Mediterranean Algae

Based in Alicante, Spain, Mediterranean Algae is a biotechnology company founded in 2021 by Yago Sierras (CEO), Silvia Antón (CSO), Guillermo del Barco (CFO), and Alejandro Simón (CTO). The company focuses on the land-based cultivation of marine macroalgae using its proprietary technology. This method allows for greater control over growing conditions compared to traditional open-sea farming, resulting in a unique biomass that grows up to 125% faster.

The company's business model is vertically integrated, managing the entire value chain from cultivation to the commercialization of algae-based products. Its primary revenue comes from B2B sales of algae extracts and bioactive compounds to the cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food industries. Mediterranean Algae has developed specific products such as ULVANEAN®, an active ingredient for moisturizing and photoprotective cosmetic formulas, and the PosiCycle line, which transforms recovered *Posidonia oceanica* into cosmetic ingredients like exfoliants and functional waters. The company also licenses its cultivation technology, which serves as a bioremediation tool for water with high concentrations of inorganic contaminants from sectors like aquaculture, while also mitigating CO2 emissions.

The founding team is a multidisciplinary group of professionals in aquaculture, marine biology, biotechnology, and oceanography, driven by an interest in creating sustainable production methods with a positive environmental impact. The company has received backing from a pre-seed investment round and an Enisa loan for young entrepreneurs in 2022. It collaborates with various public and private entities, including the University of Alicante's Science Park, to advance its research and development.

Keywords: macroalgae cultivation, biotechnology, bioactive compounds, circular economy, bioremediation, blue economy, cosmetic ingredients, nutraceuticals, sustainable aquaculture, on-land cultivation, Ulva sp., Posidonia oceanica, CO2 mitigation, water treatment, agritech, food tech, marine ingredients, clean tech, algae extracts, sustainable production