French climate tech startup Aerleum raises €5.4M from HTGF, Norrsken, Bpifrance, others

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Strasbourg-based Aerleum, a climate tech company specialising in CO2 capture and utilisation, has secured $6M (approximately €5.49M) in a seed round of funding. 

The investment was led by 360 Capital and HTGF, with participation from Norrsken, Bpifrance, and Marble.

“Aerleum’s vision is to transform industries and create a circular carbon economy, where the CO2 present in the air becomes the resource,” says Steven Bardey, co-founder and CTO of Aerleum.

Decarbonising hard-to-abate industry

Founded in 2023 by Steven Bardey and Sébastien Fiedorow, as a spin-out from the venture studio Marble, Aerleum has created a new technology that captures and converts CO2 in one step, using special materials and precise heating.

This method reduces energy use and allows for the large-scale production of e-fuels and chemicals at competitive prices while significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Aerleum aims to match fossil fuel prices faster than other companies, giving industries like shipping, aviation, and chemicals a practical way to reduce carbon emissions without raising costs. 

This innovation is designed to work globally, making it easier to source low-carbon hydrogen and providing a real alternative to fossil fuels.

Currently, Aerleum is focusing on e-methanol, a clean and energy-rich fuel that is becoming an important alternative for the maritime and aviation sectors. E-methanol helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants while being easy to transport and store since it stays liquid at room temperature.

Capital utilisation

Aerleum will use the funds to accelerate the industrialisation of its technology, which converts atmospheric CO2 and low-carbon hydrogen into synthetic fuels (e-fuels) and chemicals. The company aims to help hard-to-abate sectors achieve carbon neutrality. 

Aerleum will also launch its first full-scale pilot unit and collaborate with industry partners and customers to deploy its emissions-reducing technology in key sectors.

Sébastien Fiedorow, co-founder and CEO of Aerleum, says, “Our mission has been clear since the beginning: to make e-fuels as affordable and accessible as fossil fuels.”

“With this seed round, we’re taking a major step forward in scaling our technology to meet the urgent demand for decarbonisation. We’re here to reshape entire industries, enabling them to achieve net-zero emissions faster and more efficiently.”

What do the investors have to say?

According to Aerleum, it has received funding from Bpifrance and the Région Grand Est, which has been crucial in achieving its milestones. 

The company is also being accelerated through programmes like Accelair by Air Liquide, ZEBOX by CMA CGM, and Semia, helping to scale its solutions.

Alexandre Mordacq and François Tison from 360 Capital, say, “We were seduced by Aerleum’s vision of a world where petroleum would be replaced by the CO2 present in the air – a vision rooted in reality as demonstrated by their first systems, and their economically sound business model opening the way to large scale applications.”

Timo Bertsch from HTGF, adds, “What truly sets Aerleum apart is the powerful combination of breakthrough technology and an audacious vision to replace environmentally harmful chemicals like methanol with a sustainable, carbon-neutral alternative.”

“This vision aligns perfectly with HTGF’s commitment to fostering innovation that not only drives business growth but also contributes to a healthier planet. In just one year, the team has demonstrated remarkable speed and execution, achieving significant technical milestones that highlight their capacity to scale rapidly. We are excited to support Aerleum on the next stage of their journey.”

HTGF is an early-stage investor in Germany and Europe, supporting startups in sectors like deeptech, climatetech, and Life Sciences. With over €2B under management, HTGF invests primarily in pre-seed and seed stages but can also join later-stage rounds. Since 2005, the firm has financed over 750 startups and exited over 180.

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Vishal Singh

Vishal Singh is a News Reporter and Social Media Marketing Lead at Silicon Canals. He covers developments in the European startup ecosystem and oversees the publication's social media presence. Before joining Silicon Canals, Vishal gained experience at the Indian digital media outlet Inc42, contributing to its growth with insightful content. Despite being a college dropout, his passion for writing has driven his career in journalism.

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