Alt Carbon: From Struggling Tea Estate to Climate Venture
Alt Carbon, a climate-tech startup, has recently raised $12 million in a seed round to scale its carbon dioxide removal work in South Asia. The company, founded by siblings Shrey and Sparsh Agarwal, started its journey in May 2020 when they returned to their family’s struggling tea estate in Darjeeling. What was meant to be a farewell visit turned into the inception of Alt Carbon, officially launched in late 2023.
Initially exploring carbon markets to revive their family business, the Agarwal siblings discovered enhanced rock weathering as a transformative approach. Alt Carbon began its pilot project on their family tea estate, expanding to other farmlands in North Bengal, aiming to cover 500,000 hectares by 2030. The startup utilizes waste basalt rock dust to naturally remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and enhance soil fertility, leading to increased crop yields.
Alt Carbon’s innovative approach involves a proprietary combination of basalt and organic ingredients called Hari Maati, which is spread on farmlands to encourage farmers’ participation. The startup estimates its carbon credits at $270 per metric ton, making it a cost-effective solution compared to other carbon removal methods.
To ensure the effectiveness of their carbon removal process, Alt Carbon employs three layers of measurements, including tracking weathering progress, monitoring soil and water samples, and using reactive transport models for data analysis. The startup adheres to methodologies set by carbon removal registries and has received approvals from intergovernmental organizations.
With labs in Darjeeling and Bengaluru and a team of 25 employees, Alt Carbon plans to scale its operations by expanding soil sample analysis, setting up a hardware studio for data collection, and deploying ground sensors for real-time insights. The recent seed funding round led by Lachy Groom will support these growth initiatives.
Alt Carbon has already secured partnerships with industry leaders such as Frontier, Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, and Mitsubishi Corporation, paving the way for the company to deliver its first carbon credits in the near future. The startup’s commitment to innovative climate solutions and sustainable practices positions it as a key player in the fight against climate change.
