The UK Investor Magazine is joined by Rob van Straten, CEO of Skytree, a European Space Agency spin-off that builds machines to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air. The technology was originally developed to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere aboard the International Space Station, and Skytree has adapted it for use on Earth.
Find out more about Skytree’s crowdfunding round here.
Rob explains how the business started and the problem it aims to solve. Many industries depend on a steady supply of CO₂ for their processes, with greenhouses among the largest users, yet most of that supply is a by-product of fossil fuel production and has been prone to shortages.
Skytree’s machines produce a reliable, fossil-free on-site supply of CO₂, removing reliance on traditional supply chains. Rob sees this as a market worth around $10bn, and one that will need new sources of CO₂ as the world moves beyond oil.
The conversation looks at where Skytree sits in the wider direct air capture landscape and how its approach differs from better-known players such as Climeworks. Rather than capturing carbon and relying on buyers of carbon removal credits, Skytree sells CO₂ to industrial customers who need it for their day-to-day operations, giving the business a more direct commercial footing.
Rob also outlines the company’s revenue model. Skytree sells its machines at a margin and earns recurring income from maintenance, while a CO₂-as-a-service option lets customers buy the gas instead of the equipment, with externally financed machines.
We discuss progress to date, the key milestones the company has achieved and the potential pipeline ahead. They also cover what Skytree is raising funds for, why now is the right time, and why the company has chosen crowdfunding to raise capital. Investors can join Skytree’s Series B early at a 20% discount.