Ucaneo Biotech develops the world’s first cell-free Direct Air Capture technology leveraging a biocatalytic membrane to capture CO₂ from the air. The team set the goal to capture 0.5 giga tons of CO₂ from the air by 2035.

Ucaneos Ucaneo’s founding team (from left to right): Carla Glassl (CTO) and Florian Tiller (CEO)

Ucaneo’s carbon removal technology is a water-based bioreactor with an enzymatically enhanced bio-membrane. Compared to conventional DAC technologies this does not bind CO₂ to a chemical solvent but leverages a concentration mechanism to capture CO₂ directly from the air. The new technology is not only significantly cheaper than existing DAC methods, but also more sustainable due to the use of enzymes and utilization of waste products. This allows for a combination of the best in nature and the best of engineering to build a scalable and sustainable technology to combat climate change.

Behind the start-up is a science and mission driven team. Carla and Florian combine their backgrounds in molecular biology and business building in AI, robotics, as well as sustainability to combat climate change.

After the first promising results in the lab, the team continues to focus on the development of the technology. Within the CDR ClimAccelerator and with support from Munich Re and ERGO, Ucaneo is looking to better understand risk and bankability of a first-of-a-kind technology.

For further information, please go to www.ucaneo.com.