Carbon Markets Are Facing a Credibility Crisis
Global carbon markets are under growing scrutiny as regulators and buyers question the integrity, traceability, and real-world impact of carbon credits. Legacy systems rely heavily on periodic audits and document-based verification, creating delays, high costs, and trust gaps, particularly for technology-led projects and smaller developers in the Global South. This has intensified demand for continuous, data-backed verification infrastructure.
Funding Snapshot and Capital Composition
Bengaluru-based climate tech startup RenewCred has raised ₹4.25 crore (around $510,000) in a seed funding round comprising a mix of equity and grants. The round was led by Campus Angels Network, with participation from Kairos Early Opportunity Fund, build3 Startup Studio, VentureStudio Ahmedabad University, Ideashacks Investor Network, ACT Capital Foundation, and Social Innovation Lab by Citi Bank–IIT Kanpur, along with angel investors.
What RenewCred Is Building
Founded in 2024 by Abhimanyu Rathi, RenewCred is building technology infrastructure for high-integrity carbon credits using advanced MRV systems powered by IoT, machine learning, and blockchain. Its proprietary Net Zero platform enables continuous monitoring and verification at the level of each individual carbon credit, moving away from batch audits and document-heavy workflows. The startup focuses on non-nature-based methodologies including biochar, EV fleets, renewable energy, methane reduction, clean fuels, and industrial decarbonisation, with its first carbon credits scheduled to be issued this quarter.
Why This Funding Matters
RenewCred plans to deepen its methodologies, scale its digital MRV and registry platform, and expand its science and developer network. By cutting verification timelines by 75 percent and reducing transaction costs by over 50 percent, the company aims to position India as a credible source of technology-verified, high-integrity carbon credits. For climate tech founders, this round signals rising investor conviction that trust infrastructure, not just climate projects themselves, will define the next phase of global carbon markets.
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