As climate and water crises collide around the world, a growing number of startups are trying to tackle both problems at once. One of the most ambitious among them is Airbuild, a U.S.-based climate startup developing modular, algae-powered systems that clean polluted water while permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere.
At the center of Airbuild’s vision is a deceptively simple idea: put carbon removal and water treatment exactly where pollution already exists.
What Is Airbuild?
Airbuild is a U.S.-based startup focused on carbon capture, water remediation, and ecosystem restoration. Its flagship technology, the Airbuild Pod, is a modular, field-deployable bioreactor designed to operate next to polluted water bodies, sewer lagoons, and degraded waterways.
Each Pod combines several systems into a single, closed-loop unit:
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Optimized microalgae cultivation
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Compact solar photovoltaics with battery storage
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IoT sensors with automated controls
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An onboard biomass-to-biochar pyrolysis unit
Together, these systems remove nutrients and contaminants from water, capture both dissolved and atmospheric CO₂, and convert organic waste into stable biochar for long-term carbon storage.
How the Airbuild Pod Works
The Airbuild Pod is placed directly adjacent to polluted water sources—rivers, lakes, wastewater lagoons, or industrial outfalls. Contaminated water flows into the system, where microalgae consume pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphates, and harmful bacteria.
As the algae grow, they:
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Capture carbon through photosynthesis
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Release oxygen back into the water
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Improve overall water quality
The treated water is then passed through UV disinfection and returned to the environment at reuse-quality standards. Meanwhile, the harvested algae biomass and organic waste are converted into biochar, locking carbon away permanently while producing a soil amendment that can be used for land restoration and agriculture.
Designed for the Real World
What sets Airbuild apart is its closed-loop, off-grid design. The Pods operate largely on renewable energy, use automated controls, and continuously optimize biological processes using real-time data and machine learning.
Because the system is modular, deployments can be phased over time. This reduces upfront capital risk while allowing municipalities and industrial partners to scale gradually. Compared to traditional wastewater treatment systems, the Airbuild Pod has a low energy footprint and lower operating costs—making it attractive for regions where infrastructure upgrades are expensive or slow.
Algae as a Climate Solution
Airbuild’s approach highlights why algae are gaining attention in climate tech. According to the team, algae can capture carbon at efficiencies approaching 99%, while simultaneously addressing water pollution—something most carbon removal technologies do not do.
Instead of choosing between carbon capture or environmental cleanup, Airbuild combines both into a single system that creates value through:
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Carbon credits
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Biochar production
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Potential energy offsets
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Improved water and habitat quality
Leadership Behind Airbuild
Airbuild is led by a multidisciplinary founding team with backgrounds in operations, science, and technology.
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David Gory, Chief Executive Officer, is the company’s co-founder and driving force. During his master’s program, Gory reportedly grew a biotech-focused investment portfolio from $4,000 to over $600,000. He has led Airbuild’s pilot and demonstration projects, including a 3-acre algae remediation site in Green River, Utah, which filters water, captures CO₂, and produces biochar.
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John Bucur serves as Chief Operations Officer, overseeing deployment logistics and operational scaling.
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Ejike Ken-Opurum is the Chief Technology Officer, responsible for system integration, automation, and sensor-driven optimization.
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Richard Mariita is the Chief Science Officer, guiding the biological and environmental performance of the system. Mariita’s personal experiences with waterborne disease in Kenya deeply inform Airbuild’s mission.
From Pilot Projects to Global Impact
Airbuild is currently deploying and refining its systems in Green River, Utah, targeting polluted river water that feeds into the Colorado River basin. The next milestone is a larger-scale deployment across 2.5 acres, designed to demonstrate automation, scalability, and long-term performance.
Once proven at scale, Airbuild plans to expand across the United States and internationally—focusing on regions facing both water stress and pollution.
A Mission Rooted in Lived Experience
For Airbuild’s founders, this work is personal. David Gory has spoken about growing up in Nigeria and witnessing firsthand the impacts of water pollution and lack of clean water access. Richard Mariita shares similar experiences from Kenya, where waterborne diseases affected members of his family.
These experiences shape Airbuild’s focus on community-scale, deployable solutions that deliver immediate environmental and public health benefits—not just abstract climate metrics.
Why Airbuild Matters
Airbuild represents a growing class of climate startups that refuse to silo problems. By addressing water pollution, carbon removal, and ecosystem degradation simultaneously, the company is building a model that aligns climate action with real-world needs.
In a world where climate solutions must be fast, scalable, and socially relevant, Airbuild’s algae-powered approach offers a compelling glimpse of what integrated climate infrastructure could look like.
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