Carbonwave
Carbonwave is a Puerto Rico- and Boston-based biomaterials company that converts Sargassum seaweed waste into plant-based agricultural inputs, cosmetic emulsifiers, and developing leather, bioplastic, and textile alternatives, selling through direct B2B channels to enterprise customers in agriculture, cosmetics, fashion, and hospitality.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Carbonwave does
Carbonwave, founded in 2020 (originally as C-Combinator and rebranded in 2023), is a Boston- and Puerto Rico-headquartered biomaterials company that transforms Sargassum seaweed—considered a harmful waste product in the Caribbean—into plant-based commercial materials. The company's core technology is a proprietary cascading biorefinery process using cold, chemical-free extraction to convert Sargassum into multiple product outputs including biopolymers such as alginate. Carbonwave commercializes this technology through three product brands: Sarga Agriscience (agricultural extracts marketed to corporate growers with claimed yield improvements of 15-40% and 5x farmer ROI), SeaBalance/SeaBalance 2000 (the world's first seaweed-based cosmetic emulsifier), and a development pipeline covering leather alternatives, bioplastics, foams, hydrogels, alginate capsules, and bioethanol.
The company generates revenue through direct B2B enterprise sales of biomaterial products to cosmetics formulators and agricultural growers, supplemented by Sargassum collection and beach cleanup services delivered through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary Grupo ENSOL to hotels, resorts, and government entities along the Yucatan Peninsula. Operations span a research laboratory and biorefinery in Carolina, Puerto Rico; collection and pilot operations in Puerto Morelos, Mexico; and a Boston-area North America hub. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and products are sold on direct enterprise contracts with annual billing cycles. The company has raised approximately $18.95 million across multiple funding rounds between 2020 and 2024, backed by mission-aligned ocean and climate investors including Mirova's Sustainable Ocean Fund, Pegasus Capital Advisors, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Katapult Ocean, Viridios Capital, and Popular Impact Fund.
Carbonwave firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbonwave
- Legal name
- Carbonwave
- Website
- https://carbonwave.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carbonwave is a Puerto Rico- and Boston-based biomaterials company that converts Sargassum seaweed waste into plant-based agricultural inputs, cosmetic emulsifiers, and developing leather, bioplastic, and textile alternatives, selling through direct B2B channels to enterprise customers in agriculture, cosmetics, fashion, and hospitality.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbonwave industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Biomaterials
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)
Keywords
Where Carbonwave is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Carbonwave business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Biomaterial Products Sales: Sale of finished biomaterial products derived from Sargassum seaweed processing including agricultural inputs (Sarga Agriscience), cosmetic emulsifiers (SeaBalance), and leather/textile alternatives.
- Sargassum Collection Services: Collection and remediation services for Sargassum seaweed from beaches, provided through Grupo Ensol to hotels, resorts, and government entities in Mexico's Caribbean coast.
- Licensing of Technology/IP: Potential licensing of proprietary biorefinery processes and extraction technologies to other operators in the seaweed processing space.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Enterprise product sales - Agricultural and Cosmetic sectors |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carbonwave product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbonwave develops and sells plant-based advanced biomaterials derived from Sargassum seaweed using a proprietary cascading biorefinery process. Its commercial product lines include Sarga Agriscience agricultural extracts for crop enhancement and SeaBalance cosmetic emulsifiers for personal care, with additional seaweed-based leather alternatives, bioplastics, and other materials under development. The company also operates Grupo Ensol, a Sargassum collection and coastal remediation services division serving Caribbean resorts and municipalities.
Product overview
Carbonwave offers an integrated portfolio of seaweed-based biomaterials derived from Sargassum seaweed through a proprietary cascading biorefinery process. The company's commercial products include Sarga Agriscience for agriculture and SeaBalance for cosmetics, with additional products under development including leather alternatives, bioplastics, and various prototypes (foams, hydrogels, alginate capsules, bioethanol). The products transform Sargassum from harmful ocean waste into regenerative materials that restore soils and oceans while replacing fossil fuel-based products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sarga Agriscience: Agricultural extract product line derived from upcycled Sargassum seaweed for crop enhancement and yield improvement
- SeaBalance
- SeaBalance 2000
Products and services
- Sarga Agriscience Agricultural extract derived from upcycled Sargassum seaweed that enhances crop yield and drought resistance while reducing nitrogen fertilizer requirements. Targets corporate agricultural growers; field studies show 15-40% yield increases in crops such as cacao and tomatoes and 5x or more farmer ROI.
- SeaBalance 2000 World's first seaweed-based cosmetic emulsifier providing multi-functional emulsification with a silicon-like skin feel and proven moisturizing effects. Sold to cosmetic formulators for skincare and personal care applications.
- Grupo Ensol Sargassum Collection Services Beach cleanup, Sargassum harvesting, transportation, and coastal remediation services provided by Carbonwave's wholly-owned Grupo Ensol subsidiary to hotels, resorts, and government entities on Mexico's Caribbean coast.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15-40% yield increase in crops like cacao and tomatoes with Sarga Agriscience
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Carbonwave
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Carbonwave technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Carbonwave partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Grupo EnsolcoreCollection division of Carbonwave, conducts coastal cleaning and remediation of Sargassum seaweed in Quintana Roo, Mexico. World's leader in upcycling the Caribbean Sargassum Belt into biomaterials. Partners with local governments, community scientists, and resorts to harvest fresh sargassum before decomposition.
- Chapingo UniversitysupportingFirst-ever collaboration on certifying sargassum-based agricultural inputs. Working together to develop certification standards for seaweed-based agricultural products.
- Climate FoundationsupportingCo-development partner for Marine Permaculture technology. Collaboration featured in Washington Post perspective article on climate solutions. Developing irrigation grids for growing kelp forests to restore ocean circulation and sequester carbon.
- Hyatt HotelssupportingPartnership with Hyatt resort chain in Mexico's Mayan Riviera for Sargassum collection services. Grupo Ensol provides beach cleanup services to maintain guest experience at Hyatt properties.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carbonwave competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Notpla: UK-based maker of seaweed-derived packaging films and sachets that replace single-use plastics. Comparable to Carbonwave as a seaweed-to-biomaterials startup pursuing B2B sales into packaging and consumer goods, with similar sustainability narrative and product overlap in bioplastics.
- Loliware: US-based producer of seaweed-based bioplastic pellets and finished products for foodservice and consumer brands. Directly comparable to Carbonwave's bioplastics product line and overall seaweed biorefinery thesis.
- Sway: US-based startup producing seaweed-based flexible packaging films as plastic replacements. Comparable on feedstock (macroalgae), product category (bioplastics), and target customer base (consumer brands seeking sustainable packaging).
- AlgiKnit: US-based developer of kelp-derived yarns for the textile and apparel industry. Directly comparable to Carbonwave's leather/textile alternatives product line and its focus on macroalgae as a feedstock for fashion materials.
- Keel Labs (formerly Algenesis Labs): US-based producer of algae-based biopolymers and bioplastic materials for textiles, packaging, and footwear. Comparable to Carbonwave's bioplastics and textile alternatives on technology platform and end-market overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Acadian Seaplants: Canadian company and global leader in seaweed-based agricultural inputs, animal feeds, and plant biostimulants. Comparable to Carbonwave's Sarga Agriscience line as the dominant incumbent in seaweed-derived agricultural products with established B2B distribution.
- BASF: Global chemical giant with established alginate and biopolymer product lines serving cosmetics, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Was a partner alongside Carbonwave in the Carbon to Value Challenge. Represents the incumbent competitive set Carbonwave must displace in B2B ingredient sales.
Emerging players
- BioAtlantis: Ireland-based developer of seaweed-extract biostimulants and crop nutrition products. Directly comparable to Carbonwave's Sarga Agriscience in terms of seaweed-based agricultural inputs targeting yield and stress tolerance.
- Mango Materials: US-based producer of PHA bioplastics from biogas methane. Comparable to Carbonwave's bioplastics product line as a bio-based alternative to petroleum-derived plastics targeting packaging and consumer goods customers.
Regional players
- Sea6 Energy: India-based company cultivating and processing red seaweed for biostimulants, biofuels, and materials. Comparable to Carbonwave in seaweed-to-multiple-products biorefinery model, though operating in a different geography (South Asia) with cultivated rather than wild-harvest feedstock.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Carbonwave social profiles
Digital presenceCarbonwave financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbonwave leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Carbonwave subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Carbonwave funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbonwave 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 Carbonwave
What does Carbonwave do?
Carbonwave develops and sells plant-based advanced biomaterials derived from Sargassum seaweed using a proprietary cascading biorefinery process. Its commercial product lines include Sarga Agriscience agricultural extracts for crop enhancement and SeaBalance cosmetic emulsifiers for personal care, with additional seaweed-based leather alternatives, bioplastics, and other materials under development. The company also operates Grupo Ensol, a Sargassum collection and coastal remediation services division serving Caribbean resorts and municipalities.
Is Carbonwave a public or private company?
Carbonwave is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Carbonwave founded?
Carbonwave was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carbonwave based?
Carbonwave is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carbonwave make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Biomaterial Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are sargassum Collection Services and licensing of Technology/IP.
Who are Carbonwave's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Notpla, Loliware, Sway, AlgiKnit and Keel Labs (formerly Algenesis Labs). Broad incumbents are Acadian Seaplants and BASF. Emerging players are BioAtlantis and Mango Materials. Sea6 Energy is listed as a regional player.
Does Carbonwave have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carbonwave.
What industry is Carbonwave in?
Carbonwave's product category is Sustainable Biomaterials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMALAB, Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2860.