Phathom

Kim Gilbert

Kimberly brings a deep expertise in carbon chemistry, as well as chemical and electrical engineering education and experience. She holds a BSE in Chemical engineering and a PhD in Geochemistry with a focus on molecular interactions during Carbon Capture and Sequestration. Kim has worked in multiple startups and, prior to starting pHathom, she led the launch of Carbon to Sea, a $50M non-profit promoting research and development of ocean alkalinity enhancement techniques. As employee #1, she developed many strong connections to the ocean CDR research and engineering community. Kim has 3 sons and 2 stepsons and has a strong desire to work in climate tech to create a better future for them.

Andrew Ray

Andrew has years of business and investing experience as a multiple-time founder and 9 years of experience working as a venture investor, including 4 as Managing Director of a top decile deep tech fund with 3 climate tech unicorns. He holds a Master’s in Astrophysics and an MBA and has 9 years of experience as a spacecraft engineer for a remote-sensing satellite designed to monitor ice flows in the Arctic. Andrew has an extensive network in the clean tech startup space and has deep experience developing startup business strategies and paths to market.

pHathom’s approach captures biogenic carbon dioxide from existing coastal bioenergy facilities and converts it, through controlled land-based industrial processes, into stable dissolved inorganic carbon forms that already occur naturally in seawater. The facility’s treated water is returned at closely matched conditions to the receiving waters, without inducing atmospheric carbon drawdown or requiring any intervention or manipulation in the marine environment.

This enables durable, verifiable carbon storage outcomes without requiring new pipelines, long-distance transport, or geological injection, while operating entirely within existing industrial and regulatory footprints. The technology is designed to meet the highest standards for measurement and verification.

Why it matters?
The company's technology is designed to reduce emissions from existing facilities, operate without degrading ocean chemistry or ecosystems, and align with domestic and international climate governance frameworks. By combining scientific rigor with collaboration across industry and policy sectors, pHathom advances permanent carbon removal in support of global net-zero goals.

Why we love the Founders?
Kim and Andrew focus on doing the right things right, based on the latest scientific insights. Kim brings exceptional expertise in marine carbon chemistry from leading the ocean alkalinity research program at Carbon to Sea, while Andrew’s extensive experience as a serial entrepreneur, venture investor, and aerospace engineer makes them a complementary team.

What’s novel about Planeteers?
pHathom integrates innovative engineering with an advanced biocatalyst to deliver an end-to-end solution for carbon capture, transport, and storage. Their high-integrity collaborative approach drives rapid progress and builds trust among stakeholders, paving the way for the successful implementation of this promising technology.

Why are we excited?
•    Nature proved it works
•    Carbon removal markets are growing
•    The ocean is the biggest carbon reservoir 

Can this move the needle?
pHathom has gigaton scale potential.