We are Novocarbo

We are scientists, engineers, soil enthusiasts, and business professionals who work hand in hand to shape the economic transformation towards a low-carbon future.

Become part of our team

Who we are

At Novocarbo, dedicated experts in various fields strive for a common goal: we want to remove as much COâ‚‚ as possible from the atmosphere. Our unique product concept of Biochar Carbon Removal minimizes COâ‚‚ in the atmosphere with maximum impact, while creating sustainable solutions for divers industries.

The spirit that drives us traces back to the company's origins. Caspar von Ziegner founded Novocarbo in 2017 with the aim of pushing forward carbon removal solutions to contribute to achieving the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. We pursue this critical mission with creativity, expertise, courage, innovative spirit, and irrepressible will.

From the very first vision until now, much has transpired: A handful of people has grown into a team of more than 30. At our headquarters in Hamburg, colleagues from fields like science, engineering, marketing, and business development work together on continuously optimize our products and processes. At our production sites, the Carbon Removal Parks, we put our knowledge into practice. What drives us in all our activities is the firm belief that we can mitigate climate change by further scaling our pioneering carbon removal technology.

Our culture values

Bold

We foster a culture of continuous innovation, constantly pushing boundaries to develop groundbreaking solutions that drive sustainable production and combat climate change. We value creativity and the determination to make a difference.

Authentic

What motivates us and our work is a genuine commitment to climate protection, the principles of the circular economy, and transparent practices. We ensure that we operate with integrity, always staying true to our mission.

Ambitious

Our team of highly skilled scientists, engineers, and professionals excels in advanced pyrolysis and carbon conversion know-how. We aim to consistently deliver innovative and sustainable solutions with unwavering reliability in every aspect of our work. 

Sustainable

Responsible interaction with each other as a team, the environment, and our resources is deeply rooted in our corporate culture. In a supportive and open-minded work place, we drive lasting change for a sustainable future.

Our company culture

Team-Oriented
Collaborative culture in a flexible work environment

A team-oriented and purpose-driven work culture with flat organizational structures is what makes you thrive? Then join us! We cherish a collaborative and trust­worthy culture that values reliability and down-to-earth attitudes. Hierarchies take a backseat; relation­ships with colleagues and superiors are friendly and approach­able. Team­work is fostered in our modern offices located in the heart of Hamburg. Our unique working features include flexible hours, home office options, and a dog-friendly office environment.

Relationships
Fostering relationships and employee well-being

We actively shape and nurture our company culture together with our talented colleagues. That’s why we place great importance on the well-being and personal growth of our team through regular retro­spectives to enhance team dynamics, engaging game nights, and relaxed after-work social gatherings. Our work atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between informality, fun, and professionalism. We value creative minds and promote a culture of openness towards mistakes, encouraging collaborative improvement.

Opportunity
Join us on our carbon removal mission

What unites and drives our diverse team members is the mission and strong will to combat climate change. That's why sustainability is deeply embedded in our cultural fabric. We embrace diversity and encourage our team members to utilize their unique experiences, abilities, perspectives and backgrounds to collectively drive our carbon removal solutions. Join our team for a team-centric and down-to-earth company culture, fostering both personal and professional growth in a sustainability-driven environment.

Meet our team:

Aaron Knappe
Project Manager
Aaron Knappe
Project Manager
As a food science master's grad­uate, Aaron excels in project manage­ment, spe­cializing in energy and environ­mental initiatives. With expertise in circular economy and sustain­ability, he led as a certified environ­mental auditor and quality manage­ment represen­tative. At Novocarbo, Aaron drives new location establish­ment from acquisition to startup.
Alicia Janßen
Office Manager
Alicia Janßen
Office Manager
Alicia's passion lies in organizational efficiency and communi­cation. With a strong foundation in commercial assistance and foreign languages, she embarked on a success­ful career as an office manager. Alicia's versatility and dedi­cation make her a valuable asset to the team at Novocarbo, where she provides excellent support in various tasks and ensures smooth operations.
Beatrix Pelzer
Operations Manager
Beatrix Pelzer
Operations Manager
Beatrix has always been into optimizing supply chain management. With her strong background as an industrial engineer, she analyzes complex problems and devises efficient solutions. Collaborating closely with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors, at Novocarbo Beatrix ensures smooth operations and implements innovative processes to enhance productivity.
Benjamin Reinke
Head of Operations
Benjamin Reinke
Head of Operations
Benjamin, a visionary at the intersection of business chemistry and operational excellence, combines his passion for unraveling the intricate chemical reactions of pyrolysis with his extensive work experience. As Head of Operations at Novocarbo, he harnesses this unique blend of expertise to optimize processes and ensure seamless execution, driving the company towards success.
Britta Winkgens
Communications Manager
Britta Winkgens
Communications Manager
Britta has always been into languages and the „magic of words“: she studied Spanish and French, holds a Master‘s degree in Media Studies and is a trained journalist. After working as an editor for different publishing houses, she „switched sides“ and started her career as PR & Communications Manager. Whenever it’s about texts or spreading Novocarbo's messages, Britta is involved.
Caspar von Ziegner
Managing Director & CEO
Caspar von Ziegner
Managing Director & CEO
Caspar is an industrial engineer with a fascination for the energy transition: He studied in Berlin and headed the business development at Alliander AG, a utility company. Since 2017, he is CEO & founder of Novocarbo and strengthens the scaling of the business model with a focus on biochar and green energy. Having grown up on a farm, he has always had a close connection with agriculture.
Christoph Janyska
Business Development Manager
Christoph Janyska
Business Development Manager
Chris embarked as a Business Developer in the semi­conductor industry, driven by curiosity for innovation and a desire to over­come technological barriers. After receiving his MBA and founding his own startup, he now evaluates and implements inno­vative business models. Chris' enthusiasm for renewable energies perfectly aligns with the mission of Novocarbo, propelling us to success.
Cimberley Groß
Carbon Removal Manager
Cimberley Groß
Carbon Removal Manager
Whether professionally or personally, Cimberley actively promotes climate startup ecosystems. With years of experience in impact investment and startup & NGO consulting she drives impactful solutions. As Carbon Removal Manager, she is involved in CO2 certificate trading, carbon credit offtake solutions, life cycle assessment management (LCA), and building strong partnerships.
Florian Egeler
Junior Business Development Manager
Florian Egeler
Junior Business Development Manager
Florian discovered carbon dioxide removal's significance during industrial engineering studies and a thesis at AUDI AG. This motivated his career path in CDR and brought him to Novocarbo. As part of the site development team, he actively contributes to the creation of future carbon removal parks and business models.
Florian Lage
Expert Key Account Manager
Florian Lage
Expert Key Account Manager
Florian, raised in a rural setting as the child of a farmer, developed a deep love for nature from an early age. Joining Novocarbo in 2018, he swiftly recognized the significant role that biochar plays in making the world a better place. As an Expert Key Account Manager, he drives Novocarbo's business by nurturing key customer relation­ships and providing market insights.
Florin Milla
Head of Business Development
Florin Milla
Head of Business Development
With a bachelor in Business Informatics, Florin brings expertise in developing digital products across various industries as a Product Manager. Now, as Novocarbo's Head of Business Development, he channels his passion for sustainability into expanding and establishing new production sites, thereby, contributing to the company's scaling efforts.
Jan Knizia
Business Development Manager
Jan Knizia
Business Development Manager
Jan, a tech-savvy sustainability enthusiast, holds a master's degree in innovation management, entrepreneurship, and sustainability - a perfect fit to help Novocarbo transforming industries. As Novocarbo's dynamic Business Development Manager, he propels new site development and pioneering production technology selection, driving the company towards a greener future.
Jens Heberling
Research Assistant
Jens Heberling
Research Assistant
During his Bachelor's studies in applied natural sciences, Jens developed a keen interest in scientific topics. Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Chemistry and Physics of Functional Materials, he joined Novocarbo as a research assistant. With passion Jens supports colleagues and customers with biochar pyrolysis experiments and analysis, contributing to innovative solutions.
Jonas Roeder
Business Controlling Manager
Jonas Roeder
Business Controlling Manager
Jonas discovered his fascination for technology during his busi­ness studies. With expertise in finance, process manage­ment, and IT, he supported a FinTech scaling and consulted impact ventures. Following a graduation in strategic economics, he is now Business Controlling Manager at Novocarbo, combining his interests of inno­vations and sustainability.
Lars Macketanz
Head of Industrial Materials
Lars Macketanz
Head of Industrial Materials
Lars holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Technical Business and a Master‘s degree in Inter­national Business & Sustain­ability. He combines his passion for sustainability with his expertise in product manage­ment and market develop­ment. At Novocarbo, he leads the Industrial Materials unit, pushing biochar as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based industry additives.
Lars-Johann Köhler
Key Account Manager
Lars-Johann Köhler
Key Account Manager
Lars-Johann studied agricultural sciences and is very enthusiastic about the circular economy and renewable energies. He is fascinated by Novocarbo's innovative approach. Due to his agricultural background, he is particularly interested in the soil-improving properties of biochar and sees great opportunities here, both in agriculture and for urban development projects.
Madita Schöner
Chief of Staff
Madita Schöner
Chief of Staff
With a Master's degree in busi­ness psychology, Madita's journey led her to explore the impact of work culture on individuals and corporate success. As Chief of Staff, Madita is committed to fostering an inclusive environ­ment where everyone can bring their strengths to the fullest. By nurturing a positive culture, she pushes the growth and prosperity of our organization.
Malin Schröder
Communications Manager
Malin Schröder
Communications Manager
Malin has a background in renew­able energy and a passion for inno­vative technologies to combat climate change. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and has been fascinated by visual content creation ever since. As Communications Manager at Novocarbo, her responsibilities include the advancement of digital media and the organi­zation of high-impact events.
Mohamad Saad Alhabash
Working Student Industrial Materials
Mohamad Saad Alhabash
Working Student Industrial Materials
With a background in industrial engineering and a deep-rooted passion for IT and sustainability, Saad has turned to the challenges and opportunities of CDR. As a Business Development Engineer, he advocates for integrating innovative strategies and fostering collaboration. By championing sustainable solutions, he contributes to the advancement and positive impact of the industry.
Sara Brandt
HR & Recruiting Manager
Sara Brandt
HR & Recruiting Manager
Sara discovered her passion for HR & recruitment topics during her Master's studies in business psychology. She’s constantly aiming to support her colleagues as best as possible and to enable them to work in line with their needs and competencies. At Novocarbo, Sara is responsible for a dedicated and fair recruitment as well as employer branding, HR admin and various HR ops projects.
Sven Wissebach
Managing Director & CFO
Sven Wissebach
Managing Director & CFO
For Sven, working with a dedi­cated team to advance an inno­vative product he’s passionate about means full professional fulfill­ment. He brings several years of experience as co-founder and managing director in the start-up scene. As MD and CFO of Novocarbo, Sven can now leverage his extensive entre­preneurial and financial knowledge to drive the company's carbon removal mission.
Venna von Lepel
CCO & CMO
Venna von Lepel
CCO & CMO
Venna, our dedicated Chief Carbon Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, combines her expertise as a strategy consultant with a personal passion for carbon removal and biochar. As an educated farmer, she is strongly committed to restoring natural cycles and transforming the economy into a more sustainable system. At Novocarbo, she plays a crucial role in driving positive change.
Walter Hammes
Technical Project Manager
Walter Hammes
Technical Project Manager
Walter, a skilled Technical Project Manager, brings decades of industry experience as a graduate industrial engineer, including work in the German Navy, IT, and the energy sector. Embracing a cooperative spirit with his colleagues, he coordinates projects, ensures quality, and handles regulatory requirements that advance our clean tech initiatives.
Join the Novocarbo team

Meet our companies

Novocarbo is about carbon removal – however, the company was built by business professionals with a legacy of passion for soil and agriculture. Our origin thus lies in a fascination for biochar and its applications: selling and using biochar has been the backbone of our activities since 2018. Today we are proud to leverage that knowledge to offer one of the first scalable carbon removal solutions on the European market.

Novocarbo Biochar is at the frontier of the biochar space. In recent years, we have become one of Europe’s leading suppliers, using the material for a variety of applications ranging from industrial feedstocks, agriculture, and water treatment to decarbonizing building materials. We are working with companies and research institutes around the world to develop new use cases.

Swiss Biochar stands at the forefront of the global biochar movement. 10 years of experience have shaped the portfolio of Swiss Biochar, resulting in unique, high-quality substrates, such as our Swiss Terra Pretaâ„¢, and biochar products suitable for horticulture, households, and blue green infrastructure.

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