Equilibrium Raises $3 Million to Supercharge Carbon Removal in India
In a major boost for India’s fight against climate change, climatetech startup Equilibrium has raised $3 million to expand its multipathway carbon removal projects. The company is taking a unique approach: blending carbon science, digital monitoring tools, and grassroots partnerships to cut emissions while improving farmer livelihoods.
Equilibrium’s mission goes beyond carbon credits—it’s about building resilient food systems in India while creating long-term environmental and economic benefits for local communities.
Nature-Based Solutions at Scale
Equilibrium is betting on nature-based climate solutions that not only remove carbon but also create additional value for farmers and ecosystems.
Agroforestry and Regenerative Agriculture
By encouraging farmers to adopt tree-based farming models and soil-friendly agricultural practices, Equilibrium helps restore soil fertility, improve biodiversity, and capture more carbon naturally.
Mangrove Restoration
Coastal mangroves act as carbon sinks while protecting vulnerable communities from climate risks like storms and rising seas. Equilibrium’s projects aim to bring degraded mangrove ecosystems back to life.
Biochar and Waste-to-Value Models
One of the most innovative pathways is turning agricultural waste and invasive species into biochar—a form of charcoal that locks away carbon for hundreds of years while enriching soils. What was once a problem for farmers is now a profitable carbon removal solution.
Scaling Up Across India
With fresh funding, Equilibrium plans to expand eight pipeline projects across nine Indian states. The scale is massive:
- 120,000 hectares of land to be transformed
- 150,000+ smallholder farmers directly engaged
- 20 million tonnes of carbon removal projected
This makes Equilibrium one of the fastest-scaling carbon removal initiatives in India, showing how grassroots-led climate action can reach global impact levels.
Power of Partnerships
What sets Equilibrium apart is its community-first model. Rather than working in isolation, it collaborates with:
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Agri-value chain partners
This network ensures that even in fragmented smallholder farming landscapes, projects are replicable, investable, and scalable.
Tech Meets Agriculture
Equilibrium isn’t just about planting trees or making biochar—it’s deeply rooted in science and technology.
Digital MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification)
Using advanced digital monitoring systems, Equilibrium tracks carbon removal progress in real-time with high accuracy. This allows for auditable, high-frequency data that investors and regulators trust.
Waste-to-Value Conversion
Equilibrium’s innovation lies in turning low-value residues into high-value climate solutions. For example, burning crop stubble is a major pollution problem in India. Equilibrium converts it into carbon removal pathways, eliminating waste while adding farmer income streams.
Why Investors Backed Equilibrium
Kalaari Capital, one of India’s top venture firms, led the $3 million funding round. Explaining the investment, partner Sampath P said:
“We invested in Equilibrium because it pairs deep agricultural and carbon science with a digitally enabled operating system that makes on-ground implementation partners effective at scale. Its robust dMRV stack delivers auditable high-frequency tracking, and the team operates with the fiscal discipline, corporate governance, and rigour required to build high-integrity, high-quality, long-lived carbon assets.”
In simpler terms, Equilibrium combines credibility, scalability, and technology—a rare mix in the carbon removal space.
The Founder’s Vision
Equilibrium was founded by Siddhanth Jayaram, who sees climate resilience and agriculture as two sides of the same coin. He believes that the future of farming in India must adapt to climate change, and carbon removal projects can be the economic engine driving that shift.
In his words:
“Our mission is to bring scale and durability to carbon removal through a permanent switch to climate-resilient agriculture, and this requires sustained, appropriate pools of capital to execute long-term projects.”
For Jayaram, this $3 million raise isn’t just about growth—it’s about proving that climate solutions can be both profitable and permanent.
Why This Matters for India and the World
India is one of the world’s largest agricultural economies, home to over 100 million smallholder farmers. But the sector is highly vulnerable to climate risks like droughts, floods, and declining soil health.
Equilibrium’s work has three big impacts:
- Carbon Removal at Scale – Tackling emissions directly with measurable, verifiable projects.
- Farmer Livelihoods – Diversifying income sources and reducing dependence on volatile crop yields.
- Climate Resilience – Building systems that withstand the shocks of a changing climate.
If successful, Equilibrium could become a blueprint for global climate action, showing how developing economies can lead in both sustainability and social impact.
The Bigger Picture: Carbon Removal as an Industry
Carbon removal is often seen as futuristic, but startups like Equilibrium are making it real and grounded in everyday farming practices. The global carbon credit market is projected to grow into a multi-billion-dollar industry over the next decade, and high-quality, verifiable removals are in high demand.
By focusing on scientific rigor and digital transparency, Equilibrium positions itself as a trusted supplier of carbon assets, not just for India but potentially for international buyers as well.
What’s Next?
With new capital in hand, Equilibrium will focus on:
- Scaling its eight pipeline projects
- Expanding to new regions in India
- Strengthening its digital MRV stack
- Deepening partnerships with local players
If all goes as planned, the company could set new global standards for climate resilience through agriculture.
Final Thoughts
Equilibrium is more than just a climatetech startup—it’s a movement that connects climate action, farmer empowerment, and technology innovation. With $3 million in fresh funding, it is poised to show the world how India’s farmers can become climate heroes while building a sustainable economic future.
The big takeaway? Carbon removal isn’t just about offsetting—it’s about rethinking how we farm, restore, and regenerate the land.