Brinc, a Hong Kong-based global venture accelerator, has on Thursday announced the debut cohort of its Climate Tech accelerator, where four startups kick off its Summer 2023 program.

The inaugural Climate Tech cohort comprises a select group of innovative ventures addressing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) globally, Brinc said in a statement.

According to the statement, the entrepreneurs behind these startups will embark on an intensive three-month program that features a specifically tailored curriculum customized for this focused cohort.

They will also receive fundraising support, scale-up guidance, and network introductions to follow-on investors, expert mentors, and industry corporates.

Supporters of Brinc’s debut Climate Tech program include key stakeholders in this space: Artesian, Carbon Business Council, CO2CRC, Direct Air Capture Coalition, PML Applications; plus others.

“While areas such as mobility and transportation have received the most attention from climate tech investment, Brinc is turning the focus to where we can make the biggest impact as early-stage investors,” said Manav Gupta, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brinc.

According to him, the inaugural Climate Tech cohort and program focus specifically on CDR.

While there is certainly a long road ahead in combating this pressing global issue, he said Brinc has prioritized its focus and efforts in this arena.

“Brinc is excited to launch our Climate Tech program and I’m thrilled to witness the innovation and passion these companies bring to the table,” he added.

Brinc’s Summer 2023 cohort to debut its Climate Tech Program:

Airhive (United Kingdom) – The firm is building a breakthrough geochemical direct air capture (DAC) technology to accelerate carbon removal.

Its modular DAC system, based on a fluidised, nano-structured sorbent, achieves market-leading capture speed, energy efficiency and affordability.

CarbonBridge (United States) – The firm harnesses carbon dioxide and clean hydrogen to produce eco-friendly methanol through an innovative microbial conversion process.

This groundbreaking approach not only reduces energy consumption but also enables a cost-effective production process that competes favorably with mainstream methanol derived from fossil fuels.

Formwork IO (Hong Kong) – The firm employs a circular economy approach, utilizing waste carbon dioxide and materials as binders to reduce cement usage and create carbon-negative concrete.

This innovative mineralization technique involves the permanent storage of carbon dioxide through carbonation, ensuring a sustainable solution.

As a pioneering player in the Asian market, where more than 70 percent of cement is produced, Formwork IO has the flexibility to tailor its process to various applications.

Poas Bioenergy (Costa Rica) – The firm employs an innovative and adaptable reactor system to transform agricultural waste, such as coffee and pineapple residue, into valuable resources.

With a focus on sustainability, its technology enables the production of biochar and energy (syngas) in a modular and efficient manner.

This circular economy solution not only addresses waste management but also holds promise for generating clean, local energy.

Brinc is a global venture acceleration that operates 13 multidisciplinary accelerator programs across seven countries.

The firm accelerates startups focused on climate tech, clean energy, food technology, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, connected hardware, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) with a view to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future.

Brinc also supports corporations with investment services, distributed innovation strategies, sourcing of new startups and technologies, as well as venture-building Web3-enabled businesses.

In 2021, Brinc announced a series of venture funds to invest in high-potential early-stage companies through accelerators and provide limited partners (LPs) with a dedicated innovation platform and access to Series A+ co-investment opportunities.

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