Tivano wins $600K grant to expand carbon removal in Namibia
What's the deal? Tivano CarbonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Zurich-based startup spun out of ETHDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has secured a US$458.3K (roughly $600,000) grant led by REPIC to scale its carbon dioxide removal work in Namibia.
What's the endgame? Tivano tackles bush encroachment — the aggressive spread of woody plants across grasslands — by removing unwanted vegetation and sealing the processed biomass in underground vaults. There, sensors monitor the material to prevent decomposition and carbon release for centuries.
Why now? Tivano's Dragonfly project has already restored 120 hectares of Namibian land and removed more than 1,000 tonnes of CO₂. It earned 1,049 carbon removal credits through Puro.earthDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, certified under a methodology with a durability of 100-plus years.
The grant comes from REPIC, which backs knowledge and technology transfer from Switzerland to developing and transition countries, focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and resource efficiency.
What's the money for? The funding will push the Dragonfly project from demonstration operations toward large-scale deployment. Tivano is also advancing Project Butterfly, with its first carbon vault under construction. The grant will help develop the operational model needed for wider rollout.
Beyond carbon removal, the company says its work with local partners supports employment and economic activity in the region, while letting native grasses and savanna ecosystems recover.
The signal: At $600,000, the award sits toward the smaller end of funding rounds, but it signals growing institutional appetite for durable, measurable carbon removal methods that pair climate benefits with land restoration. Founded in 2024, Tivano is currently enrolled in the ETH startup accelerator UPortunityDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, sponsored by UBS.
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Image credit: Tivano Carbon
