Aerleum, a French climate tech startup specialising in CO2 capture and using it as eco-friendly fuel for shipping and aviation, has raised $6 million in seed funding. The round was led by 360 Capital and HTGF (which recently invested in ABH Optics and BIOVOX). It also saw participation from Norrsken, Bpifrance, and Marble.
Funds utilisation
The funding will accelerate the industrialisation of Aerleum’s breakthrough technology, which transforms atmospheric CO2 and low-carbon hydrogen into synthetic fuels (e-fuels) and chemicals, propelling hard-to-abate sectors toward a carbon-neutral future.
The company plans to launch its first full-scale pilot unit. It will work closely with key industry players and customers to deploy its technology in sectors where emissions reductions are critical.
CO2 capture and conversion
Aerleum was founded in 2023 by Steven Bardey and Sébastien Fiedorow as the spin-out of the venture studio Marble. It is a climate tech company at the forefront of carbon capture and utilisation.
Its technology captures CO₂ from the atmosphere and converts it into synthetic fuels and chemicals, offering a scalable and cost-competitive solution for industries looking to implement alternatives to fossil-derived products. Aerleum’s mission is to accelerate the global transition to a carbon-neutral economy by providing industries with the tools to decarbonise without compromising on performance or cost-efficiency.
It is setting the fastest timeline in the market to achieve price parity with fossil fuels, offering industries—such as maritime, aviation, and chemicals—a viable path to decarbonisation without compromising on cost or scalability.
In addition to this, it solves the economic challenges associated with clean energy solutions. Unlike conventional pathways that remain costly and limited by location, Aerleum’s innovation is ready to scale globally, optimising co-location for low-carbon hydrogen sourcing and providing industries around the world with a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
The company is initially focusing on e-methanol, a clean, energy-dense fuel that is rapidly gaining momentum as a key alternative in the maritime and aviation sectors. E-methanol offers significant benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting air pollutants, and serving as an excellent energy carrier as it remains liquid at ambient temperature—making it easy to transport and store.
“Our mission has been clear since the beginning: to make e-fuels as affordable and accessible as fossil fuels,” said Sébastien Fiedorow, co-founder & CEO of Aerleum. “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.”
Investors’ views
“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,” commented Alexandre Mordacq and François Tison from 360 Capital.
“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,” commented Timo Bertsch from HTGF.
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