Mitico

It started with a question that challenged the natural order: What if we could make carbonates capture carbon faster than nature itself?

That question emerged in a Caltech lab, where a group of researchers were exploring the use of carbonate materials for carbon capture. As early experiments exceeded expectations, it became clear they weren’t just validating a theory, they were uncovering a new path forward. The team quickly realized the implications: if this process could be scaled, it had the potential to offer a cleaner, cheaper, and more deployable alternative to the status quo. From that spark, Mitico was born, built around the idea that industrial decarbonization doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. Their technology aims to make point-source carbon capture accessible and practical across a range of sectors, from power generation to maritime logistics.

The Technology: Simple by Design, Scalable by Nature

At the core of Mitico’s solution is a high-throughput, fixed-bed reactor system designed to remove CO₂ from industrial emissions with minimal energy and material input. Unlike traditional amine-based systems, which require large chemical plants, high energy usage, and complex wastewater treatment, Mitico’s technology is modular, efficient, and safer to operate.

It delivers comparable carbon capture performance at nearly 60% lower cost and uses half the energy at scale. There’s no need for hazardous chemicals or specialized handling, just a clean, practical system that integrates into existing infrastructure. Whether it’s a refinery in Southeast Asia or a maritime port in Europe, Mitico’s design is intentionally flexible, making it easier for customers to adopt and deploy without operational disruptions.

Braid Theory’s Role: From Lab to Market, and Port to Port

Mitico’s turning point came when it joined Braid Theory’s accelerator. While their science was sound, they needed insight into industry adoption, especially in maritime, where carbon regulations are tightening, and innovation is urgent but slow-moving.

Through Braid Theory’s network and support, Mitico gained critical exposure to the port ecosystem in Los Angeles. The team refined its understanding of the maritime sector’s emission challenges and regulatory landscape, especially in California.

“With the help of the Braid Theory team, we were able to better approach potential customers in the maritime industry,” said Clémente Cid, Mitico’s CEO. “In particular, we were able to understand their challenges associated with air emissions and CO₂ emissions. Gave us a general overview but also understand how we should look at it from a port perspective.”

Braid Theory also played a pivotal role in supporting Mitico’s international expansion. With plans to establish operations in Barcelona, Mitico is tapping into new markets where strong climate policy aligns with industry demand, positioning the company to scale strategically.

Scaling Up: From Demonstration to First-of-a-Kind Deployment

Mitico is now entering the critical stretch between validation and commercialization, what the team calls the “pre–first-of-a-kind” phase. With their seed round closed, the company now has the resources to finalize a demonstration-ready system and prove its performance in relevant, real-world environments. The goal: move their technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7 and de-risk both the system and business model for future deployment.

Before the seed round even closed, Mitico had already secured early pilot engagements—one

at a customer site in Thailand, capturing CO₂ from a refinery boiler, and another in Canada at a third-party test center. These pilots are key to refining the system’s engineering and validating its cost and performance claims under independent evaluation.

Now, with strong technical momentum, the team is actively searching for a final pilot host site, ideally in the maritime or port infrastructure space, to round out their demonstration phase. This last pilot will serve as the bridge to their first-of-a-kind (FOAK) deployment, where Mitico’s technology will be applied commercially for the first time.

From Validation to Market Entry: Mitico’s Next Chapter

Mitico has successfully bridged the gap between R&D and real-world application, an inflection point where many climate tech startups struggle to gain traction. By securing early pilot sites, closing their seed round, and advancing toward a first-of-a-kind deployment, the team has demonstrated both technical readiness and market potential. Their focus on maritime applications positions them at the forefront of a sector under increasing pressure to decarbonize, with a solution that is both practical and scalable.

Support from Braid Theory played a role in helping Mitico navigate early customer discovery and regulatory insight, but it’s the company’s own momentum, driven by a strong founding team, clear product-market fit, and ambitious execution, that is powering its entry into the global carbon capture market.