CREW Carbon, a Brooklyn-based climate tech startup, has raised $5.3 million in seed funding to scale its innovative carbon capture technology at wastewater treatment facilities. Counteract Partners led the investment round, which will accelerate commercial operations with existing partners and expand to new treatment plants.
Key Highlights:
- $5.3M seed round led by Counteract Partners
- Technology developed at Yale University
- Currently operating at multiple wastewater treatment plants
- Targeting thousands of tons of CO2 removal by 2025
Meeting Climate Goals Through Wastewater Innovation
Global climate targets require removing approximately 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually by 2050. CREW Carbon’s enhanced weathering technology leverages existing wastewater infrastructure to capture and permanently store CO2. The process focuses on biogenic CO2 naturally concentrated in wastewater streams, creating an efficient pathway for large-scale carbon removal.
Investment Details and Strategic Partners
The oversubscribed funding round included notable investors:
- Counteract Partners (Lead)
- ReGen Ventures
- ANIMO
- Connecticut Innovations
- Ponderosa Ventures
- Newlab
- Echo River Capital
- Carbon Drawdown Initiative
Technology Benefits and Implementation
CREW’s solution offers multiple advantages for wastewater treatment facilities:
- Enhanced biological treatment optimization
- Reduced operational costs
- Improved pH and alkalinity management
- Elimination of harmful chemicals like caustic
- Integration with existing infrastructure
Dr. Joachim Katchinoff, CREW Co-Founder and CEO, explains: “Water resource recovery facilities are ideal locations for rapid carbon removal. Our technology enables utility and industrial partners to remove CO2 at scale while improving wastewater treatment efficiency.”
Industry Expert Validation
Chris Morrison, Executive in Residence at ImagineH2O and former Division Vice President of Water Process Services at Ecolab/Nalco, validates the technology: “CREW’s pilots have achieved their goals of reducing costs and improving pH and alkalinity management. The technology transforms these treatment plants into climate hubs, representing a paradigm shift for the industry.”
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About CREW Carbon
CREW Carbon develops and implements engineered enhanced weathering technology for CO2 removal in municipal and industrial wastewater systems. The company partners with wastewater treatment plants to leverage existing infrastructure, delivering measurable climate impact while optimizing biological treatment processes.