Zurich-based climate tech startup Cotierra, which develops decentralised biochar systems for agricultural value chains, has raised $3 million in a round co-led by PINC, the venture arm of Paulig, and Carbon Removal Partners, as Vestbee was informed. The latest round brings the company’s total funding to approximately $4.75 million.
- Established in 2023 by Thomas Käslin, Marcel Rohner, and Lorenz Buser, Cotierra develops decentralised reactors that convert agricultural residues into biochar near where the biomass is generated, addressing agricultural waste and declining soil health. Its solution also includes a digital platform for operating, monitoring, and verifying biochar production.
- The company has initially deployed its technology across the coffee value chain and is now moving from pilot projects to repeatable, multi-year commercial deployments, supported by an existing order backlog.
"We have shown that decentralised biochar offers a highly effective pathway to decarbonise and strengthen tropical agricultural value chains where biomass is widely dispersed. Now we are making it simple, reliable and scalable. Our ambition is to make it the standard solution for agricultural companies to strengthen farmer productivity and resilience while reducing emissions and removing carbon across their supply chains," claims Thomas Käslin, CEO and co-founder at Cotierra.
Details of the deal
- The round also saw participation from Zürcher Kantonalbank, Carbon Drawdown Initiative, better ventures, GOTA Ventures, Hungry4Impact, Triple Impact Ventures, and climate and impact-focused angel investors.
- With the fresh capital, Cotierra aims to industrialise its decentralised reactor technology and digital platform, while expanding into other tropical commodities, including cocoa, cotton, and citrus.
