Water-positive carbon removal company Capture6 has secured $27.5 million in Series A and project funding to scale its innovative technology that converts waste brine into fresh water and removes carbon dioxide. The round was led by private equity firm Tetrad Corporation, with contributions from Hyundai Motor Group’s ZER01NE Ventures, Energy Capital Ventures, Elemental Impact, and other investors. Financial advisory firm Rothschild & Co. guided Capture6 through the capital raise.
This investment enables Capture6 to advance core water recovery and carbon removal projects across its global pipeline, reinforcing its mission to mitigate climate change while solving pressing water security issues.
The intersection of climate change and water scarcity is a growing concern. Capture6 CEO Ethan Cohen-Cole highlighted how traditional water treatment methods contribute to carbon emissions: "Climate change is creating water insecurity for much of the world's population, driving up demand for freshwater worldwide, and exacerbating the root problem as current methods of water treatment are carbon intensive."
Capture6’s solution addresses two critical environmental challenges simultaneously. By integrating with existing water infrastructure, the company transforms waste brine—a costly byproduct of desalination and wastewater treatment—into a carbon removal solution while recovering fresh water. This reduces waste disposal costs, enhances efficiency, and supports decarbonization efforts.
The World Economic Forum projects that freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40% by 2030. Capture6’s technology presents a scalable and cost-effective alternative to conventional water treatment and carbon capture methods.
The new capital injection will support Capture6’s continued innovation and expansion. The company plans to advance core water recovery projects, deploy technology at scale, and expand into new markets, including South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and the Middle East.
One of its most recent projects is in California’s Palmdale Water District, where Capture6 is eliminating the need for up to 100 acres of brine ponds, cutting lifetime operational costs by 40%. This collaboration will help Southern California enhance water security while contributing to the state’s carbon neutrality goals for 2045.
"Fresh water scarcity demands we rethink traditional water infrastructure to ensure districts can provide affordable, clean water and remove harmful pollutants," said Danya Hakeem, VP of Portfolio at Elemental Impact. "We are proud to double down on our support for Capture6 and the Palmdale Water District project to help deliver meaningful cost savings while providing reliable, clean water to a community that needs it most."
Founded in California and New Zealand, Capture6 develops scalable carbon removal solutions that leverage existing industrial technology. Unlike energy-intensive direct air capture systems, Capture6’s process repurposes desalination waste to mineralize CO₂ in a single step while recovering freshwater. This unique integration helps industries lower costs and adopt sustainable water and waste management practices.
Since its inception, Capture6 has announced four water-positive carbon capture facilities across three continents. In 2024, the company secured a pre-purchase of 1,000 tons of carbon removal for Shopify and Stripe, facilitated by Frontier, showcasing growing confidence in its solution.
The Series A round attracted participation from both venture capital and industrial partners, including:
"Numerous businesses and industries face wastewater disposal and freshwater acquisition challenges to their growth and long-term success," said Tetrad spokesperson and board member Aaron Hilkemann. "In Capture6, we see a company committed to addressing these challenges head-on. Their solution decreases the financial burden for businesses and builds momentum around environmentally beneficial methods of water production and waste treatment."
With ongoing partnerships and strategic backing, Capture6 is positioned to lead the industry in climate-resilient water and carbon solutions.
