Carba Inc.

Carba, Inc is a Minnesota startup and MN Cup winner that is tackling two environmental challenges at once:  (1) improving landfills and (2) pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

The company’s technology, developed in collaboration with University of Minnesota researchers, transforms organic waste – like fallen tree branches and yard waste – into a valuable material called biochar. Burying biochar permanently removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to rebalance our climate.

Through a collaboration with Waste Management at a Minnesota landfill, Carba has proven its technology works on a small scale and even offers additional benefits: biochar also captures PFAS, harmful microplastics, and odors in landfills, while also reducing how much soil Waste Management needs to truck in for maintaining landfill cover.

Venn’s PRI will provide concessionary capital to help Carba construct and operate a full-scale reactor at its current test site, thereby establishing the value of its technology in comparison to other carbon dioxide removal technologies, the benefits to the community, and the benefits to the commercial partner. It will also educate the public about where and how a reactor could be used alongside various commercial operations to dramatically reduce GHG emissions, all while using less energy and at a lower cost than currently available alternatives.