The Venture Codex

Led · Seed · Aug 2025

Carbon280 engineers next-generation hydrogen separation, storage and transport solutions for the emerging natural hydrogen industry. Its core product, Hydrilyte, has demonstrated the ability to separate hydrogen from helium and other gases while simultaneously storing the hydrogen for safe transport. The company has completed and commissioned a pilot plant and a dedicated Kwinana laboratory, where helium–hydrogen separation has been successfully proven, marking a major de-risking milestone. Carbon280 is now converting the pilot system to continuous operation as it prepares for commercial deployment and large-scale processing. The firm targets keeping separation, storage and release costs under US$1/kg at scale, supporting natural hydrogen production costs of US$1–2/kg. A recent Memorandum of Understanding with natural hydrogen explorer H2EX underscores market demand for the solution. Funds from the forthcoming seed round will be used to optimise continuous-flow operations, run expanded mixed-gas tests and prepare early pre-commercial field trials, positioning the company for global industrial adoption.

Led · Series A · Jul 2024

NovoNutrients develops microbes that convert carbon dioxide into protein for use in human food and animal feed. The company employs fermentation in looped thin‑cylinder bioreactors designed to lower the energy required to mix gases, differing from large brewery‑style tanks. It tailors microbial strains to digest varied waste gas mixes, using synthetic biology to improve stability and efficiency for some products and non‑GMO evolution for others. NovoNutrients is building a pilot plant in the San Francisco Bay Area that will use much of the same equipment as a future commercial plant to validate designs and strains. The company intends to pursue a capital‑light path to market by selling microbes along with licenses to build, operate, and maintain facilities, and by supporting marketing and business development for products. To support the pilot, NovoNutrients has raised funding to advance construction and generate the data needed for commercial investment. NovoNutrients engineers bacteria and bioreactors to convert carbon dioxide, hydrogen and a nitrogen source into a dry protein powder that can be refined into food and feed ingredients for people, animals and farmed fish. The company has surveyed literature, discovered previously unknown strains and engineered/adapted microbes to improve performance—one adapted strain grew three times faster after an eight-month fermenter run on cement-plant gases. Its bioreactor platform supports mixed-strain cultures to boost output and tailor nutritional profiles. NovoNutrients plans to license its biology and hardware, sell microbes, provide training and support, and collect technology-license royalties rather than owning commercial-scale plants. Partner industrial emitters will own the facilities and choose end products, while NovoNutrients helps arrange off-take agreements and works with EPC firms on plant construction. The company is advancing to a pilot-scale plant enabled by an external technology and investment deal to test its thesis at scale.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2024

KC8 Capture Technologies, founded in 2021 and based in Melbourne, develops carbon-capture technology for critical hard-to-abate industries such as cement, steel, power and chemical production. The company uses a proprietary, non-toxic solvent derived from naturally occurring materials. KC8 says its technology can capture up to 95% of CO2 emissions from heavy industrial sources. Financially, KC8 raised $10 million with participation from Woodside Energy and Cemex Ventures. The article also notes that KC8 and fellow Australian startup Fugu collectively raised more than $11 million.

Led · Series B · Jul 2022

String Bio is an Indian biotech startup that announced a funding round in the article. The company said it raised $20 million in a Series B round. The Series B was led by Woodside Energy Group, an Australian petroleum exploration and production company. The financing was disclosed on Monday. The article did not provide details on String Bio’s products, technologies, future plans, or operating metrics. No additional financial terms or participating investors were named in the article.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2022

Snackr offers a mobile ordering platform designed to improve the stadium patron and vendor experience. The company says its technology enables easier ordering for fans and smoother transactions for vendors at events. Snackr announced a seed capital raise to support scaling and broader deployment. The LinkedIn announcement frames the funding as a step to bring mobile ordering to fans globally. No operating metrics or prior financings were disclosed in the post. The announcement included a quote from James Edwards of BetterLabs expressing enthusiasm for partnering as Snackr scales.