Raj Bagri’s journey to launching one of Australia’s most innovative climate start-ups makes for interesting reading. Her background is not what you might expect from someone out “to solve one of the biggest problems in the world”!
Raj is described as a ‘seasoned entrepreneur with 15 years of venture building experience’. And she has worked hard for it, jumping right in, getting her hands dirty, and learning every day.
At school, business was the one subject Raj really loved and was excited for every week.
“Even then, I had a strong sense that I wanted to build a company that could change the world,” she said.
And that is exactly what she is doing. Despite the fact that she didn’t know a single business owner – and no-one in her family had ever run a business!
Passion and determination
“That ambition came from somewhere deep inside of me. At the time, I felt like the only person around wanting to go into business,” Raj said.
“And that passion and determination are how I am here today working on Kapture.
“Back then, there was no social media so to learn how to set up and run a business meant you had to do it in real life; there was no manual or tutorials.
“At 23, I purchased my first business which was a Crust Pizza franchise, and it took off immediately,” she said.
“Running a hospitality business and a franchise really set me up for success from Day 1. It taught me the most valuable lessons about building a lean business, profitable operations, how to deal with suppliers, bookkeeping, keep customers happy and marketing.
“I purchased the Crust store very early on, around store number 10, and I was surrounded by the Founders of Crust for most of my 20’s. I watched them build that franchise from the ground up and learnt so much without realising at the time.”
Raj went on to open cafes in Melbourne’s CBD but, when Uber Eats launched, “it disrupted the sector, and we made the decision to sell.”
Looking back, Raj believes that owning a hospitality business was by far the most useful experience for a future founder.
“I think it doesn’t get enough respect but working in the hospitality industry teaches you to operate under pressure every single day – making fast decisions with incomplete information, dealing with customers, staff, suppliers and cash flow all at once.”
Significant carbon footprint
After selling the business, Raj became an angel investor, which was still relatively uncommon at that time.
“I invested in a few startups and that exposure to the startup ecosystem led me to co-found my first startup in infant formula.
“Working closely with scientists at Bega, we developed an innovative product combining sheep and goat milk. Transporting milk from Europe exposed the significant carbon footprint of global supply chains and the environmental impact of ingredients like palm oil, which opened my eyes to climate change.
“Moving across industries happened by chance; I think my diverse background brings a real advantage. Entering new sectors with fresh eyes brings a different perspective, and that’s often when meaningful innovation is born.
“No matter the industry, the fundamentals are the same and, in every sector, you need to deeply understand customers, build a product customers need and execute it well.”
That’s very true, of course; but world-changing technology?
Carbon capture is a hot topic
“Carbon capture is obviously more complex than most businesses, but I’m drawn to solving hard problems. I have brought a different perspective to the sector, and I push our engineers to think differently and outside the square.
“World-changing technology doesn’t always come from people willing to question the norms and approach problems from a different perspective.
“Carbon capture was becoming a hot topic, and I started paying close attention to it. I knew engineers were not entrepreneurs and saw a huge opportunity to solve one of the biggest problems in the world. I kept asking myself, what if I start a carbon capture startup and build technology that solves the issues with traditional carbon capture?
“Climate change is the biggest challenge humanity is facing. When I looked at carbon capture, it was clear that no-one had truly cracked it in a way that worked at scale. I saw that gap as an opportunity and a moment in time where we have the opportunity to build a company that could genuinely change the world and help move humanity forward.”
So, what is Kapture? How does it work and why is it different?
“At a very high level, Kapture captures carbon dioxide at the point it is created and turns it into something useful – instead of letting it go into the atmosphere,” said Raj.
“Most carbon capture systems are expensive, complex, and built for massive industrial plants. They often require new infrastructure, government subsidies, and long timelines.
“Kapture is different because we focus on capturing carbon at the source, using existing infrastructure, and making it commercially viable today, without government subsidies or relying on carbon credits.”
The Kapture system is retrofitted directly onto the exhaust pipe of diesel generators. There is no change to existing processes, and the CO2 is captured and converted into low carbon materials, with mostly clean air emitted back into the atmosphere.
“Kapture was built very deliberately from Day 1. I understood the limitations of conventional carbon capture, and our goal was to develop technology that could work in the real world, at scale, and make commercial sense,” Raj said.
Limited funds and a small team
“In the early stages, the company was self-funded and bootstrapped while we focused on validating the core science and proving that the technology could integrate with existing industrial processes. Once we had strong technical proof points, we tried to raise funds with VC investors in Australia, but no-one was interested. That forced me to rethink our capital strategy and technology development.
“Those early days were incredibly challenging, but building with limited funds and a small team became our superpower. It allowed us to pivot when needed and at rapid speed, and it led us to develop one of the lowest CapEx carbon capture systems in the world.”
In January 2026, Kapture officially partnered with VINCI Group, one of the world’s largest construction companies, to commercialise and scale this carbon capture technology.
Corporate support
“VINCI also made a strategic investment in Kapture and will support our Series A later this year. It’s incredible to see the level of support we’re receiving from Corporates, and we have several exciting global strategic partnerships set to be announced later this year.”
But Raj wanted more.
“One of the most exciting aspects of Kapture’s technology is that it doesn’t just capture carbon, it produces a valuable byproduct that can be sold directly into existing industrial processes.
“Unlike traditional carbon capture systems, which often create outputs that require further processing or disposal via pipelines, Kapture’s byproduct is ready to use straight away. For example, in the concrete industry, our captured carbon can be integrated directly on site into the concrete mix, and it is sequestered permanently.
“This not only reduces emissions from cement production but also improves the quality of the final product. The fact that our byproduct is commercially useful rather than a waste stream is a gamechanger. It allows customers to offset costs, generate additional value, and adopt the technology without disrupting their existing operations.”
Working with her WA concrete partner, Permacast, they have met Australian standards and are currently in the process of commercialising a concrete mix.
“Another partnership that we have is with Deakin University. We are working on validating a second use case of our byproduct to be used as a soil enhancer. We are currently running greenhouse trials, and the byproduct is outperforming existing products on the market with the added benefits of it being zero emissions fertiliser.
“We have met Australian standards for this product and are in the process of commercialising it so it can be sold on the market.”
Raj believes it is important for founders, especially in the early stages, to be multi-skilled and have a strong understanding of every part of the business.
“You don’t need to be the best at everything, but you do need enough knowledge to ask the right questions, identify risks early, and make informed decisions,” she said.
Crucial and fast growing
“As a company grows, your role shifts from doing everything to building and empowering great teams but that foundational understanding never really goes away. A diverse background gives you perspective, and that helps you build stronger, more resilient companies.”
Without a doubt, Climate Tech is a crucial and fast growing sector. Where does Raj see it going in 2026 and beyond
“I believe we are at an inflection point; in 2026 and beyond, I see the sector moving from early-stage innovation to real-world deployments at scale. Technologies that can deliver measurable impact, integrate seamlessly into existing industries, and make economic sense will lead the way.
“Corporates are no longer waiting for regulation; they’re actively seeking solutions that reduce emissions whilst maintaining productivity.
“I am very excited about the opportunities in heavy industry, I think the next few years will be defined by deployment, adoption, and scaling technologies that move the needle on emissions and that’s exactly where Kapture is positioned to make a real difference.”
Discover more about Kapture at www.kapture.earth