Octavia Carbon’s selection as one of the Top 50 global finalists in Tencent’s CarbonX Program 2.0 marks an important moment for Africa’s climate innovation landscape. The announcement was made at the CarbonX Summit 2025 in Shenzhen. Chosen from more than 660 applicants across 54 countries, Octavia Carbon stands as the only African company in the carbon dioxide removal track, positioning the startup to benefit from funding, technical support and new international partnerships that can strengthen Africa’s role in the global climate transition.
This recognition is expected to create positive impact in several ways. It offers Octavia Carbon a chance to compete for a share of RMB 200 million ($28 million) in catalytic funding, gain expert mentorship and access pilot opportunities that can speed up the deployment of large-scale direct air capture facilities. For Africa, and especially Kenya, this means greater visibility, more investor confidence and a clearer pathway for climate-tech solutions to grow across the continent.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Martin Freimüller and CTO Duncan Kariuki, Octavia Carbon is the first company in Africa dedicated to building and deploying direct air capture (DAC) machines. Their approach focuses on using Kenya’s abundant geothermal energy to power modular facilities that pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Each DAC unit can capture about 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually at a cost below $200 per tonne, far lower than the global average of more than $600 per tonne. This cost advantage positions Kenya as one of the most promising locations in the world for large-scale carbon removal.
Octavia Carbon explains that Kenya has the right mix of resources to lead in this field. The country has reliable geothermal energy, strong volcanic geology suitable for carbon mineralization and a growing pool of engineering talent. By combining these advantages, Octavia’s technology is designed to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere in a way that is both climate-positive and economically viable. Their goal is to make Kenya the world’s most cost-effective hub for direct air capture by 2025.
The company’s mission connects strongly to global net-zero targets. Current climate science shows that reducing emissions alone will not be enough to limit global warming. The world must also remove large amounts of existing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Octavia Carbon is working to push DAC technology down the cost curve and scale it up fast enough to match the urgency of the climate crisis. Their work is structured not only around climate action but also around economic opportunity. By building a new industry for carbon removal in Kenya, the company aims to support green industrial growth and promote climate justice, ensuring that African countries benefit from new climate-tech markets.
Being named a Top 50 finalist in the CarbonX Program gives Octavia Carbon access to greater global collaboration. Winners, to be announced in early 2026, will receive additional opportunities for field testing and cross-sector partnerships. According to Tencent Senior Vice President Davis Lin, CarbonX focuses on supporting ideas that can move from research to real deployment and create solutions for low-carbon futures. This aligns with Octavia Carbon’s goal of turning high-quality carbon removal into an exportable service that supports industries around the world.
Octavia’s rise is also backed by strong financial support. In 2024, the company secured a $10 million seed round from Lowercarbon Capital, one of the most active investors in carbon removal ventures. This funding helped build Kenya’s first DAC pilot system and begin early deployments. The company now represents a growing African voice in a field that has long been dominated by North American and European startups. While Africa contributes only about 4 percent of global emissions, it holds significant potential for high-impact carbon removal thanks to its natural resources and emerging innovation capacity.
Octavia Carbon’s achievement in the CarbonX Program 2.0 is therefore more than a milestone for a single company. It is proof that Africa can lead in advanced climate technologies and shape the global path to net-zero. With new support, international exposure and a tested model rooted in local strengths, Octavia Carbon is positioned to help redefine what climate solutions from the continent can achieve.
