Black Bull Biochar (BBB), a UK-based start-up specialising in biochar for sustainable agriculture and carbon removal, has raised £4 million in a late seed funding round to scale operations across the North West of England and accelerate entry into northern Europe, including Denmark.
The round was co-led by TSP Ventures and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Investment Fund, alongside Old College Capital, and includes £2 million in equity and £2 million in debt financing from Innovate UK’s Future Economy Facility.
The investment will fund new production sites, expanded research capacity, and the relocation of BBB’s headquarters from London to Manchester.
Biochar is produced by pyrolysing organic materials such as woodchip or straw pellets in low-oxygen conditions, generating a carbon-rich product that enhances soil health, improves nutrient-use efficiency, and stores carbon for thousands of years.
BBB’s technology also decarbonises industrial heat systems, providing low-carbon energy while producing high-quality biochar for agricultural use.
Alex Clarke, CEO and Co-founder of BBB, said: “Farmers face rising costs, stricter nutrient regulations, and the need to build more resilient soils. By converting sustainably sourced biomass into renewable heat and high-impact biochar, we can improve soil health, optimise nutrient use, and store carbon long term.
"This investment allows us to scale in the North West, expand into Denmark, and work closely with the livestock producers we support.”
The funding will also accelerate collaboration with UK universities, including the University of Edinburgh, to develop next-generation biochar products and optimise soil-biochar interactions.
Previous government support includes £3.2 million from the UK’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, following success in the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal competition.
BBB has partnered with companies including Avara Foods, M&S, Ahlstrom, A.W. Jenkinson, and Arla Foods, while also opening a subsidiary in Denmark to tap into the country’s regulatory support for biochar as a recognised carbon removal technology.
Mike Doswell, Chief Investment Officer at TSP Ventures, said: “Black Bull Biochar is well on its way to becoming a market leader in biochar and carbon removals, while also delivering off-grid industrial green heat.
"Biochar is one of the most scalable and cost-effective solutions to decarbonise agriculture and industry.”
Innovate UK emphasised the importance of flexible debt finance for asset-heavy clean-tech businesses. Sandra Gonzalez, Credit and Investment Specialist, said: “Our loans unlock the potential for companies like BBB to invest in infrastructure and accelerate innovation, supporting the green transition at scale.”
Black Bull Biochar secures £4 million for biochar expansion
