Industrial tech startup Mafix has secured $5.4 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize silicon fertilizers that tackle atmospheric CO2 emissions.
Led by Azolla Ventures, the funding round saw participation from Counteract VC, Astera Institute, Plug and Play Ventures, Impact Science Ventures, and a Dutch family office.
Mafix will use the secured funding to commercially demonstrate its proprietary technology by producing 1,000 tons of silicon fertilizer that serves to restore soil health and boost crop yields and resilience, reducing the need for traditional fertilizers.
With its process originally developed at Stanford University, Mafix has found a way to overcome the biggest obstacle in enhanced rock weathering – the slow weathering rates of the mineral constituents.
The company specializes in converting inert silicate rocks into minerals that weather within a single growing season, enabling permanent carbon dioxide removal to happen on the farmer’s timeline. During this process, its fertilizer product releases nutrients into the soil, helping improve yields and remove CO2 as stable bicarbonate.
Declining global demand for CO2-intensive clinker paired with a number of other factors, has led to roughly 30% of currently globally available cement kiln capacity to sit idle and unused.
Identifying a major opportunity in this reality, Mafix partners with cement producers, utilizing the spare kiln capacity to integrate its drop-in process. This approach eliminates the need for expensive new infrastructure and opens the chance for working with existing logistical hubs.
Relevant: Should We Shift The Way We Think About Enhanced Rock Weathering?
Mafix’s approach benefits landowners
“Weathering rocks on land is one of the simplest ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere, but in our experience, the payoff for landowners has often not been good enough,” said Andrew Shebbeare, partner at Counteract VC.
“With traditional minerals, slow weathering means payment delays and racking up measurement expenses for several years. Mafix minerals weather in a single growing season and offer real agronomic benefits to draw down carbon faster and make crops more resilient at the same time – a win-win for landowners and the climate,” he added.
Looking ahead, the startup will also use the funding to refine its mineral conversion process for deployment across a wide range of feedstocks, hoping to unlock next-gen products in sectors beyond agriculture.
Read more: Puro.earth’s Enhanced Rock Weathering Methodology Now Approved By Frontier
