This Paris Startup Just Raised $1.1M to Restore Mangroves and Lock Away Carbon

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-31

When we talk about fighting climate change, the conversation usually centers on cutting emissions. But there's another side to the coin: pulling carbon back out of the atmosphere. A Paris-based startup called Apolownia is betting big on that second part, and investors are listening. The company just closed its first Seed round at $1.1 million, backed by LITA, Bpifrance, and a group of business angels. It's not a massive check by Silicon Valley standards, but for a mission-driven company focused on coastal restoration, it's a solid vote of confidence. ### Why Coastal Ecosystems Matter More Than You Think Here's the thing about mangroves and seagrass meadows: they're incredibly efficient at storing carbon. Pound for pound, these coastal ecosystems can sequester carbon up to four times faster than terrestrial forests. They also protect shorelines from erosion, provide habitat for marine life, and support local communities that depend on fishing and tourism. Apolownia's approach is to develop what they call "high-integrity" carbon projects. That means projects that are transparent, measurable, and auditable, with real, durable impact. In a market that's been criticized for greenwashing and questionable offsets, that's a differentiating stance. ### The BlueRizon Project: Mangroves at Scale One of Apolownia's flagship initiatives is BlueRizon, a mangrove restoration project in Indonesia. The target? More than 4,000 hectares, which is roughly 9,900 acres, or about 15.4 square miles. To put that in perspective, that's an area larger than Manhattan. The project is being developed with local partners, and the official launch is slated for the third quarter of 2026. Already, more than 3,000 people are involved in its implementation. The long-term ambition is to benefit over one hundred thousand people through climate resilience, erosion control, and local economic development. ### Tech Meets Ground Truth What sets Apolownia apart is its dual focus on cutting-edge tech and on-the-ground presence. The company uses satellite remote sensing, geospatial analysis, drones, and AI to monitor project progress. But it also invests heavily in community engagement, land-tenure work, and local governance. "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," said Théo Derache, CEO and co-founder. "By mastering the entire chain, we are our clients' single point of contact, from the field to the measurement of impact." That end-to-end approach is a direct response to a fragmented sector. Too often, different firms handle different parts of a project, leading to mismatched data and unpredictable outcomes. Apolownia centralizes everything: site identification, feasibility, structuring, monitoring, and long-term follow-up. ### What's Next for Apolownia The fresh capital will be used to scale the model, push BlueRizon forward, and invest further in science and monitoring technology. The company's ambition is to become an international benchmark for high-integrity restoration, expanding beyond mangroves to include seagrass meadows, coastal peatlands, and coral reefs. The timing seems right. Regulatory pressure and corporate climate commitments, particularly around SBTi targets, are pushing companies to go beyond simple emissions reduction. They need credible ways to sequester residual carbon and restore ecosystems. Apolownia aims to be the partner they can trust for that. It's still early days, but the momentum is real. If BlueRizon delivers on its promises, it could serve as a model for how to do coastal restoration right, with both ecological integrity and community benefit at the core.