Let’s be honestclimate change talk can feel overwhelming, but deeptech startup Alt Carbon is tackling it head-on with actual solutions, not just vibes.
Founded by Shrey Agarwal and Sparsh Agarwal, Alt Carbon is turning underutilized land into carbon sinks, reviving degraded soils, and building tech for large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
And with a record-breaking $12 million seed round, they’re proving that climate action is not just necessary, it’s investable. 💰💥
The Problem: CO₂ Isn’t Going Away On Its Own
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that to limit global warming to 1.5°C, we can’t just cut emissions, we need to remove historic CO₂ at scale.
Translation: We’ve already dumped too much CO₂ into the atmosphere, and natural processes alone won’t clear the mess fast enough.
Enter Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)Alt Carbon’s science-backed, scalable solution to trap CO₂ in soil permanently.
Meet the Visionaries
Alt Carbon was founded by Shrey and Sparsh Agarwal, 4th-generation tea planters with a vision far beyond their family’s heritage tea gardens in Darjeeling. Faced with the post-pandemic collapse of their estates and the increasing threat of climate change, they decided to transform their legacy into a pioneering climate tech venture.
Shrey Agarwal, Co-founder & CEO, holds a degree in Chemistry & Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani and drives the scientific and technological innovation behind Alt Carbon’s carbon removal strategies. His expertise in geochemistry and engineering has been crucial in developing Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) technology and scaling up carbon sequestration efforts.
Sparsh Agarwal, Co-founder & President, brings a strong legal and policy framework to the company, with a background in International Climate Law from the University of Oxford. His leadership ensures that Alt Carbon’s initiatives align with global carbon removal standards, regulatory frameworks, and international sustainability goals.
Together, they have turned a family crisis into an opportunity, shifting tea estates at risk into the frontier of climate actionproving that bold ideas, deep science, and innovative technology can make South Asia a hub for large-scale carbon dioxide removal. 🚀🌍✨
What is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)?
ERW is nature’s OG carbon removal process, but Alt Carbon supercharges it.
For millions of years, CO₂ has combined with rainwater to form dilute acid, reacting with mountains and rocks. This process locks CO₂ in the soil, sending it to the oceans, where it gets stored for thousands of years.
Alt Carbon speeds this up by spreading Hari Mati, a proprietary mix of organic inputs and silicate-rich amendments, onto farmland.
✔️ Captures CO₂ from rainwater & locks it into minerals.
✔️ Improves soil health & boosts crop yields (win-win!).
✔️ Measured with Alt Carbon’s data tech to earn carbon credits.
This isn’t just theoretical climate science, it’s boots-on-the-ground action.
Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP): The First-of-Its-Kind Carbon & Cultural Restoration Mission
Alt Carbon’s flagship initiative, the Darjeeling Revival Project, is taking unused tea estate land (which has been suffering from climate change) and turning it into a carbon removal powerhouse.
✔️ Revives degraded soil from abandoned tea estates.
✔️ Creates jobs & restores livelihoods for locals.
✔️ Fights climate change AND revives Darjeeling’s tea heritage.
Think of it as carbon removal meets cultural preservation, a mission with both science and soul.
Biggest Seed Round in India’s Climate Tech History
Let’s talk money, because climate solutions need serious funding to scale.
Alt Carbon raised a jaw-dropping $12 million (₹102.8 Cr) seed round, led by Lachy Groom (Physical Intelligence) with backing from Shastra VC and angels like Tanmay Bhat & Nakuul Mehta.
✔️ India’s biggest-ever climate tech seed round.
✔️ Funding will power R&D, machine learning, and land expansion.
✔️ They’ve already secured partnerships with Mitsubishi Corp & MOL Group.
And if that wasn’t big enough, they signed a $500K pre-purchase deal with Frontiera climate initiative backed by Stripe, Shopify, Google, and more.
The goal? Remove 5 million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030 and make South Asia a global carbon removal hub.
Tech Meets Data: Atlas, The Earth’s Carbon Dashboard
Climate tech isn’t just about spreading minerals, it’s also about data.
Alt Carbon is building Atlas, a high-resolution environmental monitoring platform that tracks:
✔️ Soil chemistry & mineralogy
✔️ Groundwater dynamics
✔️ Microclimatic conditions
✔️ CO₂ removal rates
Mapping vast tracts of land, collecting samples at scale, and earning carbon credits? That’s a strong moat for Alt Carbon’s business.
Building a World-Class Carbon Lab in Darjeeling
To stay at the forefront of carbon removal research, Alt Carbon set up the Darjeeling Climate Action Lab (D-CAL) inside a heritage tea estate.
✔️ Processing up to 50,000 samples annually by 2025.
✔️ Expediting research & hiring top scientists.
✔️ Overcoming constraints in testing & methodology definition.
If there are new frontiers in carbon removal, Alt Carbon wants to be the ones defining them.
Climate Action = Economic Growth
Carbon removal isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for local economies too.
- 🌾 30% average increase in crop yield for participating farmers.
- 👩🌾 8% new local jobs created per 1,000 tons of CO₂ removed.
- 🤝 Vigyaan Krishi Sabhasscience town halls to educate rural communities.
- 🏢 Association of Responsible Deployersbridging estate management & labor unions.
This is what real sustainability looks like, not just tech that removes carbon, but initiatives that support people, businesses, and culture.
Forbes Asia Under 30 & What’s Next? 🏆
Founders Shrey and Sparsh Agarwal made it to the Forbes Asia Under 30 list for 2025, but they’re not slowing down.
- Expanding operations across South Asia.
- Accelerating machine learning for climate modeling.
- Hosting India’s leading carbon removal summitAlt Futures, at IISc Bangalore.
And they’re on the lookout for top talentscientists, engineers, and high-agency minds who love solving complex problems in geochemistry, AI, tech, branding, and community-building.
Final Thoughts: Is Alt Carbon The Future of Climate Tech?
Alt Carbon isn’t just another climate startup, it’s a movement with serious science, big money, and a global vision.
With record-breaking funding, innovative carbon removal tech, and a mission to scale operations across South Asia, they’re proving that climate action can spark an economic revolution.
So, next time you think climate solutions are all talk, just remember Alt Carbon is out here building them. 🚀🌿
Follow their journey: Alt Carbon
