Ten years after the company was founded, NitroCapt is taking an important step on its path towards commercialization. Having previously developed its technology in its first in-house lab at Ultuna Campus, the company has now moved to Boländerna in Uppsala, where it is operating a pilot plant with a capacity of 100 kilowatts. The next step is a full-scale 600-kilowatt plant, with the goal of beginning commercial fertilizer sales in 2027–2028.
When Gustaf Forsberg founded NitroCapt, he understood that developing the technology, securing funding and building a plant of their own would take time. What he had not anticipated was just how important the surrounding ecosystem would be to the company’s success. He had assumed that, as an entrepreneur, he would have to solve every problem himself.
“I hadn’t realized how important and well-functioning the ecosystem in Uppsala was. I have benefited enormously from the organizations and stakeholders in Uppsala,”
explains Gustaf Forsberg.
Early on, he came into contact with Lars Dahlbom at UIC through a program for early-stage companies. Although Gustaf did not feel that the program itself was fully tailored to his needs, he received valuable support.
“I got help writing project applications and access to important contacts. Doors were opened to a world I didn’t even know existed,”
says Gustaf Forsberg.
In particular, Lars opened the door to InnoEnergy, which has played a significant role in the company’s development – both as a sounding board and as a shareholder.
In addition to InnoEnergy, NitroCapt’s shareholders today include LRF Ventures and Almi Invest GreenTech. The company is currently planning to close a €10 million funding round, and there will likely be another investment round before the company reaches break-even. But the entrepreneur sounds completely convinced that they will succeed.
“Everything you do in a startup affects the company’s chances of survival… Of course, there have been times when I’ve wondered how we’re going to solve a problem. There have been a few sleepless nights. But not that many. I have a fantastic team. And I usually think that if we’ve solved every problem so far, we’ll solve this one too,”
concludes Gustaf Forsberg.