Deep-tech climate startup Carbelim secures ₹10 crore from IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund

Climate-tech startup Carbelim has raised ₹10 crore from the IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund. The funding will support the development and scaling of its microalgae-based carbon capture and air-purification technology.

Deep-tech startup Carbelim has secured ₹10 crore in funding from the IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund. The formal cheque handover took place at an event in Bengaluru, led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti.

Founded by Karthika Gopi and Rahul Babu, Carbelim specializes in microalgae-based, bio-integrated carbon capture and air-purification systems designed to draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen. The company holds 13 patents for its technology, which includes seven in the US and six in India.

Carbelim is among the first four deep-tech companies selected for initial funding from the Unicorn Frontier Fund and holds the distinction of being the first startup from Kerala to receive investment from the vehicle.

According to Founder and CEO Karthika Gopi, the newly secured capital is expected to generate over 50 additional jobs and help scale the company's turnover to ₹100 crore through international markets. The funding will be utilized to support technology development and scaling efforts.

Anoop P. Ambika, CEO of the Kerala Startup Mission, noted that the investment serves as significant recognition for the state's deep-tech sector and provides a strong stimulus for climate-tech startups aiming to develop and scale their technologies.

The Unicorn Frontier Fund, established as patient capital by IIT Madras, IIT Madras Research Park, and Unicorn India Ventures, was announced in February with a target corpus of ₹1,000 crore. The fund raised ₹450 crore in its first phase and has deployed nearly ₹55 crore across its first four portfolio startups to date.

"The investment in Carbelim highlights the critical role patient capital plays in nurturing early-stage deep-tech startups in India. Climate-tech and carbon-capture innovations require sustained research, development, and intellectual property creation before achieving commercial scale. By backing research-backed ventures, initiatives like the Unicorn Frontier Fund are successfully bridging the gap between academic innovation and market deployment, paving the way for globally competitive deep-tech enterprises originating from regional ecosystems." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes