Munich, Germany — September 4, 2025 — Direct Carbon AB, a pioneer in modular carbon capture systems for indoor agriculture, has been named the champion of the Start-Up Pitch Competition at the AVF Summit 2025, held September 3–4 in Munich.
CEO Mattias Karls wowed the judges with Wunderpumpe-2 (WP-2) — a compact, cost-efficient carbon capture system tailored for indoor growers intent on cutting fossil-based CO₂ and adopting “green CO₂.”
“This recognition is more than just a trophy; it’s a testament to the years of hard work our team has invested in building a cost-efficient, modular, and scalable solution,” said Ankur Garg, Commercial Head at Direct Carbon, reflecting the team’s vision and innovation ethos.
Chosen from a strong field of ten finalists at the AVF Start-Up Challenge 2025 — co-hosted by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) and VertiFarm — Direct Carbon’s WP-2 stood out among innovations spanning aquaponics, fogponics, urban farming, LED lighting and CO₂ valorization.
The AVF underscores that this year’s competition highlighted “practical, real-world solutions for food and farming”, spotlighting technologies driving urban food production, nutrient recycling, faster plant growth and aquaculture.
In a strategic move signaling its expanding role in vertical farming, Direct Carbon has joined the Association for Vertical Farming. The company calls this entry “the beginning of deeper collaborations with growers, innovators, and change-makers worldwide.”