Vienna's Sequestra Secures €1.1M to Advance CO2 Utilization Technologies in Heavy Industry

Vienna-based company sequestra, which focuses on developing data-driven technologies for permanent CO2 utilization in heavy industry, has raised €1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. This round saw participation from key investors with expertise in climate tech, industrial innovation, and deeptech. The funding aims to support the development of the company’s patented CO2 utilization platform and expand its applications in various industries.

Among the investors is the Carbon Drawdown Initiative, known for its work in large-scale CO2 reduction technologies, which views sequestra as a potential catalyst for greener industrial processes. Other backers include VSE Beteiligungs-GmbH and Climate Founders, a European climate tech accelerator offering not only financial support but also strategic guidance and access to a wide network of industry stakeholders.

How Sequestra Plans to Utilize the Investment

The new investment will be directed toward several critical projects. A significant portion will fund the establishment of a rapid testing facility for automated material analysis, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. This facility will play a crucial role in testing and validating the CO2-binding potential of various industrial residues. Additionally, the company aims to scale its technology for large-scale industrial use, ensuring that carbonated by-products are market-ready for construction applications.

Sequestra will also prioritize optimizing the commercial potential of carbonated materials, helping to integrate them effectively into the construction sector. Its globally patented technology is designed to identify and harness the CO2 capture potential of residual materials, enabling large-scale deployment within industrial operations.

Origins of the Idea

Founded in July 2024 by Lukas Hober, Roberto Lerche, and Gero Schwarz, sequestra brings together expertise in technological research, industrial engineering, and business consultancy. The company operates from two locations, with its hardware and software development teams working in Vienna and Attnang-Puchheim, Upper Austria.

The three co-founders first connected while studying metallurgy and recycling technologies at the University of Leoben. Their shared interest in sustainable industrial practices led them to explore the potential of permanently sequestering CO2 in industrial waste. This concept has since evolved into the development of a platform that addresses a critical aspect of reducing carbon emissions.

The Technology and Its Industrial Application

The core of sequestra’s innovation lies in its technology platform, which permanently binds CO2 within industrial waste such as steel slag, incineration ash, and demolition debris. By integrating advanced analysis tools, empirical data models, and industrial processing techniques, the platform offers tailor-made solutions to industrial players seeking to reduce emissions and convert waste into valuable materials for the construction industry.

Unlike traditional waste disposal methods, this approach aims to reduce CO2 emissions while creating sustainable by-products. Leading scientific research estimates that sequestra’s approach has the potential to mitigate between 4 and 8.5 billion tons of CO2 annually—equivalent to 10-20% of global emissions.

Recognition and Industry Programs

The startup has gained recognition in several prestigious accelerator programs. It has participated in initiatives such as INiTS, the Vienna Business Agency’s Startup Grant, EIT Climate KIC Climate Launchpad, and EIT Manufacturing Venture Builders.

In November 2024, sequestra was also named a winner of the Greenstart program by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fu