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Key people at Carbon Ventures.
Carbon Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with an undisclosed headquarters location that invests in technology startups operating across the cleantech, transportation, supply chain, infrastructure, and agricultural technology sectors. The firm primarily focuses on financing innovative technological solutions designed to disrupt and modernize older, traditionally carbon-intensive industries through strategic capital deployment. Operating with a small organizational scale of one to ten employees, the venture firm generates an estimated annual revenue of under $5 million. The core investment team includes managing partner Jason, alternative investments expert Katherine, and digital transformation executive Gary, who collectively guide the firm's capital allocation strategy. The firm's historical portfolio includes early-stage investments in companies such as Sayspring, a developer of voice technology interfaces for major platforms like Amazon and Google. Carbon Ventures was officially established in 2017 by currently unspecified founders.
Carbon Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in technologies that reduce carbon emissions in heavy industries.[1][2][6] Its mission centers on delivering top-quartile financial returns while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy through innovations in sectors like energy, transportation, agriculture, industrial processes, waste management, and climate solutions such as carbon capture.[1][2][4] The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes AI, machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing to transform carbon-intensive sectors, targeting pre-seed to seed-stage startups with high growth potential in sustainability.[2][4][6] In the startup ecosystem, Carbon Ventures supports efficient infrastructure plays, fostering companies that address climate challenges and infrastructure modernization, with a track record of 16 investments, one exit, and participation in 2-6 rounds annually, primarily in the US.[3]
Carbon Ventures was founded in 2017 by Jason Cahill, previously operating as McCune Capital, and is headquartered in New York City.[1][3][4][6] Cahill, with expertise in technology and sustainability, has driven over 30 deals across North America and Europe, focusing on early-stage clean energy and innovative materials using a data-driven, thematic approach.[2] The firm evolved from a broad infrastructure focus to prioritizing climate tech, as evidenced by its rebranding and emphasis on solving the climate crisis through seed-stage cleantech investments—challenging institutional norms that overlook early VC.[3][6] Key early activity peaked in 2017, with investments in startups like Novel Effect and TransitScreen, often in 2-3 year-old companies valued at $1-5 million, typically deploying checks around $500K-$5M.[3][4]
Carbon Ventures rides the global shift to net-zero emissions, investing in trends like renewable energy transitions (fossil fuels to wind/solar), autonomous vehicles, and resource-efficient agriculture amid population growth to 9 billion by 2050.[2][6] Timing aligns with escalating climate urgency and infrastructure demands, where market forces—regulatory pressures, tech maturation in AI/robotics, and LP interest in impact investing—favor early bets on decarbonization.[1][2] The firm influences the ecosystem by funding pivotal startups in transportation and energy, bridging sustainability with profitability, and challenging seed-stage cleantech underinvestment to scale solutions for environmental bottlenecks.[3][6]
Carbon Ventures is poised to expand its portfolio amid rising cleantech funding, potentially leveraging Japan ties for global deals and targeting AI-driven infrastructure amid 2050 climate goals.[2][5][6] Trends like autonomous logistics, advanced materials, and carbon capture will shape its path, with influence growing as exits validate its thesis in a maturing low-carbon market.[3] As a pioneer in emissions-focused VC, it exemplifies how targeted early investing can both profit and propel the sustainable infrastructure revolution started in its 2017 founding.[1][6]
Key people at Carbon Ventures.
Carbon Ventures has 2 tracked investments across 2 companies. The latest tracked deal is $164.0M Series A in Payn in February 2026.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2026 | Payn | $164.0M Series A | — | DE SIGN キャピタル, NCB Venture Capital |
| Nov 1, 2023 | Luca Japan | $2.6M Series A Extension | — | DAI Watanabe, Finolab, Mizuho Innovation Frontier, QR Investment, Shizen Capital |
