Algapelago
Algapelago is a UK-based regenerative ocean farming company that operates the largest UK-licensed offshore kelp cultivation site in North Devon, selling raw kelp to food service and cosmetics businesses and developing biostimulants, feed additives, and blue carbon credits for agriculture and nature-based capital markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersAppledore, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Algapelago does
Algapelago Marine Limited is a UK-based regenerative ocean farming enterprise founded in 2021 and headquartered in Appledore, North Devon. The company operates the largest UK-licensed offshore kelp cultivation site and the most offshore seaweed farm in Europe, located four miles offshore in Bideford Bay under Lundy Island. It cultivates sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) and oarweed (Laminaria digitata) using a system of seafloor anchors, surface floats, and tensioned ropes, and has completed three successful cultivation seasons. Algapelago is led by co-founders Olly Hicks, a three-time world record ocean explorer, and Humphrey Atkinson, who previously developed seaweed packaging at the Earthshot Prize-winning company Notpla.
The company has built a vertically integrated seed-to-crop value chain encompassing local seed collection, offshore suspended cultivation, hand-harvesting, and processing into stabilized semi-finished products. Its proprietary low-energy two-stage extraction process has been validated at 1-tonne scale and demonstrated superior wheat trial results against incumbent biostimulant products, in collaboration with Rothamsted Research and UK Agri-Tech Centre under Innovate UK grant funding. Algapelago currently generates revenue from raw kelp sales (fresh, frozen, dried, flakes, whole leaf, ensiled, and fermented formats) to restaurants, food service businesses, and cosmetics companies in small bulk quantities. It is also developing Farm Biostimulants (launching summer 2026), Seaweed-Based Feed Additives (launching late 2026), and Blue Carbon / Marine Biodiversity Net Gain credits in partnership with Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Revenue mechanics are primarily direct B2B sales with quote-based, non-public pricing; pricing details are not disclosed. The go-to-market combines direct sales for raw kelp and forthcoming agriculture products, content marketing through its website, and partnership recruitment via the Blue Forest Program, which aims to establish a global network of regenerative ocean farms by 2030. The company operates as a private entity with 1-10 employees (six listed on the team page), has secured approximately £806,558 in disclosed funding from The FSE Group (September 2025) alongside earlier rounds from NextSTEP and Bright Tide, and is part of the BLUE IMPACT group supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Algapelago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Algapelago
- Legal name
- Algapelago Marine Limited
- Website
- https://algapelago.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Algapelago is a UK-based regenerative ocean farming company that operates the largest UK-licensed offshore kelp cultivation site in North Devon, selling raw kelp to food service and cosmetics businesses and developing biostimulants, feed additives, and blue carbon credits for agriculture and nature-based capital markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Algapelago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Seaweed Cultivation and Marine Agriculture
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (1125), Aquaculture (11251), Other Aquaculture (112519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF)
Keywords
Where Algapelago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Appledore
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Algapelago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Raw Kelp Sales: Sale of cultivated sugar kelp and oarweed in various formats (fresh, frozen, dried, flakes, whole leaf, ensiled, fermented) to food service, restaurant, and cosmetics businesses.
- Farm Biostimulants: Sale of cultivated seaweed extract formulated for horticulture and bulk liquid biostimulants for large-scale agricultural application. Products available summer 2026.
- Seaweed-Based Feed Additives: Sale of seaweed-based livestock feed supplements that improve feed conversion rates, gut health, and reduce methane emissions. Available late 2026.
- Nature-Based Capital Credits: Development and potential sale of Blue Carbon credits and Marine Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits from kelp forest cultivation and restoration activities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Algapelago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Algapelago operates an offshore kelp cultivation and processing enterprise, growing sugar kelp and oarweed 4 miles offshore in North Devon's Bideford Bay and converting the biomass into raw kelp products for food service and cosmetics markets, with planned seaweed-based agricultural biostimulants and livestock feed additives derived from a low-energy two-stage extraction process. The company also develops blue carbon and marine biodiversity credits from its kelp forests under its Blue Forest marine regeneration program.
Product overview
Algapelago is a regenerative ocean farming company operating the largest UK-licensed offshore kelp cultivation operation in North Devon. The company offers a diversified portfolio of seaweed-based products: Raw Kelp (Sugar Kelp and Oarweed in various processed forms), Feed Additives (seaweed-based livestock supplements launching late 2026), Farm Biostimulants (liquid agricultural biostimulants launching summer 2026), and Nature Based Capital solutions (blue carbon credits and biodiversity net gain credits). The company also operates the Blue Forest Program for marine ecosystem restoration. All products are derived from cultivated seaweed grown 4 miles offshore in the Atlantic, with the company operating as part of the BLUE IMPACT group supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Raw Kelp Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Oarweed (Laminaria Digitata) cultivated offshore and sold to restaurants, food service operators, and cosmetics businesses in bulk and as 200g or 2.5kg dried kelp powder packs for culinary use and skincare formulations.
- Seaweed-Based Feed Additives Seaweed-derived feed supplements for livestock producers that improve feed conversion rates, support gut microbiome and animal health, and reduce methane emissions. Intended for sale to livestock producers and feed manufacturers.
- Farm Biostimulants Liquid seaweed-derived biostimulants containing micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and plant hormones that promote healthy soil microbiology, improve root formation, plant yield, and stress resilience, sold to farmers and horticultural producers.
- Nature Based Capital (Blue Carbon and Biodiversity Credits) Tradeable Blue Carbon credits and Marine Biodiversity Net Gain credits generated from kelp forest cultivation, with measurement methodology co-developed with Plymouth Marine Laboratory via deep-sea macroalgal DNA analysis. Sold to companies and developers seeking verifiable marine carbon and biodiversity offsets.
Companies that use Algapelago
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Algapelago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Algapelago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rothamsted ResearchcoreLeading agricultural research institution partnering on the Low Energy Kelp project to validate biostimulant product performance under controlled environment conditions. Conducted wheat and field bean trials demonstrating yield improvements.
- UK Agri-Tech CentrecoreIndustry body providing technical validation and project management support for the Low Energy Kelp project, helping validate the scalable biostimulant platform for crop yield stability.
- Atlantic MaricultureminorProject partner contributing to the Low Energy Kelp initiative and ongoing work on cultivated kelp processing and commercialization.
- James Hutton InstituteminorResearch partner working with Algapelago on developing low-energy kelp-based biostimulants and feed additives.
- Plymouth Marine LaboratorycoreLeading marine research institution conducting research with Algapelago on blue carbon measurement methodology, analyzing deep-sea samples to measure kelp DNA and contribute to kelp carbon credit development.
- Portsmouth UniversitycoreAcademic research partners including Dr. Fran Cabada-Blanco (Marine Ecologist & Biodiversity Specialist) and Dr. Ian Hendy (Marine Ecologist & Coastal Ecosystems Expert) contributing expertise to the company's marine science and conservation efforts.
- Exeter UniversitycoreAcademic partner Dr. Ross Brown from Marine Bioscience & Aquaculture department contributing research on aquaculture and environment interactions.
- Tunley EnvironmentalminorSustainability science partner contributing Dr. Nora Von Xylander as Biodiversity Specialist & Sustainability Scientist to the research consortium.
- Vincent DoumeizelminorSenior Advisor to UN Global Compact and Author of Seaweed Revolution serving as a research partner and advisor on seaweed industry development.
- NotplaminorEarthshot Prize-winning seaweed packaging company where co-founder Humphrey Atkinson previously developed seaweed packaging solutions. Connected through co-founder expertise and shared seaweed innovation focus.
- PEBL CICminorCommunity interest company founded by Christian Berger, contributing as an industry partner in the research and industry consortium.
- Arctic SeaweedminorSeaweed company founded by Kim Kristensen, serving as an industry partner providing peer expertise and collaboration within the seaweed cultivation sector.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Algapelago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Notpla: UK-based seaweed products company best known for seaweed-based packaging. Algapelago co-founder Humphrey Atkinson previously led seaweed packaging development at Notpla, and both companies operate in the cultivated UK seaweed value chain for materials and consumer applications.
- Atlantic Mariculture: UK seaweed cultivator and processor partnering with Algapelago on the Low Energy Kelp project. Comparable as a UK-based cultivated kelp and seaweed ingredient supplier targeting food and industrial applications.
- Arctic Seaweed: Seaweed cultivation and ingredient company operating in Northern Europe. Listed as an Algapelago industry partner, with comparable cultivation and ingredient supply model targeting food and supplement markets.
- Ocean Rainforest: Faroe Islands-based offshore seaweed cultivator supplying kelp and seaweed biomass for food, feed, and biostimulant applications. Directly comparable to Algapelago as a large-scale offshore kelp operator with a similar vertical-integration thesis.
- Cascadia Seaweed: North American kelp and seaweed cultivator producing biomass for food, agri-inputs, and ecosystem services. Comparable business model combining offshore cultivation with downstream ingredient and biostimulant products.
- The Seaweed Company: European seaweed producer cultivating and processing seaweed into food, cosmetics, animal feed, and biostimulant ingredients. Closely mirrors Algapelago's multi-vertical product strategy and end-market mix.
- Kelp Blue: Large-scale offshore kelp cultivator producing biomass for food, feed, fertilizers, and blue carbon credits. Most direct comparison for Algapelago's combination of offshore cultivation and nature-based capital/blue carbon monetization.
Emerging players
- Mara Seaweed: UK-based seaweed food brand supplying culinary kelp products to retail and food service. Overlaps with Algapelago's food service and restaurant channel for dried/fresh kelp ingredients.
Broad incumbents
- Acadian Seaplants: Largest global cultivated seaweed company producing extracts for agricultural biostimulants, animal feed, and food. Direct incumbent for Algapelago's biostimulant and feed additive ambitions and the competitive benchmark in the Rothamsted wheat trial.
- AlgaEnergy: Established microalgae biotechnology company producing agricultural biostimulants and biofertilizers. Comparable as a scaled incumbent in the agricultural biostimulant channel Algapelago is targeting from 2026.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Algapelago social profiles
Digital presenceAlgapelago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Algapelago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Algapelago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Algapelago 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 Algapelago
What does Algapelago do?
Algapelago operates an offshore kelp cultivation and processing enterprise, growing sugar kelp and oarweed 4 miles offshore in North Devon's Bideford Bay and converting the biomass into raw kelp products for food service and cosmetics markets, with planned seaweed-based agricultural biostimulants and livestock feed additives derived from a low-energy two-stage extraction process. The company also develops blue carbon and marine biodiversity credits from its kelp forests under its Blue Forest marine regeneration program.
Is Algapelago a public or private company?
Algapelago is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Algapelago founded?
Algapelago was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Algapelago based?
Algapelago is headquartered in Appledore, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Algapelago make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Raw Kelp Sales are the primary driver. The others are farm Biostimulants, seaweed-Based Feed Additives and nature-Based Capital Credits.
Who are Algapelago's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Notpla, Atlantic Mariculture, Arctic Seaweed, Ocean Rainforest, Cascadia Seaweed, The Seaweed Company and Kelp Blue. Mara Seaweed is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Acadian Seaplants and AlgaEnergy.
Does Algapelago have an API?
No public API is recorded for Algapelago.
What industry is Algapelago in?
Algapelago's product category is Seaweed Cultivation and Marine Agriculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAE, Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae), with a secondary code of AFAJAHAF, Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae). Its NAICS code is 1125.