Biochar Industrial Group (BIG), a Nigeria-based climate tech startup, has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by BREEGA with participation from The Catalyst Fund, plus non-dilutive support from Mulago Foundation. The company operates Nigeria's first industrial biochar plant using palm kernel shells as feedstock. BIG's Biochar-as-a-Service model converts agricultural waste like nut shells and husks into biochar for soil improvement while generating carbon removal credits. The funding will expand factory partnerships and increase processing capacity. The founders previously built Releaf Earth, a Y Combinator-backed agro-processing company. Africa generates over a billion tonnes of non-edible biomass annually, much of which decomposes and releases CO2. By turning this waste into stable biochar, BIG aims to offer a cost-effective carbon removal solution while helping local food processors monetize their waste streams.
