California-based clean energy startup General Galactic has secured $8 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its Genesis technology, which captures industrial CO2 emissions and converts them into synthetic hydrocarbon fuel. This recent funding round brings the company’s total investment to $10 million, with plans to advance toward commercial deployment in industries such as maritime shipping, agriculture, and heavy manufacturing.

Founded in 2023 by former SpaceX and Varda Space Industries engineers Halen Mattison and Luke Neise, General Galactic is focused on creating “the energy company of the future.” Mattison explained, “Our vision is ultimately to build a gas station on Mars while producing clean, fossil-free energy on Earth along the way.” He emphasized that the new funds will help move the company closer to mass commercialization of its CO2-to-fuel technology, aiding in the transition to a fossil-free energy world.

General Galactic’s Genesis technology is designed to produce fossil-free natural gas, offering a sustainable and fully compatible alternative to conventional natural gas. The company’s first product is specifically tailored for high-emission sectors, where long-term access to low-emission fuels is critical. “A fossil-free future shouldn’t abandon all of our energy infrastructure—it should work with it,” said Neise. “We call this decarbonization without destruction,” a philosophy aimed at making the green transition more cost-effective for critical industries.

Currently, General Galactic operates a pilot system producing 2,000 liters of methane daily, with plans to begin deploying Genesis modules by 2025. This funding round was co-led by Harpoon Ventures and Refactor Capital, with additional investment from Pathbreaker, BoxGroup, Seraphim, Plug and Play, Impact First, and Climate Capital.

Refactor Capital’s founder, Zal Bilimoria, expressed confidence in General Galactic’s innovative approach, stating, “We fully expect their company to meaningfully move the world toward more renewable energy sources while bringing a pragmatic approach to these deeply critical, albeit entrenched, heavy industries.”