As the global race toward net-zero intensifies, the critical question is no longer just how to capture carbon dioxide, but how to prove it will remain securely stored for millennia, a challenge that has attracted significant investment and innovation. Halifax-based climate technology firm pHathom Technologies has stepped into this complex arena, announcing the closure of a $4 million seed financing round. This latest injection of capital brings its total committed funding to over $12 million, signaling a major vote of confidence in its platform for verifiable and durable carbon removal.
The investment is poised to accelerate the deployment of a technology that leverages existing coastal infrastructure to turn industrial emissions into a permanent, ocean-based storage solution. The funding round, led by Propeller Ventures, saw significant participation from the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Invest Nova Scotia, and Carmeuse Ventures. This equity infusion builds upon pHathom’s foundational role in the $16 million Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Marine Storage Project, a key initiative backed by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
Beyond Capture The Growing Imperative for Verification
For years, the climate technology sector focused predominantly on the raw mechanics of capturing carbon dioxide. However, as the industry matures, a more nuanced and critical challenge has emerged: verifiability. The long-term efficacy of any carbon removal project hinges on the ability to accurately measure, monitor, and verify that stored CO2 will not re-enter the atmosphere. Without this high degree of certainty, carbon credits lack integrity, and large-scale decarbonization efforts risk falling short of their goals.
This shift toward high-integrity solutions has created a new frontier where scientific rigor and transparency are paramount. Buyers, investors, and regulators are increasingly demanding proof of permanence, pushing innovators to develop methods that are not only effective but also completely auditable. The market is evolving from simply removing carbon to building a trustworthy and accountable system for managing it. This growing demand for robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) is what separates promising concepts from scalable, bankable climate solutions.
A Novel Approach Leveraging Coastal Industry as Carbon Sinks
At the heart of pHathom’s strategy is an innovative process that transforms coastal bioenergy and industrial facilities into hubs for carbon sequestration. The company’s technology captures biogenic carbon dioxide directly from these sources before it can be released. Through a controlled, land-based industrial process, this captured CO2 is converted into dissolved inorganic carbon, a stable, naturally occurring compound found in seawater. The treated water is then safely discharged back into the ocean, matching the conditions of the receiving waters.
This method presents a significant advantage by sidestepping many of the logistical and environmental hurdles associated with other carbon storage techniques. It eliminates the need for new pipelines, long-distance transportation of compressed CO2, or complex geological injection projects. By operating within existing industrial and regulatory footprints, pHathom’s technology offers a lighter-touch approach that avoids direct intervention in the marine environment. According to CEO Dr. Kimberly Gilbert, the new capital is earmarked for pilot projects designed to validate the technology’s ability to reduce biogenic emissions while undertaking the comprehensive scientific work necessary for broad deployment.
Market Confidence and a Groundswell of Expert Support
The successful funding round is a clear indicator of growing market confidence in pHathom’s unique value proposition. Investors are backing not just a technology, but a highly scalable, customer-centric business model. Steven Fox of Propeller Ventures praised the company’s approach to durable carbon removal, emphasizing its potential to integrate seamlessly with existing industrial operations. This sentiment was echoed by Aurélie Dusausoy of Carmeuse Ventures, who noted that the investment aligns with their firm’s strategy to support industrial decarbonization, offering both capital and access to deep industry expertise.
This investor enthusiasm is matched by significant validation from the broader climate tech ecosystem. pHathom was recently selected for an advanced carbon removal purchase by Frontier, a market-leading coalition that includes Stripe, Shopify, and Google, which commits to buying high-potential carbon removal technologies. Further recognition came in the form of being named Foresight’s 2025 Atlantic Canada Startup of the Year. These endorsements from major tech buyers and industry-watchers underscore the credibility and promise of pHathom’s verifiable storage method.
Forging a Blueprint for Trust in Carbon Management
Central to pHathom’s mission is the establishment of a new standard for trustworthiness in the carbon removal industry. The company is prioritizing scientific rigor in every facet of its operations, from initial measurement to long-term monitoring. By building a system that is transparent and verifiable, it aims to create a carbon management pathway that can withstand the scrutiny of scientists, regulators, and the public. This commitment is fundamental to building the confidence needed to scale any climate solution globally.
To achieve this, pHathom is actively engaging with regulators, researchers, and policymakers in a collaborative effort to advance the field of permanent carbon removal. Rather than operating in a silo, the company is contributing to the development of robust frameworks and standards for the entire industry. This approach is designed to ensure that its scalable model for durable, high-integrity carbon storage not only meets but helps define the best practices required to support global net-zero ambitions, building a foundation of trust that can accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.
This recent financial milestone did more than just fund a company; it advanced a critical conversation about what makes carbon removal truly effective. By championing a model built on scientific validation and integration with existing infrastructure, pHathom’s progress represented a significant step toward creating a carbon market where integrity and permanence were the most valued commodities. The investment and industry endorsements solidified a pathway for turning coastal industries into key allies in the fight against climate change, offering a scalable blueprint that balanced technological innovation with environmental responsibility.
