What SeaGrown does

SeaGrown is a UK-based marine biotechnology company founded in 2018 by marine scientist Professor Laura Robinson and former Royal Navy fisherman Captain Wave Crookes, operating from Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The company runs the UK's first large-scale offshore seaweed cultivation site, approximately 4 miles off the Scarborough coast across a 25-hectare licensed area, growing native UK kelp species (Sugar Kelp Saccharina latissima and Oarweed Laminaria digitata) using its patented Kelpedo Marine Recovery System — a modular offshore cultivation platform engineered for harsh North Sea conditions (proven to withstand >10m storm waves with <1m² seabed footprint per unit).

SeaGrown operates a dual business model. Its B2B enterprise arm, branded Seaweed as a Service, delivers turnkey nature-based compensation and mitigation solutions to offshore wind developers, water utilities, ports and harbours, covering site assessment, licensing, deployment, O&M, and ESG reporting. Notable enterprise engagements include winning RWE's international Co-use Competition, feasibility work with Orsted, and The Cleaner Seas Partnership with Yorkshire Water and The Crown Estate deploying 16 Kelpedo units in Scarborough North Bay. Its consumer arm, SeaGrown at Home, sells seaweed-based seasonings, bath and body products, Hold Fast Seaweed Beer (with Wold Top Brewery), and gift packs via Shopify e-commerce, wholesale to retailers and caterers, and a subscription Plant a Tree in the Sea ESG programme.

The company is privately held, bootstrapped prior to a six-figure NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance loan in November 2025, employs 16 staff, and plans to double headcount and expand into additional UK and European sites within two years. It is B Corp certified and has secured awards including the Outstanding Sustainability Contribution Award at Maritime Innovation Week 2025.

Name

SeaGrown

Legal name

SeaGrown

Website

https://www.seagrown.co.uk/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SeaGrown operates the UK's first large-scale offshore seaweed cultivation site from Scarborough, using its patented Kelpedo system to deliver carbon sequestration, biodiversity uplift, and water-quality services to offshore wind, water utility, and port clients, alongside a direct-to-consumer range of Yorkshire seaweed food and bath products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Restoration and Seaweed Cultivation Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125), Other Aquaculture (112519), Aquaculture (11251), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean-Based Carbon Removal (Alkalinity Enhancement, Seaweed, Ocean Biomass Sinking) (EUABAFAF), Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Offshore seaweed cultivation
• Marine biodiversity restoration
• Blue carbon solutions
• Nature-based compensation services
• Seaweed consumer products

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer Products (E-commerce): Direct-to-consumer sales of seaweed-based products including food seasonings, bath & body products, beer, and gift packs through owned e-commerce storefront. B2C revenue with subscription options for Plant a Tree in the Sea program.
2. Seaweed as a Service (B2B Enterprise): Turnkey nature-based solutions for marine industries seeking compensation or mitigation strategies. Full service offering includes site assessment, licensing, deployment, cultivation, O&M services, and monitoring & reporting. Targets offshore energy, ports, and water companies.
3. Wholesale & B2B Ingredients: Wholesale distribution of seaweed food seasonings and bath & body products to retailers. Raw seaweed ingredient sales to catering industry. Collaboration ventures with local producers.
4. ESG/Corporate Partnerships: Plant a Tree in the Sea program enables businesses to demonstrate ESG commitment through ocean restoration investments. Monthly subscriptions and one-off contributions funding Kelpedo unit deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SeaGrown cultivates native UK kelp species offshore in the North Sea using its proprietary Kelpedo™ Marine Recovery System, delivering carbon sequestration, water quality improvement, and marine biodiversity uplift. It monetises this cultivation through two channels: (1) a B2B "Seaweed as a Service" turnkey restoration and compensation offering for offshore energy, ports, and water companies, and (2) a B2C range of seaweed-based seasonings, bath and body products, beer, and gift packs sold via its own e-commerce store, with wholesale distribution to retailers and caterers.

Product overview

SeaGrown operates a dual business model combining proprietary offshore seaweed cultivation technology with consumer products. The core technology is the patented Kelpedo™ Marine Recovery System, an open-water seaweed cultivation platform engineered for the North Sea that delivers carbon sequestration, water quality improvement, and biodiversity enhancement. This system powers both B2B services (Seaweed as a Service for marine industry compensation) and consumer offerings. Consumer products include a range of seaweed-based food seasonings (Everyday, Kombu Salt Alternative, Herby Lemon & Garlic, Smokey Piri-Piri, Salt & Sichuan Pepper), the Hold Fast Seaweed Beer brewed with Wold Top Brewery, and bath & body products (soap, hand & body cream, mineral bath soak, shampoo/conditioner bars). The company also offers a Plant a Tree in the Sea programme for individual and corporate ESG contributions, and provides scientific research/reporting services backed by participation in the UK government's mNCEA programme. Products are distributed via the company's e-commerce platform and wholesale channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kelpedo™: Patented offshore seaweed cultivation system designed for the North Sea environment, engineered for resilience and adaptability in challenging offshore conditions.
• Plant a Tree in the Sea
• SeaGrown at Home

Products and services

• Kelpedo™ Marine Recovery System Proprietary, patented offshore seaweed cultivation system designed for open-water deployment in challenging North Sea conditions. Engineered to sequester carbon, improve water quality, and create marine habitats supporting over 55 species, with proven survival of storm waves exceeding 10 metres and a seabed footprint of less than 1m² per unit. Available to enterprise customers as the technological basis for the Seaweed as a Service offering.
• Seaweed as a Service Turnkey restoration and compensation solution for marine industries including Offshore Energy, Ports & Harbours, and Water Companies. The service covers site assessment, licensing support, Kelpedo unit deployment, cultivation expertise, full O&M, and monitoring and reporting for ESG targets and compensatory requirements. Customers include RWE, Orsted, Yorkshire Water and The Crown Estate.
• Plant a Tree in the Sea Programme ESG and ocean restoration contribution programme for individuals and corporate supporters. Monthly subscriptions and one-off contributions fund Kelpedo unit deployment and marine biodiversity monitoring. Individual subscribers receive quarterly updates with science team dispatches, monitoring data, and photography from the North Sea harvest, providing tangible, story-driven ESG impact for businesses and personal conservation outcomes for individuals.
• Seaweed Seasonings Range Range of culinary seasonings made with sustainably cultivated Yorkshire kelp, including Everyday Seaweed Seasoning, Kombu Seaweed Salt Alternative, Herby Lemon & Garlic, Smokey Piri-Piri, and Salt & Sichuan Pepper variants. Sold direct-to-consumer via the SeaGrown e-commerce store (£6.95 per 45g tube) and wholesale to retailers and caterers; Subscribe & Save subscriptions available. Vegan, recyclable packaging.
• Hold Fast Seaweed Beer Session pale ale (4.2% ABV) brewed in collaboration with Wold Top Brewery using SeaGrown's sustainably cultivated kelp. Notes of honey, herbs, and lemon with a distinctive salty minerality. Available as Case of Six (6x500ml) or Gift Pack (3x500ml). Gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
• Seaweed Bath and Body Range Handmade personal care products infused with cultivated or hand-harvested Yorkshire seaweed, including Seaweed Soap (£9.75), Seaweed Hand and Body Cream (£16.75), Seaweed Mineral Bath Soak (£16.95), Seaweed Shampoo Bar (£6.75), Seaweed Conditioner Bar (£6.75), and a Haircare Duo set (£12.75). Plastic-free, cruelty-free, natural ingredients, made in collaboration with Cosy Cottage Soap.
• Seaweed Gift Packs Curated gift collections including the Seaweed Seasoning Discovery Pack (£26.00), Bath and Body Gift Packs in Cornelian, Hayburn, and Hundale variants (from £11.50), and The North Sea Seaweed Gift Pack (£24.00) combining Hold Fast beer, soap, and a customer-selected seasoning.
• SeaGrown Scientific Research and Reports Scientific monitoring, reporting, and peer-reviewed research on biodiversity uplift, water quality improvements, and carbon sequestration at SeaGrown's offshore cultivation sites. Includes the SeaGrown mNCEA Report prepared as part of the UK government's Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme, providing site-specific quantification of environmental outcomes for ESG and regulatory reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports over 55 different marine species at cultivation sites
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• RWEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025SeaGrown and RWE collaboration to pioneer marine biodiversity enhancement. SeaGrown won RWE's global Co-use Competition (selected from 77 applicants across 17 countries) to explore seaweed cultivation potential within RWE offshore wind farms. SeaGrown receives funding for feasibility studies investigating deployment within RWE offshore wind projects. Working with RWE's in-house experts, operational sites, and project development teams.
• Yorkshire WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cleaner Seas Partnership - pioneering trial in Scarborough North Bay using nature-based solutions to improve bathing water quality. Yorkshire Water co-funding the project as part of wider ambition to improve coastal water quality. Partnership deploying 16 Kelpedo units to grow seaweed and shellfish for environmental monitoring and ecosystem services.
• The Crown EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cleaner Seas Partnership - The Crown Estate provides seabed lease and strategic backing for the 16-hectare trial site in Scarborough North Bay. Managing seabed to support cleaner bathing waters, healthier seas, thriving communities, and sustainable coastal economies.
• Marine Management Organisation (MMO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership for marine licensing. MMO licensing process underway for The Cleaner Seas Partnership installation. SeaGrown welcomes MMO teams aboard workboat Bright Blue for marine specialist visits.
• Natural EnglandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency partnership for marine conservation. Natural England teams have visited SeaGrown operations as part of policy-to-practice marine recovery initiatives.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department supporting UK energy transition and net zero goals. Partnership enables SeaGrown's role in offshore marine ecosystem restoration supporting blue economy development.
• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department for environmental policy. Partnership supports SeaGrown's participation in government projects aimed at improving ocean health.
• Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (NCEA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaGrown actively participated in UK government's marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. Contributed detailed site-specific assessment culminating in SeaGrown mNCEA Report covering biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvements, carbon sequestration, and Kelpedo system performance.
• Stronger ShoressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Stronger Shores initiative - collaborative marine conservation programme along Yorkshire coast focused on coastal habitat restoration and protection.
• Wold Top BrewerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Wold Top Brewery to craft Hold Fast Seaweed Beer - distinctive session pale ale using sustainably cultivated Yorkshire kelp. Demonstrates sustainable venture collaboration model.
• Cosy Cottage SoapsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Cosy Cottage Soap for seaweed bath & body product range and seaweed haircare line. Local artisan partnership handcrafting products with sustainably cultivated seaweed.
• OrstedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessfully trialed seaweed cultivation methods with Orsted windfarm operators at offshore locations. Part of efforts to demonstrate compatibility with offshore wind operations.
• Scarborough Sixth FormminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with Scarborough Sixth Form bringing science students to explore practical reality of offshore operations. Students move from laboratory work to delivering scientific presentations.
• Yorkshire Wildlife TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWild Eye programme delivered by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Invisible Dust in partnership with North Yorkshire Council. SeaGrown contributed through past event series aboard vessel in Scarborough Harbour.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SeaGrown