How a UK climate tech startup teamed up with a creative agency to stand out in a global carbon removal competition.
Airhive is a UK-based startup working on carbon removal technology, aiming to reduce the CO₂ in our atmosphere. Their approach uses engineered air particles to capture carbon and store it safely, offering a potential solution to climate change.
In early 2024, Airhive entered the XPRIZE Carbon Removal challenge. This is a $100 million global competition funded by Elon Musk’s Musk Foundation and organized by the non-profit XPRIZE. Airhive, founded just two years earlier in 2022, was one of the youngest companies in the competition. Still, their bold approach helped them quickly rise through the ranks.
By May, Airhive was announced as one of the top 20 finalists. They stood out from more than 1,300 carbon removal startups around the world. That kind of recognition showed they weren’t just promising. They were leading.
To support their entry and growth, Airhive partnered with Yugen Agency , a creative agency that specializes in branding and storytelling for climate tech companies.
Together, they refined Airhive’s messaging, visual identity, and web presence helping make complex science feel approachable and relevant to a wider audience.
The Challenge: Explaining Advanced Tech Clearly
While Airhive’s technology was strong, explaining it clearly to non-scientific audiences was a challenge. Like many startups working on complex climate innovations, their early communications were technical and difficult for investors or the public to grasp quickly.
Yugen’s role was to close that gap. The agency focused on simplifying language, sharpening the story, and helping Airhive show why their solution matters—not just how it works.
They didn’t dumb it down. They made it feel real and important. They told the story in a way that made people care.
Building a Climate Tech Brand That Reflects Innovation
Yugen also helped develop a bold, modern brand identity for Airhive. This included a new logo, visual guidelines, typography, and an improved tone of voice (see their full case study).
They designed and launched a responsive, informative website that explained Airhive’s modular DAC (Direct Air Capture) system, highlighting the company’s advantages in speed, energy efficiency, and scalability. The site now serves as a central hub for prospective investors, partners, and press.
To support Airhive’s XPRIZE application, Yugen created a high-quality pitch deck that combined clear narrative with strong visuals. One key initiative was traveling to Airhive’s site in Alberta, Canada, to film a high-production commercial video. This video played a central role in showcasing the technology in action and added depth to the overall storytelling approach.
A redesigned pitch deck, along with the high-production video, further strengthened Airhive’s XPRIZE application by combining strong visuals with a clear narrative to communicate the technology’s potential in a compelling way.
Outcome: Global Recognition and Strategic Growth
Airhive became one of the top 20 finalists in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal challenge. That’s out of more than 1,300 teams from around the world. It was a big moment. But they didn’t just become finalists. They got attention. New partners wanted to talk. News outlets shared their story. Pilot projects started moving faster.
Airhive already had great tech. Yugen helped them show that to the world. Their support helped Airhive speak clearly, look professional, and build more trust.
While Yugen Agency helps scaling startups like Airhive through their signature engagements, they’ve also recently launched Yugen Bloom Package, a brand startup package for earlier stages.
Why This Collaboration Matters
It’s a common hurdle for climate startups: they’ve got the science, the talent, and the ambition but explaining their vision in a way that truly connects can be the hardest part.
Effective storytelling, strong branding, and accessible design are not afterthoughts. They’re essential parts of a company’s journey to scale.
Yugen’s collaboration with Airhive shows what’s possible when technical innovation meets creative communication.
Final Takeaway
For climate tech to make an impact, speed alone isn’t enough. These breakthrough ideas also need to be seen, understood, and supported by the right audiences.
With support from Yugen, Airhive found its voice and shared it with the world. That clarity helped them earn a place on one of the world’s biggest innovation stages.
Their story is a reminder: solving climate change starts with science, but it spreads through storytelling.
Company Name: Yugen Agency
Website: https://yugenagency.co/
Media Contact: Tobin Capital | hello@tobincapital.co.uk
Address: Birmingham, UK
