Remove Opens Applications For Third India Carbon Removal Accelerator Cohort

Remove, the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) accelerator program, has opened applications for the 2026 cohort of its India-focused accelerator. Startups have until 11:59pm CET on August 23, 2026 to apply, marking the program's third cohort in the country.

The accelerator targets early-stage companies building science-based CDR solutions, offering a structured path from concept to commercial deployment through coaching, expert access, and non-dilutive funding.

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Following a track record of impact across Europe, remove expanded into India to support local founders working on carbon removal, citing the country's natural resource base and growing climate tech talent pool as key drivers behind the decision.

Program structure

The India accelerator runs eight months across two stages. The first, called Foundations, is a 10 week India focused sprint that gets startups up to speed on the region's CDR landscape, covering carbon markets, policy, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), and business model development.

Startups that advance move into the 20 week Leap stage, joining a global cohort of CDR founders. Selected companies receive a €15,000 (approximately $17,400) carbon removal purchase agreement, while ecosystem enablers are offered a recoverable grant instead. Remove does not take equity in any participating company.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate commercial traction and founders must retain at least 70 percent ownership of their company. Shortlisted startups will be invited to an introductory call as part of the review process.

Support beyond funding

Accelerator participants get connected with a global network of CDR experts, buyers, investors, policymakers, and verification bodies. Remove pairs each startup with one on one coaching tailored to its specific technical, business, and regulatory challenges.

Support doesn't end when the program wraps. Alumni continue to access fundraising tools, peer networks, and ongoing connections across remove's broader CDR ecosystem, which now spans Europe, India, Africa, and Latin America.

Remove is run by the Carbon Removal Foundation, a non-profit certified by NGOsource as equivalent to a US public charity. The foundation's stated mission is supporting carbon removal entrepreneurs and building out regional CDR ecosystems in markets it sees as underserved by traditional climate finance.

Why it matters

India's push into durable carbon removal has picked up momentum over the past two years, with biochar and enhanced rock weathering drawing particular interest given the country's agricultural base. A third India cohort suggests remove sees enough founder level demand and pipeline quality to keep scaling the program rather than treating it as a one off pilot.

For startups on the fence about applying, the low friction terms, no equity, recoverable grants for enablers, and a structured path from Foundations to Leap, lower the barrier to entry compared to traditional accelerator or venture financing routes.

Founders interested in applying can find full program details and the application form on remove's India accelerator page.

About Remove

Remove is a non-profit carbon dioxide removal (CDR) accelerator run by the Carbon Removal Foundation, which is certified by NGOsource as equivalent to a US public charity. Billing itself as the first accelerator program focused solely on CDR, remove supports early-stage carbon removal startups through a two-stage, eight-month program covering business development, monitoring, reporting, and verification, and buyer readiness. Startups selected for the program's Leap stage can receive a €15,000 purchase agreement, while ecosystem enablers are offered a recoverable grant, with no equity taken in either case. The organization runs regional accelerator programs in Europe, India, Africa, and Latin America, and counts the Grantham Foundation, Carbon Removal Partners, and the DOEN Foundation among its founding partners.