Brimstone
Overview
Brimstone is a pioneering company in the industrial sector, specifically focused on innovating carbon-negative solutions for cement production. Founded in 2019 by Cody Finke and Hugo Leandri, Brimstone is headquartered in Oakland, California. The company has successfully raised over $80 million across several funding rounds from prominent investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC, and Amazon Climate Pledge. Brimstone's aim is to transform the cement industry by producing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) without carbon emissions, thus contributing significantly to reducing global CO2 emissions.
Recent Developments
- August 2025: Brimstone announced a successful partnership with Amazon to supply low-carbon cement after a series of third-party tests verified the cement's performance. Amazon committed to reserving annual volumes from Brimstone’s forthcoming production facility in Oakland, California. This step marks a significant milestone in Brimstone's commercialization pathway.
- July 2025: Brimstone partnered with Oklahoma’s Dolese Bros. Co. to advance plans for the first new U.S. alumina plant in over 50 years. This initiative aims to onshore critical mineral manufacturing and strengthen the U.S. aluminum supply chain.
- January 2025: Brimstone announced its initiative to produce alumina, thereby bolstering U.S. aluminum production by utilizing non-traditional, abundant, calcium-bearing silicate rocks rather than bauxite.
- May 2024: Brimstone co-founded the Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance (DC2) alongside other companies to advocate for low-carbon cement products in public infrastructure, aiming to drive regulatory support and public sector engagement.
- March 2024: The DOE initially awarded Brimstone an up to $189 million fund to construct a commercial-scale plant in Oklahoma, pending the completion of certain criteria.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California, USA |
| Founders | Cody Finke, Hugo Leandri |
| Industry | Manufacturing (Cement) |
| Number of Employees | Approximately 50-100 |
| Key Investors | Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC, Amazon Climate Pledge, Collaborative Fund |
Early History
Brimstone emerged from the collaborative efforts of its founders, Cody Finke and Hugo Leandri, who met at Caltech. Both founders sought to address significant environmental challenges within heavy industries, focusing primarily on the notoriously hard-to-decarbonize cement sector. Their innovative approach involved creating a novel process using a singular rock, the Brimstone Rock Refinery™, which allows for the extraction of multiple valuable industrial products such as Ordinary Portland Cement, supplementary cementitious materials, and alumina. This refined material matched industry standards while dramatically reducing carbon emissions, setting the foundation for Brimstone's mission of sustainability and economic efficiency within the construction material sector.
Company Profile and Achievements
Brimstone’s business model revolves around developing a carbon-negative process for producing cement, a material responsible for 7.5% of global CO2 emissions. The company achieves this by using mineral-based feedstocks that are both abundant and carbon-neutral.
- Achievements:
- Developed the first carbon-negative process for manufacturing Ordinary Portland Cement, meeting the ASTM C150 standards.
- Raised a landmark $55 million in Series A funding, emphasizing strong investor confidence.
- Recognized by various media outlets and institutions, including TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 and the Washington Post.
Current Operations and Market Position
Currently, Brimstone operates under a robust business model focused on expansion and partnership. The firm’s ongoing projects include scaling up production at its planned Rock Refinery in Oklahoma and deepening industrial ties with significant market players like Amazon. Key operations involve utilizing carbon-free, calcium-silicate feedstock, which maintains competitive pricing for traditional Portland Cement with the added advantage of reducing carbon footprints significantly. Brimstone's strategic initiatives position it as a leader in sustainable cement manufacturing, offering a compelling alternative to traditional methods.
Conclusion
Brimstone stands as a revolutionary player in the cement industry, distinguished by its innovative carbon-negative technology that addresses major environmental concerns associated with construction. As it continues to expand its operations, the company is poised to make significant contributions not only to climate change mitigation efforts but also to the revitalization of domestic manufacturing capabilities. With substantial investments and strategic partnerships in place, Brimstone’s trajectory in the industry suggests a promising future for broader adoption of sustainable construction materials.