Carbonwave

The company's core activity involves collecting beached or near-shore Sargassum, thereby cleaning coastlines for partners like resorts and local governments, and then processing it through a proprietary, cascading biorefinery system. This process addresses the environmental threat posed by decomposing seaweed, which releases methane and harms local ecosystems, and converts it into valuable materials. The business generates revenue through the sale of these advanced biomaterials to various industries, including cosmetics, personal care, and agriculture. Carbonwave has secured a total of $12 million in funding across several rounds, with key investors including Mirova, Viridios Capital, and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs.

Carbonwave has developed a range of products. SeaBalance is a seaweed-based cosmetic emulsifier that offers a silicone-like feel and moisturizing properties for personal care applications; it was named 'Best Functional Ingredient' at In-Cosmetics Korea in 2022. For the agricultural sector, the company produces Sarga Agriscience (Sarga Ag), a line of organic agricultural inputs that enhance crop yields and drought resistance, reducing the need for traditional nitrogen fertilizers. This product is being tested by major corporate growers, with one early adopter being Heineken for its barley suppliers in Mexico. Carbonwave is also developing a vegan leather alternative called Obalt and exploring applications in bioplastics. The company's research and development facility is located in Puerto Rico, with plans to build large-scale production facilities to meet growing demand.