but also builds momentum toward sustainable water production and waste treatment. With this latest investment, Capture6 is set to accelerate its mission of tackling both climate change and water insecurity.
