Producing carbon-negative biochar for

small farmers in East Africa to improve soils

and sequester atmospheric carbon

re:char - GSBI™ Class of 2010

Headquarters: Austin, TX, United Problem Statement:

States
At least 45 Million small farmers in East Africa face the daily chal-
Established: 2007 lenges of food scarcity, energy scarcity and climate change. These
farmers attempt to make a living by growing food in some of the
Impact Areas: East Africa poorest soils in the world. A lack of reliable electricity forces them
Type: For-Profit to expend 40% of their monthly income on illegally-harvested
charcoal. Finally, these small farmers face the looming threat of
Sectors: Agriculture & Fishing, global climate change, which stands to disrupt growing seasons
Clean Tech & Energy and increase desertification.
Staff Size: 4 and 1-2 volunteers
Annual Budget: $150,000
Major Funders: Founders, Echo-
ing Green
Awards: Pop!Tech Fellowship 2009,
“Top Innovation of 2009” The Econo-
mist Carbon Economy Conference,
“Top 25 Social Entrepreneur in Amer-
ica” Business Week 2010, Echoing
Green Fellowship and Grant 2010

Theory of Change:
re:char sequesters atmospheric car-
bon in soils by producing carbon-
negative biochar from waste using
a unique, village-scale operating
model and employing local labor in
East Africa.
Solution:
re:char produces a low-cost soil amendment called biochar via
village-scale kilns employing local labor. Biochar is a premium
charcoal made from farm waste, that can be briquetted and
burned just like traditional charcoal. Biochar can also be buried
in agricultural soils, reducing water and fertilization needs while
improving crop yield up to 200%. Finally, the burial of carbon-
negative biochar has the potential to sequester up to 12% of
humanity’s carbon emissions in the soil.

“For less than $1,000, re:char can double the income of up to 500 small farmers in one year,
while sequestering enough CO2 to offset the emissions of over 150 automobiles.” - Jason
Aramburu, Founder

| www.re-char.com | info@re-char.com | 512 609 0632 |

 Producing carbon-negative biochar for
small farmers in East Africa to improve soils
and sequester atmospheric carbon

Milestones Achieved: Impact to Date:

2008: Developed initial prototypes for
biochar production kilns
2009: Recruited Dr. James Lovelock as
scientific advisor
• Offset the CO2 emissions equivalent of nearly 200 vehicles
• Doubled farmer income in 1 year in pilot project
• Reduced fertilizer and water needs by over 15% in test pilot

2010: Launched pilot operations in Projected Cash Flow:

East Africa
2010: Received grant funding from
Echoing Green

Growth Plan:
2011: Build and operate 5 kilns in
central Kenya
2013: Cash flow breakeven with 100
kilns in operation throughout East
Projected Social Impact:
Africa
2015: Generate $25M in revenue
while offsetting over 500,000 tonnes
of CO2

“There is one way that humanity can

save itself from the threat of global
climate change and that is through
the massive burial of biochar.” - Dr.
James Lovelock (Author, Scientist
and Originator of the Gaia Theory)
Investment Required:
Initial capitalization of $120K ($30K raised to date) via convert-
ible debt and grants by Q4 2010.
Series A capitalization of $500K by Q3 2012 via equity and debt.

This profile was developed during the 2010 Global Social Benefit Incubator™, the signature program of
Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society.
Updated 8/26/2010. www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi

| www.re-char.com | info@re-char.com | 512 609 0632 |