Venture Catalysts Leads $850K Seed Round in H2 Carbon Zero
Venture Catalysts has led an $850,000 seed round in H2 Carbon Zero to develop India’s first gigawatt-scale hydrogen fuel cell facility.
Venture Catalysts, on Tuesday, said that it has led $850,000 seed round in Umagine Hydrogen (branded H2 Carbon Zero), a deep-tech manufacturer of modular, stackable fuel-cell systems for stationary power generation.
The round also saw participation from Faad Networks, supporting the company’s plan to build India’s first gigawatt-scale factory for hydrogen fuel cells to replace diesel generators across telecom towers, data centres, remote micro-grids, and defence outposts.
The round also saw participation from Faad Networks, supporting the company’s plan to build India’s first gigawatt-scale factory for hydrogen fuel cells to replace diesel generators across telecom towers, data centres, remote micro-grids, and defence outposts.
H2 Carbon Zero designs and manufactures fuel cell systems ranging from sub-kilowatt modules for defence equipment to multi-megawatt blocks for grid-scale energy storage. The company’s proprietary system architecture allows seamless integration of hydrogen, battery, and solar assets, reducing installation time and ownership costs. Each unit is built entirely in India, aligning with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and its focus on local value creation.
Founded by chemical engineer Santosh Gurunath and civil engineer Laxmikant Banjarey, H2 Carbon Zero leverages deep expertise in oil & gas, solar energy, EV infrastructure, and hydrogen.
Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Venture Catalysts, said, “Clean, dispatchable power is the last missing piece of India’s renewable-energy puzzle. H2 Carbon Zero’s 100% indigenous technology converts green hydrogen into electricity while emitting nothing but water, giving businesses the reliability of diesel without the carbon or pollution. We are backing this team because they combine world-class electrochemistry with frugal Indian engineering, addressing a US$1.5 billion domestic market and a US$25 billion global opportunity.”
Santosh Gurunath, Umagine Hydrogen, said, “Our goal is to make the diesel generator obsolete within a few years. The funding will help us start work on our gigawatt facility, expand teams, and complete field trials with early customers in telecom, construction, and defence.”
The investment highlights Venture Catalysts’ focus on climate-tech innovation and its belief that clean-energy hardware with strong unit economics can drive both impact and returns. By leveraging its mentor network and global partnerships, Venture Catalysts aims to guide Umagine Hydrogen through certifications, scale-up, and export readiness—positioning it as a key contributor to India’s net-zero goals by 2070.
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