Category Archives: News

Semilla Climate Capital is pleased to announce an investment in Solidec’s oversubscribed $2M pre-seed round.

Solidec’s breakthrough approach to chemical manufacturing replaces centralized infrastructure with modular, efficient on-site production using only air, water, and electricity. Solidec’s platform is powered by modular reactors capable of producing many widely used chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, formic acid, acetic acid, and ethylene without any post-processing steps required. Solidec is initially focused on the production of hydrogen peroxide, a critical chemical used across industries from semiconductor fabrication and critical metal mining to wastewater treatment.

Solidec’s platform technology is poised to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar commodity and chemical industries. The company has already secured early commercial customers, highlighting the demand for breakthrough technologies that rewrite the rules of chemical manufacturing. With these funds secured, Solidec will ­­accelerate its go-to-market with a focus on pilot deployments and scaling its technology to meet customer-specific needs in multiple industries.

“Traditionally, hydrogen peroxide is produced in centralized, energy-intensive facilities using carbon-intensive inputs, then transported long distances, resulting in a significant carbon footprint,” said Ryan DuChanois, Co-Founder and CEO of Solidec. “Solidec’s modular reactor produces clean chemicals like hydrogen peroxide on-site, in fewer steps, and with less energy, slashing emissions, supply-chain risk, and cost. We’re eager to deliver these capabilities to customers across the globe.”

The chemical and petrochemical industries account for about 40 percent of industrial carbon emissions in the United States. Chemical separations alone – the post-processing steps Solidec eliminates – are responsible for 15 percent of global energy consumption. Solidec’s technology is forging a path to emission-free molecules for the global chemical manufacturing industry, and creating opportunities to accelerate innovation in multiple other industries.

Solidec spun out from Professor Haotian Wang’s lab at Rice University in 2024 and is based in Houston, Texas. The company is a recipient of the Activate Fellowship, a graduate of the Chevron Catalyst Program, and a member of Greentown Labs Houston.

Semilla Climate Capital is pleased to announce an investment in Helix Earth.

Employing technology developed by NASA,  Helix Earth systems save up to 50% energy required by air conditioning systems worldwide. In a few hours, a Helix system can be effortlessly connected to existing AC rooftop unit or dedicated outdoor air system. The Helix unit pre-dehumidifies supply air, substantially dropping the load on the existing unit and lowering power needs by 50%. There is no need to replace existing AC units. There is no need for heavy lifting cranes during installation. There is no need for additional structural support on rooftops. And the Helix system is serviceable in minutes on the same schedule as normal AC maintenance.

Semilla Climate Capital is pleased to announce an investment in Nabaco.

Food waste contributes to 8% of greenhouses gases. Nabaco reduces the greenhouse gas load associated with fresh fruits and vegetables, which in turn helps to address food scarcity and helps to provide greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Their organic, all-natural, post-harvest processing solutions improve yields and storage quality of fresh foods, safeguarding environmental sustainability.

The Fund General Partners Juan Thurman and Bob Bridge, have taken the Mensarius Oath.

As a financial professional that invests in enterprises using personal or investor capital, I hereby pledge to honor these values. If it is determined by myself or a panel of my peers that I have violated these values without reconciliation agreed between all involved parties, then I will voluntarily leave the industry.

• With my dealings, I create positive outcomes financially and otherwise for all of those involved, including the conscious avoidance of harm to any parties.
• In my profession of finance, I endeavor to help create positive outcomes for all of humanity.
• Being in the industry, I will help others to achieve the highest standards that I set for myself and my organization.
• As a steward of the trade, I work against any abuse of power that leads to unfair advantage, seduction, corruption or mistreatment.
• As a person who can affect the outcome, I commit to reducing inequality and increasing fairness in society.
• In honor of the community, I pledge to treat all that approach me with fairness, equality and the attention that each opportunity deserves.
• As part of my work, I keep all matters that are understood to be private with all available protections to keep safe from public or other unwanted disclosure.
• As a professional, I am open and honest in all of my dealings with those that I serve, including Investors and Founders.

The Semilla Climate Capital is pleased to announce an investment in ClearFlame Engine Technologies, part of a larger raise of $30M in Series B funding for the company.

The latest investments were led by Mercuria Energy Group, one of the world’s largest privately held energy and commodities companies, with Mercuria and Breakthrough Energy Ventures both making second investments. New investors, including mining corporation Rio Tinto, and WIND Ventures, the strategic venture arm of Copec, one of Latin America’s leading mobility and energy companies, see ClearFlame as part of a holistic suite of strategies to advance environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

ClearFlame Engine Technologies significantly reduces GHG emissions for long-haul trucking, agriculture, power generation, and other sectors by transforming heavy-duty engines to run more cost-effectively and cleaner on 100% renewable, plant-based fuels.