Urchinomics
Urchinomics is a restorative aquaculture company that ranch-finishes overgrazing sea urchins from barren zones into premium uni (sea urchin roe) via proprietary land-based raceway systems, selling year-round to Michelin-star restaurants and major sushi chains across 7 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersIjmuiden, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Urchinomics does
Urchinomics is a privately held restorative aquaculture company, headquartered operationally through parent Verdant Bloom Ltd, that converts ecologically destructive sea urchins from barren zones into premium uni (sea urchin roe). The company harvests overgrazing urchins from depleted kelp ecosystems, then feeds them a proprietary plant-based diet in land-based raceway systems for 8-12 weeks to produce consistent, year-round premium uni in three formats: Ita board, ensui, and half shell.
The core technology platform is a proprietary land-based raceway system combined with a tailored plant-based feed formulation (配方) and, in Hokkaido, a pending-patented automatic sea urchin capture device and low-carbon algae reef co-developed with Hokkaido Electric Power. The model simultaneously delivers kelp forest restoration services and, since December 2022, blue carbon credits — the first kelp-restoration blue carbon credit in the world was issued to Urchinomics in Japan.
Urchinomics monetizes through B2B premium seafood sales to Michelin-star restaurants and major sushi chains, with a capital and business alliance with Food & Life Companies (operator of Sushiro, 1,100+ restaurants across 9 countries) as the anchor off-take, complemented by direct distribution to fine-dining accounts such as Antica Osteria Del Ponte. Geographic footprint spans Japan, Australia, the USA, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Chile & Mexico with country leads in each region; strategic equity has been raised from Cadman Capital Group (2023, also providing the Quoddy Savour Seafoods facility), NYK Line (July 2024), and Food & Life Companies (July 2024). The model has received UNESCO endorsement under the UN Decade of Marine Science for Sustainable Development.
Urchinomics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urchinomics
- Legal name
- Urchinomics
- Website
- https://urchinomics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Urchinomics is a restorative aquaculture company that ranch-finishes overgrazing sea urchins from barren zones into premium uni (sea urchin roe) via proprietary land-based raceway systems, selling year-round to Michelin-star restaurants and major sushi chains across 7 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urchinomics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Restorative Aquaculture
- NAICS
- Other Aquaculture (112519)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab) (AFAEAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable & Alternative-Protein Aquafeed (Insect, Algae, Single-Cell, Byproduct-Based) (AFADADAM)
Keywords
Where Urchinomics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ijmuiden
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Urchinomics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Premium Uni Production and Sales: Harvested urchins are processed, graded, and packed for culinary partners across the globe. The company produces premium uni available 365 days a year, selling to Michelin-star restaurants, sushi chains, and high-end chefs. They serve all three premium categories: Ita board, ensui, and half shell.
- Capital and Business Alliances: Strategic investments from partners like NYK and Food & Life Companies provide capital alongside business collaboration for stable uni supply and market access.
- Kelp Forest Restoration Services: Environmental restoration services creating measurable environmental impact, including potential blue carbon credit development for restoring kelp ecosystems.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Urchinomics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urchinomics is a restorative aquaculture company that harvests overpopulated "zombie" sea urchins from depleted ocean zones (urchin barrens) and ranched them in proprietary land-based raceways on a plant-based diet for 8-12 weeks to produce premium uni (sea urchin roe). The company simultaneously restores kelp forest ecosystems and generates blue carbon credits, transforming an ecological problem into a premium seafood product.
Product overview
Urchinomics operates a restorative aquaculture platform centered on its proprietary land-based raceway ranching system. The core offering transforms overgrazing sea urchins from ecological threats into premium uni (sea urchin roe) products available year-round. Urchins are harvested from urchin barren zones, ranched in land-based facilities with a proprietary plant-based diet for 8-12 weeks, then processed and sold in three premium formats (Ita board, ensui, half shell) to culinary partners globally. This circular model simultaneously delivers kelp forest restoration services and blue carbon credits, creating a financially sustainable approach to marine ecosystem recovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Premium Uni (Sea Urchin Roe)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 70,000 square km of kelp forest destroyed by urchin overpopulation globally - Urchinomics addresses this ecological crisis
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Urchinomics
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Urchinomics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Urchinomics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Food & Life Companies Ltd.coreCapital and business alliance entered on July 23, 2024 with Food & Life Companies Ltd. (F&LC), operators of Sushiro and other sushi chains with over 1,100 restaurants. Partnership aims to create stable supply of high-quality domestically farmed sea urchins while contributing to blue carbon ecosystem conservation.
- EnviroStratcoreStrategic collaboration to establish Urchinomics Aotearoa in New Zealand. Builds on successful 18-month pilot led by EnviroStrat with investment from EnviroStrat, impact investors, and Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund (MPI). Addresses ecological and climate challenges posed by overpopulated kina barrens.
- Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.coreCooperation agreement to jointly consider sea urchin farming business in Hokkaido. Combines Urchinomics' urchin ranching technology with Hokkaido Electric's 'low-carbon algae reef' and 'automatic sea urchin capture device' technologies to address rocky shore issues.
- Nestlé PURINAminorStrategic partner for alternative uses and sustainable seafood applications.
- World Economic ForumminorGlobal partnership organization supporting sustainable ocean initiatives and marine restoration efforts.
- Asahi Town Regional Revitalization Cooperation TroopminorLocal government partnership in Toyama Prefecture for sea urchin ranching facility to combat kelp forest loss in Toyama Bay.
- Tomari Fisheries Cooperative AssociationminorLocal fisheries cooperative partnership for investigating coastal barrens and sea urchin habitats in Toyama Prefecture waters.
- GREENspearfisher (general incorporated association)minorGeneral incorporated association dedicated to improving the marine environment, collaborating on marine restoration in Toyama Prefecture.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Urchinomics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Urchinomics social profiles
Digital presenceUrchinomics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Urchinomics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urchinomics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Urchinomics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Urchinomics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urchinomics 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 Urchinomics
What does Urchinomics do?
Urchinomics is a restorative aquaculture company that harvests overpopulated "zombie" sea urchins from depleted ocean zones (urchin barrens) and ranched them in proprietary land-based raceways on a plant-based diet for 8-12 weeks to produce premium uni (sea urchin roe). The company simultaneously restores kelp forest ecosystems and generates blue carbon credits, transforming an ecological problem into a premium seafood product.
Is Urchinomics a public or private company?
Urchinomics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Urchinomics founded?
Urchinomics was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Urchinomics based?
Urchinomics is headquartered in Ijmuiden, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Urchinomics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Premium Uni Production and Sales are the primary driver. The others are capital and Business Alliances and kelp Forest Restoration Services.
Does Urchinomics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urchinomics.
What industry is Urchinomics in?
Urchinomics's product category is Restorative Aquaculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAC, Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab), with a secondary code of AFADADAM, Sustainable & Alternative-Protein Aquafeed (Insect, Algae, Single-Cell, Byproduct-Based). Its NAICS code is 112519 and its SIC code is 2092.