Climate Insider Brief:
- Former Tesla engineer Thoralf Gutierrez has co-founded Sirona Technologies, a Brussels-based startup aiming to raise $1 million.
- The company, inspired by Tesla, focuses on rapid product iteration and mission-driven Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to remove challenging emissions.
- Emphasizing speed, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, the startup aims to contribute to achieving net-zero emissions, integrating DAC into a broader strategy for rapidly reducing atmospheric CO2 levels in a post-fossil-energy era.
PRESS RELEASE – November 22, 2023 – Former Tesla engineer Thoralf Gutierrez has partnered with CERN alumni and carbon capture scientists to launch Sirona Technologies. The Brussels-based startup aims to raise $1M (approximately €917K) to address the goal of removing CO2 from the air, targeting challenging emissions.
Inspired by Tesla’s practices, Sirona emphasises rapid product iteration and intense mission focus, aiming to set a new standard in the field of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology.
DAC is a technology designed to actively extract CO2 from the atmosphere using specialised chemical filters. This innovation presents a solution for mitigating challenging-to-reduce emissions and addressing historical carbon emissions.
Investors in this round
The startup is supported by a distinguished group of investors and entrepreneurs, including experienced professionals from Tesla and SpaceX.
Notable figures and firms such as XAnge, AFI Ventures, VOYAGERS Climate-Tech Fund (led by David Rowan, founding editor of Wired UK), Cowboy’s Adrien Roose, Aerospacelab’s Benoit Deper, eFounders’ Thibaud Elziere, and Eventbrite co-founder Renaud Visage, among others, have backed the startup.
Progress on prototypes
Sirona Technologies claims to have achieved rapid progress in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. In just six months, the company has developed a third-generation prototype, capturing 100 times more CO2 than the initial version.
The team’s fast product iteration approach positions them for large-scale deployment, aiming to make a substantial impact on global carbon levels.
Thoralf Gutierrez, CEO and co-founder of Sirona Technologies says, “I am incredibly excited to unveil Sirona Technologies to the world. Climate change is the most important problem of our era. It demands that we make bold and ambitious bets.”
“My experience at Tesla showed me what you can do when you assemble a team of exceptional, mission-driven engineers. That’s exactly what we’re doing, and it will be crucial to scaling our impact on climate change as quickly as possible.”
Fight against climate change
Founded in 2023, Sirona Technologies is a climate tech startup centred on Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology for CO2 removal.
Emphasising speed, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, the Brussels-based startup claims to be at the forefront of the emerging climate tech industry in the region. Its approach involves building machines based on existing technology to contribute to the larger goal of reaching net-zero emissions.
Co-founder Gauthier Limpens says, “Direct Air Capture is an essential piece in the intricate puzzle of combating climate change. During my tenure in the field, I’ve come to realise the urgent need to scale up this technology right now, for it to be available tomorrow.”
Limpens adds, “It’s not a question of choosing one solution over another as they will all be needed; rather, it’s about integrating DAC into our broader strategy to effectively and rapidly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels in a post-fossil-energy era.”
“At Sirona Technologies, we are committed to advancing this technology to make a meaningful impact in our collective fight against climate change.”
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SOURCE: Siliconcanals
Featured Image: Credit: Sirona Technologies
