MiAlgae
MiAlgae is a Scottish biotechnology company that produces fish-free marine Omega-3 ingredients by fermenting microalgae on whisky industry by-products, supplying B2B manufacturers in aquaculture, pet food, and human health markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MiAlgae does
MiAlgae Ltd is a privately held Scottish biotechnology company founded in 2016 by Douglas Martin in Edinburgh that produces marine Omega-3 (DHA-rich) ingredients from microalgae cultivated on by-products of the Scotch whisky distillation industry. The company operates a proprietary fermentation platform that grows DHA-rich microalgae in 30,000-litre bioreactors powered by renewable energy, sited close to distillery effluent sources, and converts the harvested biomass into dried algae ingredients sold to B2B manufacturers in aquaculture, pet food, and human health nutrition. Its commercial product portfolio comprises MiAlgaeFish (an aquaculture feed ingredient positioned as a sustainable alternative to fish oil), MiAlgaePet (a plant-based pet food ingredient containing approximately 20% DHA), and NaturAlgae (the underlying marine Omega-3 product used across multiple end-markets). The closed-loop process returns clean water to the environment and the underlying fermentation method is patented, co-invented by Martin, Technical Director Shreekanth Ramananthan, and Technical Consultant Julian Pietrzyk.
MiAlgae sells its ingredients through an enterprise field sales motion, with dedicated Account Executives and Sales Managers targeting buyers, procurement, technical, and R&D functions at manufacturers in the UK, wider Europe, and the United States. Named commercial customers include European fresh dog food leader Butternut Box, with whisky by-product supply secured under a long-term partnership with independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill. Operations today run at a commercial demonstrator site in Stirlingshire that processes roughly 3 million litres of whisky by-products per year, with a major industrial-scale facility under construction at Grangemouth (backed by up to £3 million in joint UK and Scottish government investment) that will increase Omega-3 output more than tenfold and is scheduled to go live in early Q2 2026.
The company is venture capital-backed, having raised approximately £16.3 million in equity across multiple rounds between 2018 and September 2024, including a £14 million Series A led by SWEN Blue Ocean, Clay Capital, and Rabo Ventures with participation from six existing investors (Equity Gap, Old College Capital, SIS Ventures, Ananke Ventures, Ascension Ventures, and Scottish Enterprise). Recognition includes selection as a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist in the 'Revive Our Oceans' category, making MiAlgae the first Scottish company to be shortlisted for the award, alongside Forbes Under 30 and Shell Young Entrepreneur honours for founder Douglas Martin.
MiAlgae firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MiAlgae
- Legal name
- MiAlgae Ltd
- Website
- https://mialgae.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MiAlgae is a Scottish biotechnology company that produces fish-free marine Omega-3 ingredients by fermenting microalgae on whisky industry by-products, supplying B2B manufacturers in aquaculture, pet food, and human health markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MiAlgae industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Feed Ingredients
- NAICS
- Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nutraceuticals & Functional Ingredients for Animal Diets (Probiotics, Omega-3, Joint, GI) (HLAMAHAH), Dried & Dehydrated Foods Manufacturing (AFAKACAK)
Keywords
Where MiAlgae is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
MiAlgae business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Omega-3 Ingredient Sales: MiAlgae sells its microalgae-based Omega-3 ingredients (NaturAlgae, MiAlgaeFish, MiAlgaePet) as B2B ingredients to manufacturers in aquaculture, pet food, and human health sectors. The company produces dried algae product for use in feed products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
MiAlgae product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MiAlgae produces fish-free marine Omega-3 (DHA-rich) ingredients from microalgae grown via a proprietary fermentation platform that upcycles whisky distillation by-products. The company sells its products as B2B ingredients to aquaculture feed manufacturers, pet food producers, and human health/nutraceutical companies, with products dried into a powder suitable for inclusion in feed and food applications.
Product overview
MiAlgae is a Scottish biotech company that produces fish-free Omega 3 supplements through an innovative fermentation platform using whisky distillation by-products. The product portfolio consists of MiAlgaeFish (for aquaculture feed), MiAlgaePet (for pet food applications), and NaturAlgae (the underlying marine Omega-3 product). The company operates demonstration and commercial-scale facilities in Scotland, with a major new production facility under construction at Grangemouth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MiAlgaeFish: A sustainable Omega 3 algal ingredient for aquaculture feed, produced from whisky industry by-products, offering an alternative to fish oil with a low carbon footprint.
- MiAlgaePet
- NaturAlgae
Products and services
- MiAlgaeFish A sustainable Omega-3 algal ingredient for aquaculture feed that serves as an alternative to fish oil. Grown using by-products from the whisky industry, the product returns clean water to the watercourse and has a low carbon footprint. Aimed at fish farmers and aquaculture feed manufacturers seeking sustainable Omega-3 sources.
- MiAlgaePet A plant-based ingredient for pet food derived from algae, rich in Omega-3s (20% DHA, greater than 50% oil and fat). Promotes healthy skin, joints, heart, brain function and immune system in pets. 100% plant-based and sustainable, marketed to pet food manufacturers as a fish-oil alternative.
- NaturAlgae MiAlgae's underlying marine Omega-3 product produced using microalgae fermentation technology. The umbrella brand targets the aquaculture, pet food, and human health sectors with a scalable, fish-free DHA source.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saves 6 billion fish annually by replacing marine-sourced Omega-3s
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MiAlgae
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MiAlgae technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
MiAlgae partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Butternut BoxcorePartnership with European market leader in fresh dog food to incorporate MiAlgae® microalgae ingredient into Butternut Box's 'Ready Steady Veggie' vegetarian meal option. MiAlgae® provides fish-free Omega-3 DHA to support pet health. Partnership extends across all European markets with supply from new Grangemouth facility.
- Eden MillcoreFirst-of-its-kind partnership with an independent Scottish distillery. Eden Mill provides whisky by-products from their distillation process; MiAlgae uses nutrients to grow Omega-3-rich microalgae. Eden Mill installed effluent storage tank at its distillery near St Andrews. Partnership supports circular economy and sustainability goals for both companies.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MiAlgae competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Skretting (Nutreco): Global aquaculture feed manufacturer owned by Nutreco, producing feed for salmon, shrimp, and other farmed species. Major potential customer for MiAlgae's microalgae-based omega-3 in aquafeed formulations.
- BioMar: Global aquaculture feed manufacturer supplying salmon, trout, and other farmed fish feed. Potential customer for MiAlgae's MiAlgaeFish ingredient, and a key decision-maker on alternative omega-3 sourcing for the aquaculture industry.
- Alltech: Global animal nutrition company producing feed additives, premixes, and specialty ingredients for aquaculture and livestock. Overlaps with MiAlgae in sustainable omega-3 and animal nutrition ingredient markets but with a much broader portfolio.
- Royal DSM: Global nutrition and health ingredients major; parent of Veramaris JV. Operates broadly in animal nutrition including omega-3 portfolios, specialty feed ingredients, and aquaculture solutions - overlapping with MiAlgae's end markets but as part of a much larger portfolio.
- Cargill Animal Nutrition: Global agribusiness and animal nutrition company with significant aquafeed operations (formerly EWOS). Major potential customer for sustainable omega-3 ingredients and a competitor in the broader animal nutrition ingredient market.
Emerging players
- Checkerspot: US-based biotechnology company using precision fermentation to produce novel oils including omega-3s from engineered microbes. Competes with MiAlgae in the fermentation-derived omega-3 space but with a different organism platform and a focus on consumer nutrition markets.
Others
- Aker BioMarine: Norwegian company producing krill oil-based omega-3 (EPA/DHA) for human nutrition and aquafeed. Competes with MiAlgae in the sustainable marine omega-3 market but uses a different (krill) feedstock rather than microalgae.
Direct peers
- Fermentalg: French biotechnology company developing microalgae-based specialty ingredients including omega-3 (DHA/EPA) through fermentation. Direct peer using similar algae fermentation platform to produce bioactives for nutrition markets.
- Veramaris: DSM-Evonik joint venture producing algae-based EPA+DHA for aquaculture feed. Most direct competitor to MiAlgae in the same algae-derived omega-3 ingredient category, serving the same aquafeed customers with the same end-product positioning.
- Corbion Algae Ingredients: Producer of AlgaPrime DHA from algae, supplying aquaculture feed. Direct competitor with established commercial-scale algae fermentation operations and incumbent customer relationships in the salmon feed industry - the same target vertical as MiAlgae.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MiAlgae social profiles
Digital presenceMiAlgae financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MiAlgae leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
MiAlgae funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MiAlgae M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MiAlgae
What does MiAlgae do?
MiAlgae produces fish-free marine Omega-3 (DHA-rich) ingredients from microalgae grown via a proprietary fermentation platform that upcycles whisky distillation by-products. The company sells its products as B2B ingredients to aquaculture feed manufacturers, pet food producers, and human health/nutraceutical companies, with products dried into a powder suitable for inclusion in feed and food applications.
Is MiAlgae a public or private company?
MiAlgae is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MiAlgae founded?
MiAlgae was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MiAlgae based?
MiAlgae is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MiAlgae make money?
One revenue line is on record: omega-3 Ingredient Sales.
Who are MiAlgae's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Skretting (Nutreco), BioMar, Alltech, Royal DSM and Cargill Animal Nutrition. Checkerspot is listed as an emerging player. Aker BioMarine is listed as an others. Direct peers are Fermentalg, Veramaris and Corbion Algae Ingredients.
Does MiAlgae have an API?
No public API is recorded for MiAlgae.
What industry is MiAlgae in?
MiAlgae's product category is Animal Feed Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAF, Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae), with a secondary code of HLAMAHAH, Nutraceuticals & Functional Ingredients for Animal Diets (Probiotics, Omega-3, Joint, GI). Its NAICS code is 311423 and its SIC code is 2090.