This Paris Startup Just Raised $1.1M to Bring Back Vanishing Coastlines

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-31

It's easy to think that saving the planet requires some kind of futuristic tech breakthrough. But sometimes, the most powerful solutions are the ones that have been right in front of us all along—like mangroves. Apolownia, a Paris-based startup founded in 2024, just closed its first Seed round at $1.1 million (€1 million). The funding came from LITA, Bpifrance, and a group of business angels who are betting big on a simple but ambitious idea: restore coastal ecosystems at scale, and you can tackle climate change while helping local communities thrive. ### Why Coastal Restoration Matters More Than Ever Here's the thing about the climate crisis: cutting emissions isn't enough anymore. Companies are realizing they need to go further. They need to actually pull carbon out of the atmosphere and restore the natural systems that have been degraded for decades. That's where blue carbon comes in. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes are incredibly efficient at absorbing carbon dioxide—far more than a typical forest on land. But they're also disappearing at an alarming rate. "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," says Théo Derache, CEO and co-founder of Apolownia. "By mastering the entire chain, we are our clients' single point of contact, from the field to the measurement of impact." ### The Problem With Most Carbon Projects The carbon offset market has a bit of a reputation problem. Too many projects promise big things but deliver questionable results. They're hard to verify, sometimes double-counted, and often fail to deliver the long-term benefits they claim. Apolownia wants to change that by doing things differently. Instead of focusing on just one piece of the puzzle, they handle everything in-house. That means: - Site identification and feasibility studies - Project structuring and financing - Advanced monitoring using satellite imagery, drones, and AI - Community engagement and local governance - Long-term follow-up and verification This end-to-end approach means clients get a single, trusted partner. No finger-pointing between contractors. No vague promises. Just measurable, auditable impact. ### Inside BlueRizon: A Mangrove Restoration Project in Indonesia Apolownia's flagship project is called BlueRizon. It's a massive mangrove restoration effort in Indonesia targeting more than 4,000 hectares (about 9,884 acres)—roughly the size of 7,500 football fields. The project has been developed with local partners, and the official launch is planned for the third quarter of 2026. But the groundwork is already underway. More than 3,000 people are currently involved in the implementation, and the project could ultimately benefit over 100,000 people. How? By providing climate resilience for coastal communities, controlling erosion, helping communities adapt to sea-level rise, restoring biodiversity, and creating local economic opportunities. ### What's Next for Apolownia? With this fresh capital, Apolownia plans to scale its model, push forward on BlueRizon, and double down on its scientific and technological capabilities. The team is investing in better monitoring tools, stronger deployment capacity, and more research into how to restore everything from mangrove forests to coral reefs. The company's ambition is clear: to become an international benchmark for high-integrity restoration. And if they pull it off, they might just prove that the most effective climate technology isn't a gadget at all—it's a thriving, living coastline. The environmental market is shifting. Companies are under pressure from regulators and stakeholders to do more than just reduce emissions. They need to show real, verifiable impact. Apolownia is positioning itself to be the partner that makes that possible. As Derache puts it, technology is accessible to everyone now. What's rare is the willingness to get your hands dirty and do the hard work on the ground. That's exactly what Apolownia is betting on.