Isometric raises $40M to bring AI-powered certification to the industrial economy

At a glance:

• London-based Isometric secured $40 million in Series A funding led by AVP to expand its AI-driven certification platform.
• The company's Certify platform uses AI agents to verify industrial claims, starting with carbon removal, with over 16 million tonnes contracted and clients like Microsoft and Boeing.
• Isometric aims to standardize certification across sectors like superpollutant reduction and low-carbon energy, targeting a $350 billion market.

Funding and Vision

London-based Isometric has raised $40 million in a Series A round to scale its AI-driven certification platform, Certify, which it claims can eliminate the traditional trade-off between speed and rigor in industrial verification. The funding was led by AVP (formerly AXA Venture Partners), with participation from Lowercarbon Capital, Plural, and personal investments from Kleiner Perkins chairman John Doerr and Walter Kortschak. The company plans to deepen its technology and expand into broader industrial certification markets, which BCG estimates at $350 billion.

Isometric's platform leverages AI agents to process millions of data points—from sensor readings and satellite imagery to supply-chain records and lab results—to validate claims. Unlike traditional third-party auditors who rely on spot-checking, Certify offers full coverage with human experts reserved for critical decisions. This approach has already been applied to carbon removal, where Isometric is now the largest certifier by contracted volume, managing over 200 projects for clients including Microsoft, Anglo American, JPMorganChase, and Boeing.

Technology and Approach

The company's AI agents cross-check data to flag discrepancies and prioritize cases requiring human intervention. Eamon Jubbawy, Isometric's founder, previously co-founded Onfido, an AI identity-verification firm that processed over a billion identities before its $650 million acquisition by Entrust in 2024. Jubbawy argues that AI can make certification "instant and invisible," addressing a long-standing bottleneck in industrial processes. The platform's success in carbon removal earned Isometric accreditation from the ICVCM, ICROA, and CORSIA in December 2024, making it the first carbon removal registry to achieve this recognition.

Isometric's ambition extends beyond carbon. It aims to unify the fragmented certification landscape—where different registries and standards bodies operate in isolation—into a single platform with standardized processes. The company's next targets include superpollutant reduction and low-carbon energy, fuels, and materials. François Robinet, managing partner at AVP, described the company as "genuinely category-defining," while UK minister Blair McDougall called it a "frontier AI success story" for the region.

Market Context and Challenges

The industrial certification market has long relied on manual, time-intensive methods. Isometric's bet is that AI can transform this by offering continuous, comprehensive verification. However, the company faces challenges in convincing traditional industries to adopt automated systems, particularly in sectors where trust and regulatory compliance are paramount. The $40 million funding provides runway to scale its services, but whether the broader industrial economy will embrace faster, AI-driven certifications remains to be seen.

Isometric's track record in carbon removal—a sector under scrutiny for greenwashing—positions it as a credible player. Its platform has been used to verify projects like Neustark's carbon-storing concrete and AI tools designed to detect environmental fraud. The company's expansion into other sectors could reshape how certifications are handled, but it must navigate varying regulatory frameworks and stakeholder skepticism.

Future Outlook

With its expanded funding, Isometric plans to enhance Certify's capabilities and broaden its reach. The platform's ability to process vast datasets in real time could set a new standard for industrial verification, potentially reducing delays in permitting, investment, and compliance. However, the company must prove that AI-driven certifications can maintain the trust and accuracy required by regulators and investors.

The industrial economy's adoption of AI for certification will depend on factors like regulatory acceptance, cost-effectiveness, and demonstrable accuracy. Isometric's success in carbon removal offers a blueprint, but scaling to other sectors will require significant effort. As the company pushes forward, it may influence how other industries approach verification, potentially creating a new paradigm for industrial trust.

Key Players and Quotes

Eamon Jubbawy emphasized the shift from manual to automated verification, stating, "For decades the certification industry faced a tradeoff between speed and rigour. Do it fast or do it right. With Isometric, industrial companies can get both."

François Robinet of AVP highlighted the company's potential, calling it "genuinely category-defining," while UK minister Blair McDougall praised Isometric as a model for UK-based AI innovation. The company's clients, including Microsoft and Boeing, underscore its growing influence in sectors where certification is critical.

Conclusion

Isometric's $40 million funding marks a significant step in its mission to revolutionize industrial certification through AI. By addressing inefficiencies in traditional verification processes, the company could unlock faster, more reliable compliance across industries. However, its success will hinge on overcoming regulatory hurdles and proving that AI can match or exceed human expertise in complex, high-stakes scenarios.