Marcus Lima

Yo, you gotta hear about Marcus Lima. Dude’s the real deal in the startup world, especially when it comes to fighting climate change with tech. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Heimdal, a company that’s crushing it in carbon removal tech, basically pulling CO2 out of seawater to make stuff like cement and glass totally carbon-negative. No bullshit, that’s a big change.

So, Marcus jumped into all this after doing some heavy research on direct air carbon capture, that’s what got him fired up during his thesis. The dude’s got a legit science background, having worked at the Centre for Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, which tells you he’s not just some random entrepreneur, he’s got serious science cred. But he’s also been in the trenches of consulting at QVARTZ, which is now part of Bain. That mix of hardcore science and business smarts? That’s rare.

He co-founded Heimdal in 2020 with Erik Millar, right in the middle of the pandemic. They’re based out of Denver, with some operations in Oklahoma, big move for a startup trying to change how we make stuff. What’s crazy is how fast they’ve taken off. Heimdal’s part of YC’s S21 batch, so they’ve got that Silicon Valley hustle, and they’ve attracted some big names like Sam Altman, Marc Benioff, and Yishan Wong throwing dollars and support their way. That’s no cap, they’re the real deal.

What’s super inspiring is how Marcus’s past fuels his mission. His research, his work in consulting, his academic background, all of that led him to see a massive problem and say, “Nope, I’ve got to build something to fix this.” Heimdal’s tech extracts calcium and magnesium carbonate from seawater using renewable energy, basically turning the ocean into a giant resource for building materials that don’t pump more CO2 into the air. It’s like turning the planet’s biggest carbon sink into a solution.

This guy’s story is all about bridging hardcore science with real-world impact. He’s not just in it to make a quick buck; he genuinely wants to save the planet, and he’s building the tools to do it. That drive, that mix of deep tech know-how and startup hustle, that’s what makes Marcus Lima a leader to watch. He’s proof that if you combine science, grit, and a little bit of Silicon Valley magic, you can actually change the game.