Bio-Logical, a Kenya-based climate tech company specializing in biochar carbon removal, has secured $1.3 million in funding to expand its Mount Kenya facility. This investment will significantly increase the company’s capacity to produce biochar, a charcoal-like substance that sequesters carbon dioxide, and bolster its efforts to improve the livelihoods of Kenyan smallholder farmers.
The funding round was led by a consortium of high-net-worth individuals and investors, including CrossBoundary, Redshaw Advisors, and existing investor, the Steyn Group. This injection of capital will enable Bio-Logical to become one of the largest biochar producers globally, with a projected annual carbon removal capacity of 100,000 tons of CO2 within the next 18 months.
Bio-Logical’s approach is unique in its dual focus on carbon removal and soil regeneration. The company’s biochar not only sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but also serves as a soil amendment, enriching farmland and increasing crop yields for thousands of smallholder farmers who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
“Smallholder farmers are disproportionately affected by climate change, a crisis they did not create,” said Philip Hunter, Co-CEO of Bio-Logical. “We leverage carbon removals to not only sequester carbon but also develop affordable, soil-regenerating fertilizer that boosts yields and enhances climate resilience for these farmers across Kenya.”
The investment aligns with Bio-Logical’s ambitious expansion plans. The company intends to establish three additional sites across Kenya in the near future, replicating the success of its Mount Kenya facility and further scaling its impact on both carbon removal and agricultural productivity.
Louis Redshaw, CEO of Redshaw Advisors, commented on the investment, stating, “Redshaw Advisors is pleased to participate in Bio-Logical’s latest fundraising round, which will support the creation of high-integrity carbon removal credits while simultaneously benefiting farmers in need of climate resilience solutions. This investment complements our work with corporations committed to positive climate action through high-quality projects in countries requiring decarbonization support.”
Founded by CEO Rory Buckworth and Philip Hunter in 2022, Bio-Logical has already gained recognition for its work, having secured a significant deal with Microsoft in 2023, the largest single purchase of biochar carbon removal from an African project to date. The company’s success underscores the growing demand for carbon removal solutions and the potential of biochar to address climate change while simultaneously improving agricultural practices and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
“This funding round is a crucial step in scaling up our Mount Kenya facility and creating a replicable model for future expansion as we establish three new sites across Kenya over the next 18 months,” said Rory Buckworth, Co-CEO of Bio-Logical.
Last year, Bio-Logical raised a substantial $1 million in seed funding. Spearheaded by the Steyn Group, the investment round also featured prominent angel investors, including Rob Konterman, Luke Calcott-Stevens, and Jochem Wieringa.