Black Bull Biochar (BBB), a UK start-up driving sustainable agriculture and carbon removal, has secured £4 million in a late seed funding round to expand operations across the North West of England and accelerate its entry into northern Europe. The round is co-led by TSP Ventures and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Investment Fund, alongside Old College Capital.

The funding will enable BBB to take biochar innovation to the next level, building on projects with Avara Foods, M&S, Ahlstrom, A.W. Jenkinson and Arla Foods, while expanding its production infrastructure to meet growing demand across agriculture and industry, as well as the fast-growing carbon removals market.

The round includes £2 million in equity from TSP Ventures, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Investment Fund and Old College Capital, the University of Edinburgh's in-house venture investment fund, alongside £2 million in debt financing from Innovate UK's Future Economy Facility.

The investment will support new production sites, expanded research capacity, new markets (BBB recently opened a subsidiary in Denmark) and the relocation of BBB's headquarters from London to Manchester.

Biochar is a form of stable carbon created by heating organic material (such as woodchip or straw pellets) in a low-oxygen environment, a process known as pyrolysis.

BBB's technology decarbonises industrial heat systems while restoring soil health on farms through high-quality biochar produced from sustainably sourced biomass, all whilst storing carbon in soils for thousands of years.

Demand for durable carbon removal credits is accelerating rapidly, with global offtake values rising to approximately $1.5bn in 2024, up from $815m in 2023.

The result is a carbon-rich material that can be added to soils with organic fertiliser to improve long-term soil health and productivity, increasing crop yields while minimising on-farm emissions.

Alex Clarke, CEO and Co-founder of BBB, said: "Farmers are under pressure from every direction: rising costs, tougher nutrient rules, and the need to build more resilient soils. Our aim is to give producers practical tools that fit straight into existing systems.

By turning sustainably sourced biomass into renewable heat for industry and high-impact biochar tailored for farms, we can strengthen soil health, improve nutrient-use efficiency, and store carbon.

Our focus is on offering farmers practical solutions that work within existing systems, delivering stronger soils, improved nutrient efficiency and long-term carbon storage. This investment allows us to scale in the North West, expand into Denmark and work more closely with the livestock producers we support."

What makes this round even more exciting is the Innovate UK debt facility. Innovative asset-heavy businesses like ours rarely get access to this kind of flexible debt finance. This is a game-changer. It gives us the confidence to invest in infrastructure and innovation at scale without diluting ownership, which is critical for building a long-term, sustainable business."

Mike Doswell, Chief Investment Officer, TSP Ventures said: "We are incredibly excited to be co-leading this investment round alongside GMCA. Black Bull Biochar is well on its way to becoming a market leader in the biochar and carbon removals space, whilst also delivering much-needed off-grid, industrial green heat. Carbon removals will increasingly be a vital part of the green transition and the market is just getting going. In the market at the moment, Biochar is one of the most scalable, cost-effective solutions we have. We look forward to being a part of the onward journey and supporting this highly driven and capable team, led by Alex and Hamish."        

BBB's expansion in the North West of England supports the re-industrialisation of the region and the UK's sustainability goals by bringing advanced clean-energy manufacturing, engineering, and agri-technology jobs to former industrial areas. By deploying renewable heat systems for industry and local biochar production, BBB is contributing to a new generation of low-carbon infrastructure that strengthens regional productivity while reducing emissions.

Councillor David Molyneux, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) lead for Resources and Investment, said: "The Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Investment Fund is being used to drive economic growth, create jobs and support our wider ambitions for the city region. Our investment in BBB will help the business develop its innovative technology, which has huge potential to deliver a real, scalable impact, while creating high-quality jobs and opportunities in local supply chains, and helping us achieve our goal of being carbon neutral by 2038."

Sandra Gonzalez, Credit and Investment Specialist, Innovate UK, said: "Innovate UK is proud to support Black Bull Biochar through our Innovate UK Loans programme. Asset-heavy businesses like Black Bull Biochar often face barriers to accessing flexible finance, which can limit their ability to scale. Our loans are designed to unlock that potential, enabling companies to invest in infrastructure and accelerate innovation."

In collaboration with UK universities, BBB previously received £3.2m from the UK Government's Net Zero Innovation Portfolio after success in the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal innovation competition run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Co-founded by Alex Clarke and Hamish Creber, who completed his PhD in Soil Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, BBB will continue to work closely with the University to develop the next generation of biochar products, drawing on leading academic expertise in soil science, carbon removal and biochar functionality. This collaboration supports the scientific validation of new products, optimisation of soil-biochar interactions, and evidence‑based innovation for UK agriculture.

Katharine Fox, Head of Investment at Old College Capital said: "We are delighted to support BBB in this investment round and with its ongoing collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. This partnership demonstrates how first-class academic research and commercial innovation can work together to accelerate solutions to the world's climate and environmental crisis." 

As part of its European growth strategy, BBB has established its Nordic headquarters in Denmark, reflecting the country's leadership in biochar deployment and climate-smart agriculture. Denmark has committed to the large-scale use of biochar as a recognised carbon removal technology, creating a supportive regulatory and commercial environment for pyrolysis and biomass-based solutions. With support from Invest in Denmark, BBB has been able to navigate local regulations, build relationships with public and private stakeholders, and position itself to serve agricultural producers and industrial partners across the Nordic region.

Vanessa Vega Saenz, Director, Invest in Denmark, said: "We are delighted to welcome BBB to Denmark. The Danish government is actively promoting biochar and pyrolysis technology as a means to reduce CO₂ emissions in agriculture, which account for a significant portion of Denmark's overall emissions. We look forward to continuing to support Black Bull Biochar as they set up facilities in Denmark as well as to their contribution to the development of pyrolysis as a valuable decarbonisation technology in Denmark."

www.blackbullbiochar.com