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§ Private Profile · Berkeley, CA, USA
Twelve is a technology company.
Twelve designs and operates its AirPlant™ molecule factory, a proprietary power-to-liquid technology that functions akin to industrial photosynthesis. This system transforms captured carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity into critical hydrocarbons, producing essential eFuels such as E-Jet® sustainable aviation fuel and CO2Made® chemicals and materials. The company's innovative electrochemical reactor converts CO2 into diverse products traditionally derived from fossil fuels, offering a path to decarbonize heavy industries.
The company was founded in June 2015 at Stanford by Dr. Kendra Kuhl, Dr. Etosha Cave, and Nicholas Flanders. Their foundational insight stemmed from research demonstrating the viability of electrochemically converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels, recognizing CO2 not as waste, but as a valuable resource. This academic background provided the technical bedrock for their carbon transformation mission.
Twelve serves industries seeking sustainable alternatives, including aviation, which utilizes its eFuels, and consumer goods brands integrating CO2-derived components into their products. The company’s long-term vision is to create a fossil-free future by leveraging carbon transformation to eliminate global emissions and establish a new industrial ecosystem where air is the primary feedstock for a vast array of essential goods.
Twelve has raised $1.0B across 4 funding rounds.
Twelve has raised $1.0B in total across 4 funding rounds.
Twelve has raised $1.0B across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $645.0M Debt / Other Equity / Series C in September 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2024 | $645M Debt Financing | Jonathan Garfinkel | — | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2024 | $200M Series C | — | 10X Group, 468 Capital, Matt Ocko, Dcvc (data Collective), Fifth Wall, FirstMark Capital, Firstminute Capital, Footprint Coalition, Insight Partners, LA Famiglia, Team Global, Joseph Aamidor Aamidor Consulting, RON Pragides | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2022 | $130M Series B | Dcvc (data Collective) | 10X Group, 468 Capital, Matt Ocko, FirstMark Capital, Firstminute Capital, Insight Partners, LA Famiglia, Team Global | Announced |
| Jul 8, 2021 | $57M Series A | Capricorn Investment Group, Carbon Direct Capital | — | Announced |
Twelve is a Berkeley, California-based chemical technology company that develops carbon transformation technology to convert CO2, water, and renewable electricity into essential products like sustainable aviation fuel (E-Jet® SAF), syngas, chemicals, plastics, and materials—essentially "industrial photosynthesis" that replaces oil-based feedstocks.[1][2][5] It serves industries such as aviation, manufacturing, and consumer goods by solving the problem of greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors, producing drop-in replacements with up to 90% lower emissions.[3][5] The company has shown strong growth momentum, raising $57M in Series A (2021), $130M in Series B (2022), and $645M more recently to scale commercial plants, including a historic deal with IAG for sustainable jet fuel and groundbreaking on an industrial-scale facility.[2][4]
Twelve was founded in 2015 by Dr. Kendra Kuhl, Dr. Etosha Cave, and Nicholas Flanders, emerging from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Cyclotron Road incubator program.[2] Originally launched as Obtainium in 2014 and later Opus 12, the idea stemmed from breakthroughs in CO2 electrocatalysis, combining expertise in electrochemistry, materials science, and engineering to commercialize CO2-to-products conversion.[2][3] Early traction included awards like the Keeling Curve Prize, Roddenberry Prize, and Forbes' Change the World, plus SBIR grants; it gained visibility on Netflix's *Inside Bill's Brain* and partnerships with labs like Lawrence Berkeley.[2] Pivotal funding from DCVC (first in 2018) and others fueled evolution from R&D to industrial scaling.[2][4]
Twelve rides the wave of carbon utilization and eFuels, addressing net-zero demands in aviation and chemicals—sectors where hydrocarbons remain essential despite electrification.[4] Timing aligns with falling renewable energy costs, regulatory pushes like CORSIA for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and consumer demand (74% of Americans prefer CO2-based products per surveys).[5][6] Market forces favor it: abundant waste CO2 from industry, modular tech for rapid deployment, and deals like IAG's positioning Twelve to capture a slice of the $100B+ SAF market.[4] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering "CO2Made" supply chains, enabling brands to innovate sustainably and denting fossil fuel reliance through circular, non-extractive systems.[1][5]
Twelve is poised to lead the carbon transformation industry, with commercial AirPlant™ factories scaling E-Jet® SAF production and expanding CO2Made® into consumer products amid rising eFuel mandates.[4][5] Trends like airline investments in SAF, deep-tech climate funding, and AI-optimized catalysis will accelerate its path to fossil-free hydrocarbons.[4][6] Its influence could evolve from innovator to platform provider, reshaping chemical manufacturing as oil-to-air shifts become standard—turning Twelve from climate tech pioneer into a cornerstone of the next industrial revolution.[1][2]
Twelve has raised $1.0B in total across 4 funding rounds.
Twelve's investors include Jonathan Garfinkel, 10x Group, 468 Capital, Matt Ocko, DCVC (Data Collective), Fifth Wall, FirstMark Capital, Firstminute Capital, Footprint Coalition, Insight Partners, La Famiglia, Team Global.