Innovative MIT MBA Student Pioneers Carbon-Neutral Solutions in Climate Tech

David Brown, a graduate student at MIT, emphasizes, “MIT Sloan was my first and only choice.” After earning his Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he dedicated eight years to serving as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, where he held roles as a platoon leader and troop commander.

Founding Helix Carbon to Combat Climate Change

Currently in the final stages of his MBA program, Brown has co-founded a climate tech startup named Helix Carbon. Alongside Ariel Furst, an assistant professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, and Evan Haas (MBA ’24, SM ’24), they are on a mission to eliminate the carbon footprint associated with challenging industries such as ironmaking, polyurethanes, and olefins.

Their innovative approach focuses on producing competitively-priced, carbon-neutral fuels directly from waste carbon dioxide (CO2). This ambitious venture aims to scale operations sufficiently to achieve a gigaton reduction in CO2 emissions annually. They have secured lab space off-campus, and after graduation, Brown will step into the role of Chief Operating Officer.

Military Experience Driving Purposeful Leadership

Reflecting on his military experience, Brown shares, “What I loved about the Army was the sense of purpose I felt in my work every day. I wanted to carry that forward and believed that leveraging my operational skills from the military would be the most effective way to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.”

What I loved about the Army was the sense of purpose I felt in my work every day.

A Day in the Life at MIT

The following photo gallery captures a glimpse into a day in the life of Brown as an MIT student.