Belgium-based climate tech startup ARK Capture Solutions is tackling one of the biggest challenges in industrial decarbonization — capturing low-concentration CO₂ emissions that have long been too costly to remove. Now, with a successful €2.2 million pre-seed funding round, ARK is ready to scale its proprietary carbon capture technology and help industries reduce their carbon footprint more affordably.
Led by Aperam Ventures and Seeder Fund, the round also drew support from Climate Club, BeAngels, Lune Ventures, InvestBW, Noshaq, and Wallonie Entreprendre. Just nine months after its founding, ARK’s rapid progress reflects growing investor confidence in scalable solutions that directly support the world’s carbon neutrality targets.
Industrial facilities often emit flue gases containing 4% to 15% CO₂, a range notoriously difficult and expensive to capture. ARK’s innovative system changes that. By cutting capture costs by half, ARK unlocks a huge segment of the market — emissions that account for nearly 50% of global Tier 2 industrial emissions.
Powered entirely by renewable energy, ARK’s hybrid solution sits downstream of emission points, producing high-purity CO₂ ready for reuse or storage. The system features a modular, autonomous, HSE-friendly, and fully electric design, allowing industries to easily integrate it into their existing operations and infrastructure.
Co-founders Samuel Thiry and Aurélien Vantomme, both veterans of clean technology development, saw a major gap in solutions targeting these low-concentration emissions. They launched ARK to close that gap — just in time for Europe’s tightening carbon regulations.
With Europe’s Emission Trading System (ETS) set to phase out free CO₂ quotas by 2034, industrial players face escalating costs. Projections suggest emissions taxes could rise sixfold compared to 2024 levels, turning cost-effective carbon capture from a nice-to-have into a necessity.
“Our technology directly addresses a market segment that’s been ignored — yet represents half of the world’s emissions,” said Thiry and Vantomme. “We’re proud to offer industries a way to lower their carbon footprint without breaking the bank.”
Unlike established players such as Carbon Clean Solutions and Climeworks, ARK focuses specifically on the underserved low-concentration emissions market, positioning itself as a key enabler of cost-effective industrial decarbonization.
ARK Rapid Progress from Prototype to Industrial Demonstration
ARK has already built a working prototype capable of capturing 2 tons of CO₂ annually. With the new funding, the team is scaling up to a 40-ton-per-year pilot and preparing for industrial-scale demonstration units that can capture between 400 and 1,000 tons per year in partnership with three top-tier industrial players.
The company also plans to expand its team and advance proprietary technology development. Recent strategic hires include Fanni, a PhD in Chemistry with expertise in CO₂ conversion, and François Harvengt as Chief Engineering/Technical Officer.
Additionally, ARK is exploring “Capture as a Service” models, offering industries flexible deployment options without heavy upfront investment. Companies can opt for long-term service agreements or equipment purchases paired with maintenance support.
Aperam Ventures sees ARK as a crucial partner in meeting its own sustainability goals. “Their solution aligns perfectly with our carbon neutrality targets by tackling low-concentration CO₂ emissions within our processes,” said Thorsten Zimmermann, Head of Aperam Ventures. “We’re eager to test their demonstration unit at Aperam Châtelet.”
With their first patent filed in 2024, ARK Capture Solutions is quickly establishing itself in the competitive carbon capture space, standing out through its affordability, scalability, and focus on low-concentration emissions — a market largely overlooked by other players.
As ARK scales its technology, the company is poised to play a major role in industrial decarbonization efforts worldwide. Its mission remains clear: prevent CO₂ from reaching the atmosphere by making carbon capture accessible, efficient, and ready for large-scale adoption.
