Helix Earth, a Houston-based developer of retrofit devices for commercial HVAC systems, has raised $12M in an oversubscribed Seed 2 round led by Veriten. The company deploys Helix MICRA™ units using NASA-derived accelerated liquid-gas chemistry to pre-dehumidify air, cutting energy use by up to 50% without replacing rooftop units. The capital will scale manufacturing and accelerate commercial deployments of the HVAC retrofit product.
Efficiency Mandates Spark Cleantech Funding
Helix Earth's raise aligns with regulatory pressures on commercial HVAC. The EPA began phasing out high-GWP HFCs in new systems from January 2025, while DOE efficiency standards take effect in 2029. Competitor Mojave Energy Systems raised $9.5M Series A in December 2024 for liquid desiccant AC. Transaera secured $10.5M earlier for similar dehumidification tech. Helix differentiates through space-proven aerosolized chemistry enabling retrofits and CO2 capture applications.
Humidity Wastes 40% of Building Energy
Commercial AC consumes 40% of building energy, with humidity control driving much of the waste in rooftop units. Traditional systems couple cooling and dehumidification inefficiently, leading to excess energy use and poor indoor air quality. Building owners face rising costs from extreme weather and emissions regulations. Helix targets the $150B commercial AC market starved of retrofit innovation.
NASA Tech Enables 50% Energy Cuts
Helix MICRA™ retrofits integrate into existing RTUs and DOAS, using proprietary filters that accelerate liquid-gas reactions for superior dehumidification. This separates humidity from temperature control, unlike conventional AC. The technology, spun out from NASA Orion spacecraft air scrubbers, promises 2-3 year paybacks and extends equipment life.
As Rawand Rasheed, CEO and Co-Founder, noted:
"We've spoken with hundreds of building owners who manage tens of thousands of locations. The $150B commercial AC market has been starved of real innovation."
Veriten Doubles Down on Retrofit Play
Veriten led the round, tripling its prior investment after a $5.6M Seed in November 2024. New participants include Rua Ventures, Carnrite Ventures, Skywriter LLC, and Textbook Ventures. This signals conviction in hardware-led cleantech amid decarbonization pushes. The oversubscribed nature underscores strategic validation for Helix's multi-use platform spanning HVAC and CO2 capture.
Commercial HVAC Grows to $107B
The global commercial HVAC market stands at $71.48B in 2026, projected to reach $107.43B by 2032 at 6.9% CAGR, per Research and Markets. Liquid desiccant systems, a key subsegment, expand from $1.1B in 2025 to $3.4B by 2033. Incumbents like Carrier and Trane adapt to standards, but retrofits gain traction for quick compliance. Helix positions amid net-zero incentives like the US IRA.
NASA Inventor Leads Serial Team
CEO Rawand Rasheed invented the core MICRA™ technology during his NASA tenure on Orion life support systems; he holds a PhD from Rice University and Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy recognition. Co-founder Brad Husick brings 30+ years as a serial entrepreneur with three tech exits. The 24-person team includes ops experts from acquired firms like Skipcart and Essentium, plus HVAC veterans.
Hiring Signals Manufacturing Ramp
Post-funding, Helix accelerates hiring for HVAC field technicians, R&D roles, and engineers in Houston. Three pilots validated the tech in summer 2025, with early prototypes demoed at SXSW. Plans target national scale-up via manufacturing growth and distributor partnerships.