This Paris Startup Just Raised $1.1M to Bring Back Coastal Ecosystems

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-31

When you think about climate tech, you probably picture sleek offices, complex algorithms, and endless pitch decks. But Théo Derache, CEO and co-founder of Apolownia, sees it differently. He believes the real magic happens with mud on your boots, salt in the air, and a community working together to bring a coastline back to life. That's the philosophy behind Apolownia, a Paris-based company that just closed its first Seed round at $1.1 million (€1 million). The funding came from LITA, Bpifrance, and a group of business angels and individual investors who believe in the power of hands-on restoration. "At a time when everyone is chasing efficiency and technology has never been more accessible, it is presence on the ground that makes the difference," Derache said. "By mastering the entire chain, we are our clients' single point of contact, from the field to the measurement of impact." ### What Apolownia Actually Does Founded in 2024, Apolownia is a mission-driven company tackling one of the biggest challenges in climate action: restoring natural carbon sinks. Instead of just selling carbon credits or planting a few trees, they build end-to-end projects that regenerate biodiversity and help organizations meet their climate targets, including SBTi standards. The environmental market is shifting fast. Companies aren't just being pushed to reduce emissions anymore; they're expected to go further by sequestering residual carbon and restoring ecosystems. But not just any project will do. "Driven by regulatory change and rising expectations, they are looking for very high-integrity carbon projects: transparent, measurable, auditable, additional and durable, demonstrating real impact on ecosystems," the company said in a press release. That's where Apolownia steps in. They specialize in coastal ecosystem restoration and blue carbon — the carbon stored in mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coastal peatlands. Their approach blends cutting-edge tech with old-fashioned fieldwork. ### The Tech Meets the Field Here's what makes them different: they use satellite remote sensing, geospatial analysis, drones, 3D modeling, advanced MRV (monitoring, reporting, and verification), digital tools, and AI. But they also have local teams on the ground handling community engagement, biodiversity, social and land-tenure work, benefit sharing, and governance. This dual approach solves a huge problem in the industry: fragmentation. Too often, one company finds the site, another develops it, and a third handles monitoring. That leads to gaps in quality and predictability. Apolownia centralizes the entire chain, from site identification and feasibility all the way to long-term follow-up. ### The BlueRizon Project: A Case Study Their flagship project, BlueRizon, is a mangrove restoration initiative in Indonesia targeting more than 4,000 hectares (about 9,884 acres). Developed with local partners, it's set to officially launch in the third quarter of 2026. But the work is already happening. - Over 3,000 people are already involved in implementation - The project could benefit more than 100,000 people total - Benefits include climate resilience, erosion control, and adaptation to sea-level rise - Local economic development and biodiversity restoration are core goals That's the kind of scale that makes you sit up and take notice. It's not just about planting trees; it's about building resilience for entire communities. ### What's Next for Apolownia? With this fresh capital, the company plans to scale its model, push BlueRizon forward, and strengthen its structuring and deployment capacity. They're also doubling down on science, technology, and monitoring. The bigger vision? Becoming an international benchmark for high-integrity restoration. They're starting with mangroves but have their sights set on seagrass meadows, coastal peatlands, and coral reefs. In a world where "greenwashing" has become a dirty word, Apolownia is betting that transparency and real, measurable impact will win the day. And with $1.1 million in the bank, they've got the fuel to prove it.