Octavia Carbon
Climate Tech | Kenya
Octavia is reversing the effects of climate change and ending the fossil fuel age
What they do:
Octavia Carbon is the Global South’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) Company, based in Nairobi, Kenya. They design, build, and will soon deploy geothermal-integrated DAC technology that filters CO2 from the atmosphere. Their DAC approach leverages geothermal waste heat abundant in the region to address the energy-intensive nature of DAC, reducing their DAC electricity requirements by more than 80%. This, combined with Kenya's low manufacturing base, makes them well-positioned to rapidly scale DAC down the cost curve.
Why we Invested:
The market for carbon removal solutions like direct air capture is large and rapidly growing, driven by increasing government and corporate commitments to net-zero emissions. The global Direct Air Capture (DAC) market in terms of revenue was estimated to be $62 million in 2023 and is poised to reach $1trillion by 2030.
In Africa, Octavia is well-positioned to capture this opportunity given the abundant low-cost renewable energy resources, particularly geothermal, that can power the DAC process. Kenya's Rift Valley also provides ideal geology for permanently storing captured CO2. As the only DAC company operating in Africa, Octavia has a significant early-mover advantage
The Founder:
Martin Freimüller is the Founder and CEO at Octavia Carbon, he leads the company's strategy, fundraising, and overall management. Under his leadership, the team has grown rapidly to a talented group of 59 Kenyan innovators dedicated to solving the greatest challenge of our time: Climate Change. His previous experience as the global carbon removal and carbon markets content expert at Dalberg Advisors honed his expertise in this field, enabling him to build extensive knowledge and networks. He holds an M.A. (Hons) degree in Politics and Management from the University of Cambridge.
Active in:
Kenya
