Amsterdam-based SeaO2, a startup specialising in carbon (CO₂) removal technology from seawater, announced on Monday that it has secured over €2M in a funding round.
The investment round was backed by DOEN Participaties, NEW-TTT fund, Future Tech Ventures, CarbonFix, angel investors Eduard Talman and Siddharth Kambe, and others.
The latest capital injection will enable the company to transition from prototype to pilot plant, enhance team capabilities, and implement a comprehensive Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification system.
The pilot plant is expected to have an annual capacity of 250 tons of CO2 and is scheduled for launch in the summer of 2025.
The company is on a mission to remove one megaton of CO₂ by 2030 and a gigaton by 2045.
Ruben Brands, CEO and co-founder of SeaO₂ says, “This investment recognizes our team’s hard work and dedication. With this extra support, which so far included grants, subsidies, investments, and early customers, we can scale our operations and accelerate our impact on climate change even more rapidly. It is a crucial step towards our goal of removing a megaton of CO₂ by 2030 and a gigaton by 2045, advancing our mission in the fight against climate change.”
Besides the funding round, the Amsterdam-based company has also established strategic partnerships with organisations, such as XPRIZE Carbon Removal, TU Delft, Klarna, Wetsus, and Redstack.
SeaO2: Specialised in innovative carbon (CO₂) removal technology
Founded in 2021 by Ruben Brands, Rose Sharifian, and David Vermaas, SeaO2 has developed technology, using an electrochemical process to extract CO₂ from seawater, which can then be stored or reused.
Consequently, the company aims to mitigate climate change by returning carbon-free water to the ocean, enhancing its ability to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Notably, SeaO2 has participated in a successful carbon removal project with Paebbl in the Wadden Sea.
The company was recognised in the top 100 of the XPRIZE competition and delivered award-winning pitches at The Next Web, Tech Tour Oceans, and Tech Tour Water.
Additionally, the company has joined key coalitions such as the Carbon Business Council, the Negative Emissions Platform, and CCU Alliantie.
“We want to scale up as fast as possible,” says Ruben. “That’s why we have participated in several accelerator programs like CEEZER, Blue Invest, AirMiners, and Remove. Currently, we are learning a lot by participating in the PortXL, Creative destruction lab / Xprize CDR program, and Ocean Vision programs.”
The investors
DOEN Participaties is an impact investor in sustainable and social startups in the Netherlands.
They invest in the early stages of companies and are willing to take risks.
The company is wholly owned by and managed by Stichting DOEN. Stichting DOEN was established by the Postcode Lottery.
DOEN Participaties states, “We are investing in SeaO₂ because current carbon removal methods are not yet effective at the required scale. Therefore, innovations like SeaO₂ are urgently needed, and funding is essential to drive the sector forward and unlock its potential for global impact.”
CarbonFix accelerates climate breakthroughs by funding moonshots, providing venture support, popularising transformative pathways, and removing systemic roadblocks.
CarbonFix says, “CarbonFix is proud to have helped build this coalition. Our role in the ecosystem is to catalyse networks, funding, and talent to unlock innovative pathways in the fight against climate change. SeaO₂ is a prime example of this impact.”
