How $5M is Funding Carbon Tech That Buyers Ignore

Most corporate carbon buyers chase proven technologies with predictable returns. Milkywire is doing the opposite, and that bet could reshape how carbon removal scales globally.

The Swedish climate platform just completed Salesforce-backed pre-purchases totaling over 12,500 tonnes of durable carbon removal from 19 suppliers across 15 countries. The portfolio spans six removal methods, including technologies that mainstream buyers typically avoid because they haven't reached commercial maturity.

The Portfolio: Six Methods, One Mission

The purchases represent a deliberate mix of carbon removal approaches, each at different stages of development. What unites them is high long-term potential and the need for patient capital to get there.

Many supported projects deliver more than just carbon removal. They improve soil health, manage waste streams, reduce air pollution, and create local jobs. Biochar in particular has emerged as one of the fastest-scaling removal methods.

Companies Pushing Boundaries

The supplier list reads like a preview of where carbon removal technology is headed. Each company brings unique innovations to the table.

Featured Suppliers

Kairos Carbon is developing a novel BioCCS pathway that uses wet organic waste as feedstock, turning waste management into carbon removal.

Norma and Arbon are both advancing next-generation direct air capture technologies, aiming to reduce the energy demands that have historically limited DAC deployment.

PyroCCS combines community-led biochar production with ecosystem restoration in Namibia, demonstrating how carbon removal can deliver meaningful local benefits.

Flux is deploying a new mineral feedstock for enhanced rock weathering with agricultural co-benefits.

>> RELATED: Milkywire Announces 15 New Carbon Removal Purchases and 3 Grants After Extensive Selection Process

Salesforce's $100 Million Commitment

This collaboration represents $5 million of Salesforce's larger pledge to purchase $100 million in durable carbon removal by 2030 as a founding member of the First Movers Coalition.

What makes this deal notable is its intentional focus on immature technologies. Most corporate buyers want credits they can retire immediately. Salesforce is betting on approaches that might take years to deliver at scale.

>> In Other News: Microsoft In Record Deal For Soil Carbon Credits As Data Centres Surge

Top Suppliers by Volume

Other supported suppliers include Releaf Earth, Karbonetiq, Carbon Removers, Ucaneo, ZeroEx, NeoCarbon, Octavia Carbon, Planeteers, Flux, and InPlanet.

Why Pre-Purchases Matter

The carbon removal market crossed 1 million tonnes in actual deliveries in 2025, signaling the industry's transition from pilot projects to commercial reality. But the supply-demand imbalance remains stark.

Pre-purchases provide crucial early capital that helps unproven technologies survive their most vulnerable phase. The Milkywire model specifically targets first-of-a-kind deployments and research-intensive projects that larger buyers typically overlook.

Milkywire is already planning additional catalytic purchases for Salesforce in 2026. The platform has also opened its next global call for proposals for durable carbon removal suppliers, signaling continued commitment to backing emerging technologies.

Building Tomorrow's Supply Today

The carbon removal sector faces a fundamental chicken-and-egg problem. Technologies need buyers to scale, but buyers want proven technologies before committing. Milkywire and Salesforce are betting that today's risky investments will become tomorrow's essential infrastructure.

For companies watching from the sidelines, this deal offers a template. You don't have to wait for carbon removal technologies to become mainstream before supporting them. The early movers who fund innovation today will help determine which solutions exist when net-zero deadlines arrive.