Belgian DeepTech startup D-CRBN raises €17.5 million to turn industrial CO₂ emissions into circular carbon molecules

D-CRBN, an Antwerp-based DeepTech startup developing electrified plasma technology to recycle CO₂ and hydrocarbons into circular carbon molecules, has closed its €17.5 million Series A investment round.

The round was led by Astaia, with participation from follow-on investors SFPIM and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund. In parallel, D-CRBN is opening a limited secondary closing of up to €5 million for a select group of strategic industrial partners, under the same terms and conditions as the initial round. These partners will play an active role in accelerating the industrial deployment of D-CRBN’s technology. 

“This Series A marks a significant milestone for D-CRBN. With Astaia as lead investor and the continued support of SFPIM and the EIC Fund, we are well-positioned to transition from pilot validation toward industrial scale-up,” said David Ziegler, co-founder and CCO of D-CRBN. 

Founded in 2021 by Gill Scheltjens, David Ziegler, Georgi Trenchev, and Annemie Bogaerts, D-CRBN develops electrified plasma technology to recycle CO₂ and hydrocarbons into carbon monoxide and syngas for sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials.

D-CRBN claims its technology uses renewable electricity to convert CO₂-rich off-gases and hydrocarbons into carbon monoxide and syngas, which are key building blocks for sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials, without producing byproducts like carbon black.

By electrifying these processes, the company offers European industry a scalable pathway to enhance supply security, reduce dependence on fossil feedstocks, and sustain industrial competitiveness.

The Belgian startup claims that its technology has already been validated at industrial pilot scale with leading partners in the steel and chemicals sectors, and that multiple demonstration projects are advancing towards commercial deployment.

“By enabling circular carbon molecules at industrial scale, D-CRBN directly addresses Europe’s dependence on fossil resources while helping secure the future supply of critical materials for fuels, chemicals, and manufacturing. Their electrified plasma technology exemplifies the type of scalable, real-economy solution we seek to support as a long-term partner,” said Andreas Blome, Director, Astaia. 

With the proceeds from the Series A round, the company plans to scale its first industrial demonstration units, expand its engineering and operations teams, and accelerate the commercial rollout of its CO₂-to-CO and syngas platform.

“Europe’s ability to remain competitive will depend on how effectively we turn breakthrough innovation into scalable industrial solutions. D-CRBN is a strong example of how deep tech can help decarbonise heavy industry while also creating new value from emissions that would otherwise be wasted. We are pleased to support their journey toward industrial scale-up,” said Hermann Hauser, Member of the EIC Fund Board. 

In addition to its equity participation, D-CRBN previously received a €2.5 million EIC Accelerator grant in 2023. 

D-CRBN collaborates with leading industrial players across the steel, chemicals, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The company is positioning itself as a key enabler of Europe’s circular carbon economy and a strategic technology provider for industrial decarbonisation and supply security.

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