Interviewer (Founder Magazine): Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us what Octavia Carbon is all about?
Octavia Carbon (Founder/Team): Thank you for having us. Octavia Carbon is the first company in Africa focused on Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. We are building machines that capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, helping the world fight climate change while creating a new green industry in Kenya. Our mission is to make DAC affordable, accessible, and scalable, using Kenya’s abundant geothermal energy resources.
On the Startup Journey
Q1: What inspired you to start Octavia Carbon, and why did you feel Kenya was the right place to build it?
Q2: Climate tech is an emerging field in Africa. What challenges did you face convincing people that DAC is possible here?
Q3: How did you secure your initial funding and support for such a capital-intensive idea?
On Technology & Innovation
Q4: For those unfamiliar, can you explain in simple terms how your carbon capture technology works?
Q5: How does Kenya’s geothermal energy advantage make DAC more efficient compared to other parts of the world?
Q6: What role does AI, robotics, or other advanced tech play in your system?
On Impact & Sustainability
Q7: Beyond climate change, how do you see Octavia Carbon creating jobs and opportunities for local communities?
Q8: How do you balance being a for-profit startup with the urgent need for environmental impact?
Q9: What partnerships have been most important in moving your mission forward—government, investors, or global climate networks?
On the Future
Q10: What’s next for Octavia Carbon? Do you plan to scale across Africa or focus on Kenya first?
Q11: How do you envision Africa contributing to the global climate tech movement in the next 10 years?
Q12: What advice would you give to young African founders who want to build startups tackling massive problems like climate change?