Bengaluru-based climate-tech startup CarbonStrong has raised Rs 12.5 crore in a seed funding round co-led by IAN Angel Fund and Rainmatter, with participation from Social Alpha, Full Circle Ventures, and existing investors Momentum Capital and Spectrum Impact.
The fresh funding will help CarbonStrong set up its first production facility, expand its team, develop and test new products, and move from customer trials and paid pilots to commercial production.
Turning Industrial Waste Into Low-Carbon Building Materials
Founded in 2022 by Harsh Jain and Vikramaditya Singh, CarbonStrong develops low-carbon binders by upcycling industrial waste. Its materials can replace up to 50% of cement used in concrete.
The company claims that its solution can lower both the cost and carbon emissions associated with concrete while maintaining performance. It is also designed to work with existing plants and processes, meaning manufacturers do not need to make major changes to their current infrastructure.
CarbonStrong had previously raised Rs 3.6 crore in a pre-seed round in 2023 from Momentum Capital, Spectrum Impact and other angel investors.
From Customer Trials to Commercial Production
CarbonStrong said it has completed several customer trials and paid pilots, with its materials being used in demonstration projects across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
The startup is now targeting precast concrete and paver block manufacturers as it works towards commercial-scale production.
Over the next two years, CarbonStrong aims to build annual production capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes.
The company plans to use the new facility to support commercial deployments and meet growing demand for lower-carbon construction materials.
Tackling Cement Emissions
Cement production accounts for more than 8% of global CO2 emissions, making it one of the major sources of industrial emissions.
While several technologies are being developed to reduce cement use, CarbonStrong says existing alternatives have limited capacity to replace cement without affecting concrete performance.
Its approach involves converting industrial waste generated by sectors such as coal and steel into cementitious materials that can replace a larger portion of conventional cement.
Growing Climate-Tech Opportunity
The low-carbon construction materials segment has attracted several startups working on alternatives to traditional cement and other building materials.
GreenJams develops low-carbon construction materials using crop residues and industrial by-products, while CarbonCraft uses construction and industrial waste to produce geopolymer-based wall claddings and other building products.
The sector has also received institutional support. In February, the Technology Development Board (TDB) extended financial assistance to CarbonCraft to commercialise its ultra-low-carbon wall claddings.
In June 2026, CarbonStrong and Satiq Concrete Manufacturer were among nine climate-tech startups selected for urban sustainability deployments, receiving grants of up to Rs 35 lakh.
With its latest funding, CarbonStrong is now looking to move beyond trials and establish the production capacity needed to bring its low-carbon cement alternative to a larger set of construction and concrete manufacturers.
-By Shivani Solanki
