kolum

Core Features

Kolum takes a holistic, process-oriented approach to regulatory compliance, with an end-to-end workflow. It connects data points across the entire supply chain, from foreign manufacturing sites to the EU border, to automate the most complex reporting tasks. Its key features include:

• Automated Emission Calculation & Reporting: The software automatically calculates the embedded greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of imported goods using CBAM-specific methods and generates the quarterly reports required for submission to the EU's CBAM Transitional Registry.

• Supplier Data Collaboration: It facilitates seamless data exchange with non-EU suppliers and manufacturers, who often lack the tools to calculate their emissions in a CBAM-compliant format, streamlining the entire data collection process.

• EUDR Traceability & Risk Management: For deforestation regulation, the platform enables companies to trace raw materials down to the farm-level plot of land, automate supplier due diligence, and generate audit-ready Due Diligence Statements (DSS) for submission.

• Import Management & Classification: It helps businesses manage and classify their imports to identify which goods and shipments fall under the scope of CBAM and other regulations, forming the foundation for accurate reporting.

• Seamless System Integration: Kolum is built to integrate with a company's existing enterprise resource planning (ERP), procurement, and customs systems, pulling relevant data to avoid manual re-entry and errors.

• Unified Compliance Dashboard: The platform offers a centralized view of obligations, data status, and reporting deadlines for both CBAM and EUDR, providing complete supply chain transparency from a single interface.

Closing Insights

Kolum was founded in late 2023 by Helge Wieggrefe and Marius Sprenger, directly from academic research into the practical challenges of the new EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Its key differentiator is this foundational expertise in the regulation's legal and technical specifics, rather than offering a generic carbon accounting tool. The startup gained early validation through a 2024 closed beta and secured €2.1 million in pre-seed funding from investors like FoodLabs, who noted the team's "deep domain expertise and swift execution".

It has established notable strategic partnerships, including with the major automotive data ecosystem Catena-X. The platform is designed for the evolving EU regulatory landscape, including CBAM's full implementation and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). For importers, its value lies in centralizing these dual compliance burdens into one system, drastically reducing manual effort and mitigating the risk of financial penalties for non-compliance as rules become stricter, making it a strategic tool for ensuring uninterrupted market access.