Gigaton

Gigaton is a UK-based industrial software company that develops a "Self-Learning Control" system for energy-intensive manufacturing. The software sits within plant infrastructure, simulates process behaviour and forecasts the effect of an action before it is taken, then autonomously adjusts operating parameters such as fuel mix, kiln speed and oxygen levels. The stated aims are lower energy and fuel costs, more stable production and reduced process carbon emissions, with a longer-term vision of fully autonomous plant operation.

The company targets sectors it describes as responsible for roughly 20% of global emissions and about 8 gigatons of CO2 per year. Its initial focus has been cement, with the product also applied to glass, steel and mining; following its Series A it stated plans to expand into steel, glass and chemicals. Named deployments include Heidelberg Materials, Adani Cement, Holcim and Mannok, and the company has referenced AI contracts at JK Cement and Adani Cement announced alongside a UK-India trade deal.

Gigaton was founded in 2020 as Carbon Re, spun out of University College London and the University of Cambridge, and rebranded to Gigaton. It is led by CEO Josh Vernon, with co-founders Buffy Price and Dr Daniel Summerbell, and an executive team including a COO, CTO, Chief Solutions Officer, Head of Product and VP Sales, plus a managing partner for India.

Founding story

The company originated as a university spin-out from UCL and the University of Cambridge in 2020 under the name Carbon Re, combining machine-learning researchers with people who had spent time working inside heavy-industry plants.

Business model

Gigaton licenses/deploys its Self-Learning Control software into customers' existing plant operations, working on site with plant control-room and operations teams; the company reports go-live at a plant within eight weeks and cites customer savings of roughly $1-3 million per plant per year.

Sources describe deployment of its control software at customer plants delivering cost and emissions savings, but do not specify pricing or contract structure.

Traction

Deployed with Adani Cement, Heidelberg Materials and Holcim, with reported savings of $1-3 million and 30,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided per plant. A Heidelberg Materials deployment is cited as delivering a 4% reduction in fuel cost index from a 2.2% cut in specific heat consumption, a 33% reduction in C3S variability and a 2% reduction in fuel-derived carbon emissions, with go-live in eight weeks.

Latest developments

In June 2026 Gigaton announced a $26 million Series A led by Plural, with 2150 and Semapa Next joining and existing investors Planet A Ventures, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, UCL Technology Fund and Clean Growth Fund participating. The company said proceeds would fund a five-fold team increase and expansion into steel, glass and chemicals. It also announced AI contracts at JK Cement and Adani Cement marking a UK-India trade deal.