Capture6, a decarbonization and water technology startup, has successfully closed a Series A funding round, raising $27.5 million. The company, established in 2021, plans to use the proceeds to further develop its innovative projects, which focus on converting water treatment brine into a carbon removal solution while simultaneously recovering fresh water.
Based in California and New Zealand, Capture6 has developed a unique system that addresses both carbon removal and water treatment needs by connecting directly with existing water infrastructure. The company’s technology transforms waste brine, a costly byproduct of desalination and water treatment processes, into a solvent capable of mineralizing CO2. This material is then used to trap carbon produced during water treatment. The system also recovers fresh water from the brine, reducing overall waste.
Capture6 states that its system consumes less energy than traditional direct air carbon capture methods. Moreover, it tackles the growing global demand for both carbon capture and fresh water. With the World Economic Forum projecting a 40% shortfall in freshwater supply by 2030, Capture6’s technology offers a promising solution to help increase supply.
Ethan Cohen-Cole, CEO of Capture6, commented, “Climate change is creating water insecurity for much of the world’s population, driving up demand for freshwater worldwide, and exacerbating the root problem as current methods of water treatment are carbon intensive. Our approach reduces waste streams from desalination and wastewater treatment while generating new water sources, lowering waste disposal costs, improving the efficiency of water production facilities, and decarbonizing projects simultaneously.”
Capture6 recently announced a partnership with the Palmdale, California Water District, which will implement the company’s technology in a new facility. This move is expected to eliminate the need for up to 100 acres of brine ponds, reduce lifetime costs by up to 40%, and help the state achieve its carbon neutrality goals by 2045.
In 2024, Capture6 announced the Frontier Coalition, which facilitates carbon removal by securing a pre-purchase of 1,000 tons of carbon removal for Shopify and Stripe.
Rothschild & Co. served as the financial advisor for the Series A funding round, which was led by Tetrad Corporation, a private equity firm. Other participants include Hyundai Motor Group’s ZER01NE Ventures, Energy Capital Ventures, Elemental Impact, Bridge Investment, Sopoong Ventures, Third Derivative, Stan and Jane Rodbell, and the Jacob S Shapiro Foundation.
Aaron Hilkemann, a spokesperson and board member for Tetrad, stated, “Numerous businesses and industries face wastewater disposal and freshwater acquisition challenges to their growth and long-term success. In Capture6, we see a company committed to addressing these challenges head-on. Their solution decreases the financial burden for businesses and builds momentum around environmentally beneficial methods of water production and waste treatment.”
