Climeworks Resets to Capture More Carbon

Swiss direct air capture firm trims workforce as it pivots to full-service model and secures Europe’s largest sector funding this year

6 Jul 2025

Climeworks, the Swiss company behind some of the world’s most advanced carbon capture tech, is hitting reset and fast-tracking its path to dominance.

This week, the firm raised $162 million in fresh equity funding, the largest haul in the carbon removal sector so far this year. At the same time, it’s laying off 20% of its global workforce. The dual move signals a sharp shift from innovation to execution.

Long seen as a trailblazer in direct air capture, technology that literally pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, Climeworks is no longer just selling machines. It’s repositioning as a full-service provider, offering soup-to-nuts carbon removal packages for companies desperate to hit net-zero targets.

“We’re entering a phase where capital efficiency and delivery performance define leadership,” said Jan Wurzbacher, the company’s co-founder. “This is about positioning Climeworks for sustained impact.”

The funding round, led by BigPoint Holding and Partners Group, will be used to cut costs, scale operations, and speed up R&D. The timing is no accident. As Europe tightens its climate regulations and pressure mounts for real, measurable carbon removal, Climeworks wants to be first in line.

The layoffs, while stark, are seen by some as a calculated move. “They’re adapting early, before capital gets tight or markets consolidate,” said one clean-tech analyst. “This kind of strategic focus puts them ahead.”

What comes next is a race against time and rivals. Few companies in the space have managed to deliver at scale. Climeworks is betting it can. With the EU’s Industrial Carbon Management Strategy now in force, the company is sharpening its focus and streamlining its approach.

In a space where bold ideas once ruled, execution is the new currency. And Climeworks, trimmed down and cashed up, is aiming to prove it can deliver.