AMDP Proposal Draft

 

Anima Mundi Development Partners

TO: Clark Hansen, CEO, AMDP
 FROM: Angelina Tuggle, R&D Analyst
 DATE: October 15, 2025
 SUBJECT: Investment Recommendation — Captura

As part of AMDP’s commitment to identifying enterprises that balance profitability with environmental and social responsibility, I propose that we consider investing in Captura. Captura is a California-based climate-technology company developing ocean-based carbon-removal systems. I find that Captura’s mission of “restoring ocean health and helping the planet reach net zero” truly embodies the triple bottom line by promoting innovation that benefits people, the planet, and long-term economic growth. In this memo, I will define AMDP’s four guiding concepts —Triple Bottom Line, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprise, and Carbon Footprint —and then evaluate Captura’s operations, business performance, and sustainability claims. I will then present critical assessments from two respected industry sources before concluding with my recommendation regarding investment potential.

AMDP Standards

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) – The TBL framework expands business success beyond profit to include people, planet, and profit, assessing social equity, environmental stewardship, and financial performance together (Slaper & Hall).

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – CSR refers to a company’s voluntary commitment to act ethically and contribute to societal well-being, balancing stakeholder interests through sustainable sourcing, fair labor, and community impact (Carroll).

Social Enterprise – A social enterprise is a mission-driven business using market-based strategies to solve social or environmental issues, reinvesting profits toward impact rather than maximizing shareholder return (Defourny & Nyssens).

Carbon Footprint – A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), generated directly or indirectly by human activities, organizations, or products, expressed in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). It captures emissions from sources such as energy use, transportation, manufacturing, and waste (Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan). Carbon footprints are measured using life cycle assessments (LCA) and GHG accounting standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which quantify emissions across three scopes:

  • Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g., company vehicles).

  • Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity or energy.

  • Scope 3: All other indirect emissions (e.g., supply chains, product use, and disposal).

Reducing carbon footprints is essential because GHG accumulation traps heat in the atmosphere, driving climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, and health hazards. Lowering emissions helps stabilize global temperatures, mitigate extreme weather, and promote sustainable economic and social development (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).


Company Overview – Captura

Founded: 2021 Headquarters: Pasadena, California Industry: Carbon Removal / Climate Technology

What Captura Does / Technology
 Founded in 2021 by Caltech professors Harry Atwater and Chengxiang “CX” Xiang, Captura is a Pasadena-based climate-technology company that develops systems for Direct Ocean Capture (DOC). This process removes dissolved carbon dioxide from seawater and enables the ocean to reabsorb CO₂ from the atmosphere naturally. The technology uses membrane-based electrodialysis powered by renewable energy to extract CO₂ without chemical additives, returning the treated seawater safely to the ocean (Captura).

Captura’s process temporarily adjusts seawater pH to convert carbonate ions into gaseous CO₂, extracts that gas, and restores the water’s chemistry before release (Caltech Magazine). Because CO₂ concentration in seawater is about 150 times greater than in air, the system is significantly more energy-efficient than most direct-air-capture (DAC) technologies. Its modular design allows for integration with existing infrastructure, such as desalination or offshore energy facilities, to reduce energy use and capital costs (Caltech Magazine).

Although still early-stage, Captura has quickly established credibility in both the academic and clean-tech communities. Its scientific roots at Caltech and partnerships with major investors have earned it a reputation as one of the most promising and least-invasive carbon-removal innovators (ESG Dive).

Financial Track Record & Growth / Funding
The company has raised over $45 million in Series A funding from Japan Airlines, Equinor Ventures, and Hitachi Ventures (GlobeNewswire). It operates pilot facilities in California and Norway, aiming to capture 100,000 tons of CO₂ per year by 2030 (Captura Impact Report).

Captura’s Sustainability Claims

According to its 2025 Impact Report, Captura’s process:

  • Uses no chemical additives, relying solely on seawater and renewable power;

  • Delivers > 90 % energy efficiency relative to direct-air-capture systems and is modular and scalable, supporting global carbon-removal targets.
     (Captura Official Site)


Independent Appraisals

  1. Globe Newswire (2024) described Captura’s Series A expansion as a sign of growing investor confidence in ocean-based carbon removal, highlighting the company’s “scientifically rigorous, scalable approach” and its partnerships with Japan Airlines, Equinor, and National Grid Partners. However, it noted that commercial deployment remains in early stages, with scalability and cost-efficiency still to be proven in real-world operations (Globe Newswire).

  2. MIT Technology Review (2024) praised Captura’s chemical-free process and its potential to “expand the carbon removal toolkit beyond land-based systems.” Still, it cautioned that verifying long-term CO₂ storage in the ocean is an ongoing scientific challenge, calling for independent, peer-reviewed testing to validate permanence before global expansion (MIT Technology Review)

Recommendation

I recommend that AMDP consider a strategic pilot-stage investment in Captura. The company’s science-based, low-impact technology directly supports AMDP’s environmental and social objectives while offering significant growth potential in the expanding carbon-removal market.


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