Temasek Trust’s Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H) has made headlines in August 2025 by leading an impressive US$11.6 million Series A funding round for Equatic, a US-based climate technology company on a mission to scale marine carbon removal and green hydrogen production. This landmark investment highlights an accelerating trend at the intersection of climate innovation, impact finance, and the urgent global push for scalable decarbonization solutions.
The Breakthrough: Equatic’s Dual-Product Technology
At the center of the story is Equatic’s proprietary technology, which couples carbon dioxide removal (CDR) with the green production of hydrogen in a single, scalable system. Utilizing a patented seawater electrolysis process, Equatic accelerates the ocean’s natural capability to absorb and store carbon while creating valuable, carbon-negative hydrogen gas.
Unlike many CDR approaches that face durability or scalability doubts, Equatic’s technology stands out by leveraging the vastness and chemical capacity of the ocean. The process involves passing seawater through an electrolysis system, which removes atmospheric carbon dioxide and captures it in mineral form while generating hydrogen as a byproduct. This dual approach directly targets the two biggest decarbonization challenges of the century: removing legacy carbon and generating clean energy at scale.
Funding for Scale: What the $11.6M Series A Will Power
The round, oversubscribed above its initial target of US$10 million, was co-led by Singapore-based Kibo Invest and included international investors like Stacey Nicholas, the Aga Khan Foundation, filmmaker Adam McKay, and Lee Cooper, alongside catalytic support from Grantham Neglected Climate Opportunities. The funding will not only advance the commercialization of Equatic’s patented seawater electrolysis technology but will directly support engineering work for its first commercial facility — planned with the capability of removing 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually — and further manufacturing and technology development.
With pilots in Los Angeles and Singapore already validating the technology, this capital injection will also help meet growing market demand for high-quality, verifiable carbon removal credits and carbon-negative hydrogen, both critical commodities for industries and countries racing to meet their climate commitments.
Verifiability and Climate Finance: Ensuring Integrity
A persistent challenge for carbon removal companies is proving that their removals are permanent, additional, and independently verified. Equatic addresses this by adhering to the ISO-14064 standard for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and has its carbon removals validated by two leading global registries — Isometric and Puro.earth. Being able to issue high-quality carbon removal credits with auditability and transparency is vital for accessing climate finance markets and instilling confidence in buyers.
Strategic Partnerships: From Temasek Trust to Kibo Invest
Temasek Trust’s C3H’s involvement signals more than philanthropic capital — it’s a new model for impact investing in deeptech climate innovations. C3H supports early-stage companies in climate and health with a mission to deliver tangible, scalable impact. Equatic’s journey exemplifies how public-private-philanthropic partnerships can accelerate the translation of bold science to global scale.
Kibo Invest, known for its focus on climate technology, brings both capital and technical insight, helping bridge Asian and global efforts around sustainable investing and decarbonization. Together, these partners bring credibility, technical guidance, and market reach that far exceeds traditional venture investment.
From Startup to Scale: The Journey So Far
Equatic, originally known as SeaChange, began its journey by winning Temasek Foundation’s “The Liveability Challenge” in 2021, securing catalytic grant funding and launching its first Singapore pilot in collaboration with the city-state’s national water agency, PUB. The technology’s promise was further recognized when the company became a finalist for The Earthshot Prize in 2024, reflecting its global significance and scalability.
Addressing Two Critical Needs: Decarbonisation and Clean Energy
Few climate startups can credibly claim to impact both negative emissions and the future energy mix. Equatic’s vision is to fully commercialize a platform that delivers:
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Permanent CO₂ removal at a gigatonne scale — crucial for meeting net-zero pathways.
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Green hydrogen production — the energy vector many expect to be pivotal for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors.
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High-integrity CDR credits for companies and governments seeking trustworthy offsets.
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Global collaboration across industry pioneers, agencies, and investors.
The Momentum for Climate Solutions
Equatic’s successful Series A financing embodies the rising momentum for scalable solutions to the climate crisis, driven by converging forces: scientific innovation, catalytic capital, and cross-sector partnerships. With climate tech continuing to outpace traditional venture segments in terms of both deal activity and societal urgency, this transaction shows how public, private, and philanthropic actors can unite to fast-track a low-carbon transition.
As C3H’s Head, Ryan Tan, says:
“Equatic’s technology and approach exemplify the type of bold and scalable innovation that aligns with C3H’s mandate. We are delighted to support Equatic’s goal in advancing promising climate mitigation solutions that offer permanent, durable carbon removal with green hydrogen production for scalable, tangible impact and commercial benefit.”
James Marshall, CEO of Kibo Invest, highlights:
“Equatic represents an exciting opportunity to scale deep-tech innovation that addresses two critical needs: decarbonisation and clean energy.”
And Gaurav N. Sant, Equatic’s founder, underscores:
“This financing catalyses Equatic’s mission to deliver cost-effective and durable carbon removal at scale. The Temasek Trust ecosystem has been a foundational partner…We are excited to accelerate our journey with partners who share our thesis that technology translation and innovation is fundamental to mitigate worsening climate change, quickly and at scale.”
What’s Next?
With the Series A close, Equatic is poised to break ground on its first 100-kilotonne-per-year CO₂ removal facility — a key milestone for the company, the sector, and international climate finance. Further, the company’s model underscores how the right combination of science, standards, and scalable financing can unlock ambitious climate impacts — a growth playbook that other global innovators are likely to follow amid mounting pressure to deliver real-world decarbonization.
Conclusion
Temasek Trust’s C3H-led Series A investment in Equatic is a blueprint for future-oriented, international climate action: science-driven, verifiable, and impact-scaled. As the clean energy transition accelerates, such catalytic investments are helping define not only the tools but the partnerships required to tackle humanity’s greatest existential challenge.
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