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Apolownia raises €1M seed round backed by LITA and Bpifrance for blue carbon

What's the deal? Paris-based ApolowniaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has closed a €1 million seed round to scale its coastal ecosystem restoration and blue carbon projects. The round drew backing from LITADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Bpifrance, and a group of business angels.

What's the endgame? Founded in 2024, the mission-driven startup restores natural carbon sinks and regenerates biodiversity through end-to-end climate projects. It aims to become an international benchmark for high-integrity restoration, from mangroves to seagrass meadows, coastal peatlands, and coral reefs.

How it works: Apolownia centralises the entire development chain — from site identification and feasibility to monitoring and long-term follow-up. Its model combines satellite remote sensing, drones, AI, and advanced measurement with local teams and community engagement.

Why now? The environmental market is shifting, the company says. Firms are no longer only pressed to cut emissions but to sequester residual carbon and restore ecosystems to meet climate targets such as SBTi.

"Driven by regulatory change and rising expectations, they are looking for very high-integrity carbon projects: transparent, measurable, auditable, additional and durable," the company said.

The flagship: BlueRizon is a mangrove restoration project in Indonesia targeting more than 4,000 hectares, developed with local partners. Its official launch is planned for the third quarter of 2026, and more than 3,000 people are already involved. The project could ultimately benefit over 100,000 people through climate resilience, erosion control, and local economic development.

The capital will fund scaling the model, advancing BlueRizon, and continued investment in science, technology, and monitoring.

The signal: With backing from state-owned Bpifrance and impact investor LITA, Apolownia reflects rising investor appetite for measurable, auditable carbon projects as buyers demand proof of real ecosystem impact. "It is presence on the ground that makes the difference," said chief executive officer and co-founder Théo Derache.

Read more: EU-Startups

Source: dealroom

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