SeaForester
SeaForester is a Portugal-based environmental impact company that restores kelp and seaweed forests worldwide using proprietary seeded-stone and nursery technology, serving corporate ESG buyers, governments, research institutions, and coastal communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersEstoril, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SeaForester does
SeaForester is a private environmental impact company founded in 2016 in Portugal by Pål Bakken, with headquarters in Estoril and additional operations in Norway following its January 2026 merger with Seaweed Solutions. The company develops seaforestation projects that restore kelp and other seaweed forests along degraded coastlines, using proprietary techniques including the Green Gravel method (kelp spores seeded onto small stones, grown in land-based nurseries, and scattered from boats without divers). Its core technology stack consists of the ROOTS nursery platform for large-scale seedling production and KelpOS, a digital monitoring system that integrates satellite, ROV, and eDNA data to track ecosystem recovery. SeaForester holds what is described as Europe's largest seaweed forest restoration permit, providing regulatory positioning as well as a technology moat.
The company generates revenue through project-based seaforestation contracts with coastal communities, structured project financing arrangements with corporations and governments, and through licensing its mobile seaweed nursery model for local deployment. Customers include major corporates with sustainability mandates (notably Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, with a programme targeting 1,500 hectares by 2030), national and local government entities (Fundo Azul, Câmara Municipal de Cascais, Portuguese ministries), and research institutions (IMR Norway, University of Western Australia, CCMAR, CIIMAR). Following the merger that created SeaForester Group, the business operates across three lines: Seeds & Genetics, Restoration, and Regenerative Biomass. Capital has come from impact investors including WWF, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and BlueInvest (€1.6M), with a $1.9M round closed in October 2025 alongside an active capital raise advised by Aquamarine Impact Capital Partners. The company was a 2022 Earthshot Prize finalist in the Revive Our Oceans category.
SeaForester firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SeaForester
- Legal name
- SeaForester
- Website
- https://seaforester.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SeaForester is a Portugal-based environmental impact company that restores kelp and seaweed forests worldwide using proprietary seeded-stone and nursery technology, serving corporate ESG buyers, governments, research institutions, and coastal communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SeaForester industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Restoration Services
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (1125), Other Aquaculture (112519)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seed Stock Production for Seaweed & Microalgae (Spores, Seedlings, Inoculum) (AFAEAKAI), Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Ocean-Based Carbon Removal (Alkalinity Enhancement, Seaweed, Ocean Biomass Sinking) (EUABAFAF)
Keywords
Where SeaForester is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Estoril
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SeaForester business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Seaforestation Projects: Developing seaforestation projects with coastal communities and providing training to local partners. Revenue generated through project-based restoration contracts.
- Project Financing: Raising funds from clients to finance seaforestation in targeted areas. Structured financing arrangements with corporations and governments for restoration programs.
- Mobile Nursery Licensing: Offering mobile seaweed nurseries to coastal communities worldwide, enabling local deployment of seaforestation techniques.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based seaforestation services |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
SeaForester product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SeaForester restores lost seaweed/kelp forests globally using its proprietary green gravel technique—seeding small stones with kelp spores in land-based nurseries and deploying them from fishing boats without divers or specialized equipment. The company sells seaforestation project services, project financing, R&D, and community engagement to corporations, governments, and coastal communities, supported by its ROOTS nursery platform and KelpOS monitoring system.
Product overview
SeaForester is an environmental impact company offering a unified seaforestation platform that combines innovative nursery technology with monitoring systems and restoration services. The core product portfolio includes the ROOTS (Restoration Oriented Ocean Technology System) kelp nursery platform and the KelpOS digital monitoring system. The company's signature Green Gravel technique—seeding small stones with seaweed spores in land-based nurseries and deploying them from boats—enables scalable, low-cost restoration without divers or technical equipment. Following the January 2026 merger with Seaweed Solutions to form SeaForester Group, the offering expanded to include Seeds & Genetics, Restoration, and Regenerative Biomass business lines, spanning the entire regenerative seaweed value chain from seed genetics to ecosystem impact and commercial biomass production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ROOTS (Restoration Oriented Ocean Technology System): A kelp nursery platform technology for scaling restoration efforts.
- KelpOS
Products and services
- Seaforestation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 100,000 hectares of kelp forests targeted for restoration by 2040
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SeaForester
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SeaForester technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SeaForester partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.
- Seaweed SolutionsflagshipSeaweed Solutions and SeaForester joined forces to create SeaForester Group. Seaweed Solutions brings 15+ years of R&D and seaweed farming experience, leadership in genetics, seed propagation, and cultivation. The merger creates an integrated model spanning biotechnology, seed development, restoration, cultivation, and supply of seaweed.
- Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT)coreKSAT provides satellite data for monitoring kelp forests including sea surface temperature, height, and color. Partnership combines satellite data with ocean measurements for comprehensive ecosystem monitoring. KSAT operates the world's most extensive ground station network for near-real-time environmental monitoring.
- Kongsberg DiscoverycoreKongsberg Discovery provides hydroacoustic sensors for ecosystem monitoring and seafloor mapping combined with ocean measurements. Their digital solution integrates sensors with relevant metadata into a holistic real-time information system for efficient monitoring and documentation of kelp forests.
- Nestlé Purina PetCare EuropecorePurina Europe invested in SeaForester's ocean restoration programme aiming to restore 1,500 hectares of marine habitats by 2030. First phase (3 years) prioritizes research, measurement framework, and scaling conditions. Second phase starting 2026 focuses on scaling proven solutions. Restoration sites include France, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, with Germany and UK in development.
- Hope Zones FoundationsupportingWSL PURE grantee led by big wave surfer João Macedo. Partnership advancing seaforestation in Portugal's Nazaré and Peniche areas. WSL PURE grant supports planting, monitoring, research, and sharing benefits of seaweed reforestation.
- ReGeneration Surf CoalitionsupportingCoalition of four organizations (SeaForester, Mossy Earth, ZeroWaste Lab, Oceans and Flow) focused on ocean literacy, citizen science, and marine restoration. Official UN Decade of Ocean Science Activity. Includes Citizens of Surf coordinating initiative.
- Shiseido Blue ProjectsupportingShiseido's environmental initiative dedicated to improving ocean health and beauty. Partnered with WSL and ReGeneration Surf for kelp restoration in Portugal.
- IMR Norway (Institute of Marine Research)supportingNorwegian research institution collaborating on marine science and kelp ecosystem research.
- University of Western AustraliasupportingARC 2019 Linkage Project partner for 'Restoring blue forests with green gravel'. 4-year project to develop and optimize green gravel technique for Western Australia.
- MARE IPLeiria / Politécnico de LeiriasupportingPortuguese research institution partner for seaforestation research and development. Collaborated on laboratory facilities at Cetemares for kelp cultivation.
- AWI (Alfred Wegener Institute)supportingGerman research institute collaborating on polar and marine research relevant to kelp ecosystem science.
- University of BremensupportingAcademic partner contributing to marine science research and kelp ecosystem studies.
- World Surf League (WSL)supportingWSL's We Are One Ocean initiative partnered with SeaForester for kelp restoration workshops at championship surf events. Engages surfers as citizen scientists and raises ocean literacy.
- CCMARsupportingCentre of Marine Sciences research partner for Seaforest Portugal project assessing seaforestation potential in continental Portugal and archipelagos.
- CIIMARsupportingInterdisciplinary Marine Science research center collaborating on kelp population recovery methods along Portuguese coast.
- University of MadeirasupportingResearch partner for Seaforest Portugal project covering Azores and Madeira archipelagos in addition to continental Portugal.
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research)supportingNorwegian research institute collaborating on kelp ecosystem recovery strategy from urchin barrens and restoration initiatives in Norway.
- Akvaplan NivasupportingNorwegian aquaculture and marine research consultancy contributing to Norway restoration projects.
- Kelp Forest AlliancesupportingGlobal network of kelp restoration experts. SeaForester collaborates through ReGeneration Surf and participates in knowledge sharing initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SeaForester competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Running Tide (now Nimble): US-based ocean carbon removal company that cultivates and sinks kelp for carbon sequestration. Directly comparable in combining kelp cultivation with carbon removal outcomes and serving corporate carbon buyers as customers.
- Sea Trees: California-based ocean restoration organization focused on planting kelp, mangroves, and corals, often partnering with consumer brands for funded restoration. Directly comparable to SeaForester in restoration-as-a-service offerings and corporate ESG partnerships.
- Cascadia Seaweed: Canadian seaweed cultivation and processing company producing kelp for food, agricultural, and ecosystem applications. Comparable to SeaForester on species mix, end-market diversity, and integrated value-chain model.
- GreenWave: US-based regenerative ocean farming nonprofit/operator supporting kelp and shellfish farming with coastal communities. Comparable to SeaForester in community-led restoration and scalable seaweed farming methodologies.
- Kelp Blue: Namibia-based large-scale kelp farming and bioeconomy company producing kelp for agricultural biostimulants and blue-carbon applications. Directly comparable in targeting industrial offtake plus carbon outcomes.
- Atlantic Sea Farms: US-based kelp aquaculture company partnering with fishermen to grow kelp in the North Atlantic. Comparable to SeaForester in deploying scalable kelp cultivation with a community-engagement angle, though focused on food market supply.
- Ocean Rainforest: Faroe Islands-based large-scale seaweed farming company operating offshore kelp cultivation for food, feed, and biotech applications. Directly comparable to SeaForester on cultivation technology, aquaculture operations, and biomass-offtake ambitions, though focused on commercial farming rather than restoration.
Emerging players
- CH4 Global (now MOANA): Australia-based company commercializing Asparagopsis seaweed feed additive to reduce livestock methane emissions. Comparable in commercializing cultivated seaweed at scale, though focused on feed additives rather than restoration.
- Symbrosia: Hawaii-based startup producing Asparagopsis seaweed supplements for livestock methane reduction. Comparable to SeaForester in scaling seaweed cultivation technology with industrial offtake, though focused narrowly on feed applications.
Regional players
- SeaForest (AU): Australian company producing Asparagopsis-based livestock feed supplements and broader seaweed products. Comparable to SeaForester on integrated seaweed cultivation and industrial applications, though serving the Australian/APAC market rather than Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SeaForester social profiles
Digital presenceSeaForester financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SeaForester leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SeaForester funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SeaForester 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 SeaForester
What does SeaForester do?
SeaForester restores lost seaweed/kelp forests globally using its proprietary green gravel technique—seeding small stones with kelp spores in land-based nurseries and deploying them from fishing boats without divers or specialized equipment. The company sells seaforestation project services, project financing, R&D, and community engagement to corporations, governments, and coastal communities, supported by its ROOTS nursery platform and KelpOS monitoring system.
Is SeaForester a public or private company?
SeaForester is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was SeaForester founded?
SeaForester was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SeaForester based?
SeaForester is headquartered in Estoril, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does SeaForester make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Seaforestation Projects are the primary driver. The others are project Financing and mobile Nursery Licensing.
Who are SeaForester's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Running Tide (now Nimble), Sea Trees, Cascadia Seaweed, GreenWave, Kelp Blue, Atlantic Sea Farms and Ocean Rainforest. Emerging players are CH4 Global (now MOANA) and Symbrosia. SeaForest (AU) is listed as a regional player.
Does SeaForester have an API?
No public API is recorded for SeaForester.
What industry is SeaForester in?
SeaForester's product category is Marine Restoration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAE, Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae), with a secondary code of AFAEAKAI, Seed Stock Production for Seaweed & Microalgae (Spores, Seedlings, Inoculum). Its NAICS code is 1125 and its SIC code is 800.