Munich Startup: What is your StartupWhat problem are you solving?
Felix Harteneck, Founder and CEO: At Inplanet, we focus on the permanent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. The core problem we solve is the scalable and cost-effective removal of large amounts of CO2. Our approach accelerates the natural weathering of silicate rock by crushing it and applying it to agricultural land. This sequesters carbon in just five years, rather than millennia, while also promoting regenerative agriculture. By improving soil fertility and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, we combat two of the most pressing global challenges: climate change and land degradation.
Why Inplanet's approach is truly new
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Felix Harteneck: The natural process of carbon sequestration by rocks has existed for millennia, but is far too slow to meet today's climate goals. Inplanet's innovation lies in accelerating this process and in developing scientifically sound measurement and verification (MRV) systems that can reliably detect CO2 sequestration, something that has been lacking until now. In January of this year, we completed the world's first certified Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) certificate and are pioneering scalable, technology-enabled MRV systems to bring ERW into the global carbon market.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Felix Harteneck: Inplanet was born out of the shared vision of my co-founder Niklas and me to address climate change through nature-based, science-based solutions. Niklas brings in-depth expertise in tropical agriculture and sustainability, while I contribute my entrepreneurial experience and network from my previous startup, Park Here. Together, we recognized the enormous untapped potential of ERW in tropical regions like Brazil and decided to turn scientific potential into real climate benefits.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Felix Harteneck: One of the biggest challenges was building a reliable MRV system that would allow us to scientifically demonstrate how much CO2 we are actually removing. ERW is a very new field. We issued the first ERW certificates worldwide in January, so establishing scientific credibility is crucial. At the same time, as a startup, we need to scale quickly, which requires balancing scientific rigor and speed of implementation. We had to expand our operations across multiple regions, build a robust MRV system, and secure funding while operating in a still-young and developing market environment.
Scaling on a gigaton scale
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Felix Harteneck: In one year, we aim to significantly expand our operations and remove significant amounts of CO2. In the coming years, we aim to scale to megatons. Furthermore, we aim to deploy our MRV system globally and establish Inplanet as a leading nature-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) company, supporting millions of farmers while combating climate change at scale.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Felix Harteneck: Munich is an excellent place to grow as a founder, especially thanks to programs like UnternehmerTUM's Manage&More, where I met my first co-founder. The combination of strong technical universities, active innovation centers, and good access to investor networks provides an ideal foundation for startups. At the same time, we are a highly international company. This is reflected not only in our three hubs—Munich, New York, and São Paulo—but also in our team, which consists of 14 different nationalities.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Felix Harteneck: We strive for both: building long-term, science-based climate infrastructure and rapid growth at the same time. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that around 15 gigatons of CO2 per year will need to be removed through CDR by 2050. However, there are far too few scalable solutions to date. This is precisely where we come in: We are convinced that ERW is one of the most effective, safest, and nature-based methods for achieving this goal. Our strength lies in the combination of profound, sustainable impact, technological innovation, and rapid, targeted implementation.
