oceanBASIS
oceanBASIS is a Kiel-based marine biotechnology company that develops and commercializes algae and jellyfish-derived bioactive ingredients across four business units: B2B marine extracts, NATRUE-certified Oceanwell cosmetics, Meeresgarten organic seaweed foods, and ocean biotech R&D.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersKiel, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What oceanBASIS does
oceanBASIS GmbH is a Kiel, Germany-based marine biotechnology company founded in 2001 that develops, produces, and markets bioactive marine natural products across four business units: ocean actives (B2B bioactive ingredient extracts), ocean biotech (R&D on marine substances for medical and industrial applications), ocean cosmetics (the NATRUE-certified Oceanwell brand), and ocean food (the organic Meeresgarten seaweed food brand). The company operates the first offshore algae farm in Germany on 6,000 sqm of longline infrastructure off Kiel-Pries and combines this with proprietary extraction technology, including the trademarked MAEE (Macro Algae Excelling Extraction) fermentation process and patented jellyfish collagen (Qollagen) extraction that preserves the native triple helix structure for superior water-binding capacity. Its scientific foundation rests on 20+ years of research partnerships with Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Hochschule Bremen, and EU consortia such as FucoSan, GoJelly, and AlgaeFood.
The company's commercial model is a hybrid D2C and B2B play. On the consumer side, Oceanwell cosmetics (Basic.Line, OceanCollagen, Biomarine Cellsupport, Professional.Line) and Meeresgarten seaweed foods are sold through owned e-commerce storefronts (oceanwell.de, meeresgarten.com), beauty studios and SPAs, and select export markets (Hong Kong as of 2020). On the B2B side, marine extract ingredients — Lamocrude S, Lamowell S, Palmocrude P, Fucocrude V, and Qollagen — are sold to cosmetics manufacturers, while the ocean biotech unit conducts contract R&D with universities and industry partners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; professional and B2B pricing is quote-based via dedicated sales contacts. Certifications include NATRUE for cosmetics, DE-ÖKO-006 for organic food, and Gemeinwohl-Ökonomie (GWÖ) membership since 2019 with an externally audited GWÖ balance sheet certificate.
oceanBASIS is a privately held, founder-controlled GmbH with no disclosed external funding rounds and approximately 30 employees, having grown from four founding pioneers. Leadership comprises Managing Directors Levent Piker (also Head of R&D) and Christian Koch, alongside Managing Partner and Head of Marketing Dr. Inez Linke (Entrepreneur of the Year Schleswig-Holstein 2017). CRM – Coastal Research & Management, established in 1994, operates as a sister company. The company's strategic positioning emphasizes sustainability, vertical integration from algae farming to finished product, and a multi-stakeholder model that includes marine conservation (Protect the Ocean initiative: turtle protection in Côte d'Ivoire, ghost net recovery in the Baltic Sea).
oceanBASIS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- oceanBASIS
- Legal name
- oceanBASIS GmbH
- Website
- https://oceanbasis.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- oceanBASIS is a Kiel-based marine biotechnology company that develops and commercializes algae and jellyfish-derived bioactive ingredients across four business units: B2B marine extracts, NATRUE-certified Oceanwell cosmetics, Meeresgarten organic seaweed foods, and ocean biotech R&D.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
oceanBASIS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Bioactive Ingredients
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (11251), Other Aquaculture (112519)
- SIC
- Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH)
Keywords
Where oceanBASIS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kiel
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
oceanBASIS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Oceanwell Natural Cosmetics: Sale of NATRUE-certified natural maritime cosmetics under the Oceanwell brand through direct e-commerce, beauty studios, SPAs, and professional sales channels. Product lines include Basic.Line, OceanCollagen, and Biomarine Cellsupport.
- Meeresgarten Food Products: Sale of organic seaweed products under the Meeresgarten brand through e-commerce and potentially retail channels. Products include dried algae flakes, seaweed sticks, and algae salad mixes.
- Ocean Actives Ingredient Sales: B2B sale of bioactive marine extracts (Lamocrude S, Lamowell S, Palmocrude P, Fucocrude V, Qollagen) to cosmetics manufacturers and other companies for use in their own products.
- Research and Development Services: Contract research and development collaborations with universities, research institutions, and industry partners on marine biotechnology projects, enzyme development, and active ingredient research.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Oceanwell Professional.Line products available for beauty studios and SPAs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
oceanBASIS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
oceanBASIS develops, extracts, and markets marine natural products derived from algae and marine organisms through four business units: B2B bioactive ingredient extracts (ocean actives) sold to cosmetics manufacturers; consumer natural cosmetics under the Oceanwell brand (ocean cosmetics); organic seaweed food products under the Meeresgarten brand (ocean food); and R&D services for marine biotechnology and active ingredient development (ocean biotech). The company uses proprietary extraction technologies including the MAEE fermentation process, patented jellyfish collagen extraction, and fucoidan processing, supported by its own offshore algae farm in Kiel Fjord.
Product overview
oceanBASIS is organized into four business units: ocean actives (bioactive ingredient extracts from algae), ocean biotech (research on marine substances for medicine and life sciences), ocean cosmetics (Oceanwell natural cosmetics brand), and ocean food (Meeresgarten seaweed food brand). Oceanwell includes Basic.Line for all skin types, OceanCollagen for anti-aging with jellyfish collagen, and Biomarine Cellsupport for sensitive skin. Meeresgarten offers organic seaweed products including Herzblut (dulse), Kraftpaket (kombu), Freigeist (sea spaghetti), and Glücksgriff (seaweed salad). ocean actives provides ingredient extracts including Lamocrude 'S, Lamowell 'S, Palmocrude 'P, Fucocrude 'V, and Qollagen 1% collagen.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Oceanwell: Maritime natural cosmetics brand featuring algae extracts and seawater, NATRUE certified. Includes Basic.Line, OceanCollagen ProAge Line, and Biomarine Cellsupport.
- Meeresgarten
- ocean actives
- ocean biotech
Products and services
- Oceanwell Basic.Line System skincare line from the sea using algae extracts and seawater, designed for all skin types; includes peeling, cleansing gel, and care cream products under the NATRUE-certified Oceanwell brand.
- OceanCollagen (OceanCollagen ProAge Line) Anti-aging skincare line featuring highly pure oceanic collagen from jellyfish (Qollagen), providing intense moisture and protection against environmental influences; positioned as the first natural cosmetic with oceanic collagen.
- Biomarine Cellsupport Biomarine special care with laminaria active ingredients and natural seawater for sensitive, irritated skin; fragrance-free products suitable for therapeutic care for neurodermatitis and psoriasis.
- Oceanwell Professional.Line High-yield sizes and cabinware from the Oceanwell range distributed to beauty studios, SPAs, and wellness centers for professional use.
- Meeresgarten Herzblut (organic dulse) Organic dried dulse (Palmaria palmata) sea-spicy algae flakes from Brittany, sustainably harvested and air-dried; rich in marine minerals, iodine, and vitamin B12.
- Meeresgarten Kraftpaket (organic kombu) Organic Kombu Royal (Saccharina latissima) dried brown algae flakes; natural source of iodine with umami flavor enhancement properties.
- Meeresgarten Freigeist (organic sea spaghetti) Organic dried Sea Spaghetti (Himanthalia elongata) seaweed sticks containing healthy sea minerals and iodine for hormone metabolism.
- Meeresgarten Glücksgriff (organic seaweed salad mix) Organic dried seaweed salad mix containing sea lettuce (Ulva sp.), dulse (Palmaria palmata), and nori (Porphyra sp.).
- Lamocrude 'S (marine active ingredient) Aqueous extract from brown algae Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) with cell-protecting polyphenols and moisturizing algae sugars for cosmetic and hair care product formulations.
- Lamowell 'S (fermented brown algae extract) Fermented brown algae extract from Saccharina latissima refined by yeast fermentation; offers skin protection through radical scavengers and stimulation of collagen synthesis.
- Palmocrude 'P (red algae extract) Aqueous extract from red algae Palmaria palmata with cell-protective amino acids and antioxidant peroxidases; contains mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA) for natural UV protection.
- Fucocrude 'V (bladderwrack extract) Aqueous extract from bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) containing fucoxanthin, polyphenols, fucoidan, and laminarin; sustainably wild harvested in Denmark.
- Qollagen 1% (jellyfish collagen) Original oceanic collagen from jellyfish with high water-binding capacity; gently extracted to preserve native triple helix structure for moisture-binding and film-forming properties in cosmetic formulations.
Quantifiable outcome
- The diversity of antioxidants in algae extracts shows synergistic action stronger than in land plants like currant or pomegranate, allowing lower doses with guaranteed longevity of effect and stability
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use oceanBASIS
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
oceanBASIS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
oceanBASIS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- AlgaeFood Consortium (Interreg-EU)majorEU-funded project (2023-2026) to introduce algae into regional food culture through cooking workshops, tastings at markets, and consumer education about regional algae as healthy sustainable food.
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Botanical InstitutecoreOngoing research partnership for marine biotechnology and algae research. The university serves as a key research partner for oceanBASIS in developing extraction techniques and testing bioactive compounds. Collaborations include algae peroxidase development for antioxidant capacity testing.
- University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology for Natural ScientistscoreResearch collaboration on toxicology and pharmacology of marine bioactive compounds. Jointly developing antibody-coupled marker enzymes for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
- 3N Kompetenzzentrum Niedersachsen Netzwerk Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioökonomie e.V.majorProject partner in the BMBF-funded 'ÖkoPro' project for circular economy in the aquatic bioeconomy. Contributing expertise in algae biomass utilization from biogas operations.
- B.E.S GmbH & Co KGmajorProject partner in ÖkoPro project for circular economy applications. Located in Bad Bentheim, Lower Saxony.
- GICON Großmann Ingenieur Consult GmbHmajorProject partner in ÖkoPro project contributing engineering expertise for algae production systems integration.
- Microganic GmbHmajorProject partner in ÖkoPro project for microalgae production and processing technologies.
- University of Applied Sciences BremencoreResearch partnership for developing antibody-coupled marker enzymes from algae for cancer diagnosis and therapy applications.
- Institute for Molecular Biology at Christian-Albrechts UniversitycoreJoint development of test kits based on algae peroxidase for determining antioxidant capacity of biological fluids such as fruit juices.
- GoJelly Consortium (EU/H2020)majorEU-funded project (2018-2020) with 15 partners researching ways jellyfish can be used to combat marine debris. Jellyfish mucogenic ingredients can bind microplastics and help remove them from waters.
- Suntec Project (State of Schleswig-Holstein/WTSH)minorDevelopment project (2018-2020) researching algae-based sunscreen products by harnessing UV-protective substances naturally found in algae for natural cosmetics.
- FucoSan Consortium (EU/Interreg)majorGerman-Danish joint project (2017-2020) focused on bioactivity of sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan from brown algae for skin care applications. oceanBASIS developed high-performance algae extract.
- BaMS - Bioeconomy on Marine SitescoreInnovation space project (BaMS) by German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) focusing on bioeconomic process chains at marine sites. oceanBASIS participates through the ÖkoPro sub-project.
- CRM - Coastal Research & ManagementcoreSister company and founding partner entity established in 1994. CRM conducts coastal zone management expertise and marine research. The close partnership allows oceanBASIS to leverage marine research capabilities and medical applications research.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
oceanBASIS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Microphyt: French microalgae producer developing bioactive ingredients for nutraceuticals and cosmetics — comparable in upstream microalgae cultivation, downstream extraction, and B2B ingredient commercialization.
- Lessonia: French manufacturer of algae-based ingredients for cosmetics and food — directly comparable as a mid-sized B2B supplier of marine/algae extracts serving the same NATRUE-style natural cosmetics customer base.
- Fermentalg: French industrial biotech company producing algae-based oils, pigments, and bioactive ingredients for nutrition and cosmetics — comparable as a publicly-traded algae bioactives developer with similar B2B ingredient model.
- Gelyma: French marine biotechnology company producing algae extracts and active ingredients for the cosmetics industry — a near-direct peer in marine bioactives R&D and B2B ingredient supply.
- Mibelle Biochemistry: Swiss developer of bioactive cosmetic ingredients — most comparable in business model, as it sells proprietary plant- and marine-derived actives to B2B cosmetics manufacturers with its own biochemistry R&D pipeline.
- Lipoid Kosmetik: Swiss/German supplier of natural cosmetic actives (liposomes, phospholipids, plant extracts) — directly comparable as a mid-sized B2B actives supplier serving the same natural cosmetics formulators.
Emerging players
- Algalif Iceland: Icelandic producer of premium algae-based ingredients (astaxanthin, omega-3) for nutraceuticals — partially comparable in sustainable algae cultivation and B2B bioactive ingredient supply.
- A4F Algae for Future: Portuguese algae production and biotechnology company — comparable in algae cultivation, fermentation scale-up, and B2B ingredient development, though primarily focused on food/feed applications.
Broad incumbents
- Dr. Hauschka (WALA Heilmittel): German natural cosmetics brand with in-house medicinal plant cultivation — comparable as a German-speaking natural cosmetics brand combining own raw material cultivation with branded finished products.
- Weleda: Swiss/German natural cosmetics and anthroposophic medicine company — comparable as a natural cosmetics brand owner with own ingredient sourcing, though substantially larger and broader in product range.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
oceanBASIS social profiles
Digital presenceoceanBASIS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
oceanBASIS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
oceanBASIS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
oceanBASIS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
oceanBASIS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
oceanBASIS 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 oceanBASIS
What does oceanBASIS do?
oceanBASIS develops, extracts, and markets marine natural products derived from algae and marine organisms through four business units: B2B bioactive ingredient extracts (ocean actives) sold to cosmetics manufacturers; consumer natural cosmetics under the Oceanwell brand (ocean cosmetics); organic seaweed food products under the Meeresgarten brand (ocean food); and R&D services for marine biotechnology and active ingredient development (ocean biotech). The company uses proprietary extraction technologies including the MAEE fermentation process, patented jellyfish collagen extraction, and fucoidan processing, supported by its own offshore algae farm in Kiel Fjord.
Is oceanBASIS a public or private company?
oceanBASIS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was oceanBASIS founded?
oceanBASIS was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is oceanBASIS based?
oceanBASIS is headquartered in Kiel, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does oceanBASIS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Oceanwell Natural Cosmetics are the primary driver. The others are meeresgarten Food Products, ocean Actives Ingredient Sales and research and Development Services.
Who are oceanBASIS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Microphyt, Lessonia, Fermentalg, Gelyma, Mibelle Biochemistry and Lipoid Kosmetik. Emerging players are Algalif Iceland and A4F Algae for Future. Broad incumbents are Dr. Hauschka (WALA Heilmittel) and Weleda.
Does oceanBASIS have an API?
No public API is recorded for oceanBASIS.
What industry is oceanBASIS in?
oceanBASIS's product category is Marine Bioactive Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAF, Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae), with a secondary code of AFAEAAAH, Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture. Its NAICS code is 11251 and its SIC code is 2833.