Climate-tech startup Prithu has raised Rs 10 crore in seed funding led by Transition VC to scale climate-smart agriculture and carbon credit generation in India. Founded in 2024, the company partners with farmers to adopt regenerative practices, quantify carbon removal accurately, and sell verified credits to global buyers.
Turning climate-smart practices into verified carbon revenue
Prithu’s model promotes regenerative farming, biochar application, cover cropping, and reduced tillage—techniques that enhance soil health while sequestering carbon. The startup integrates AI-based MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification), satellite remote sensing, and blockchain-linked registries to track on-farm interventions and verify carbon outcomes, improving transparency and buyer confidence.
By translating on-ground practices into high-integrity carbon assets, the company aims to create a new income stream for smallholders and larger producer groups. It plans to deploy the fresh capital to strengthen its technology stack, expand farmer onboarding, and scale carbon credit issuance. Prithu has set a target of removing 20 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030.
India’s climate-tech momentum and market challenges
India hosts more than 800 climate-tech startups that have collectively raised over $3.6 billion in the past decade. Yet scale-up remains difficult: fewer than 3% of ventures progress to Series B or beyond, reflecting a funding and execution gap. Climate-smart agriculture is gaining traction, but concerns persist around inconsistent standards, permanence, and greenwashing—making robust MRV and credible registries critical to market integrity.
Transition VC backs early-stage climate and deep-tech plays
Transition VC, which led the round, focuses on early-stage climate and deep-tech companies. The firm recently closed its inaugural fund at Rs 700 crore, exceeding an initial target of Rs 400 crore. It typically invests $500,000 to $1 million and has backed more than 15 startups to date, several of which report revenue traction and strong growth indicators.
With fresh capital and growing policy and investor interest in mitigation solutions, Prithu is positioning itself at the intersection of sustainable agriculture and voluntary carbon markets—aiming to deliver measurable climate outcomes while improving farmer livelihoods.
