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SeaStock selected for MassChallenge Switzerland 2023 Accelerator

SeaStock has been selected to participate in the MassChallenge Switzerland 2023 accelerator program.

SeaStock was one of over 1200 other startups from across the globe to apply for the accelerator program located in Lausanne, Switzerland and the only Australian company to be selected as a finalist in this year’s program.

SeaStock Managing Director and co-founder Tom Puddy said it was a huge honour for the company to be recognized on a global scale for its innovative seaweed production method and to have the opportunity to work with the programs’ industry
partners.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for us to reach a global audience and to share our business journey with global industry players and to do so at a key stage of our journey as a start-up.

“We are part of an emerging industry that is focused on methane reduction across the global agriculture sector and in identifying and patenting methods of extracting high value compounds from seaweed and algae that are sustainable and that have
application across a range of industries.

“The interest in our industry is growing exponentially year on year and we are at the
forefront in terms of the science behind cultivating and extracting high value compounds from seaweed and algae and commericalising the supply of those products to end users globally.

Since 2016, MassChallenge Switzerland has been a leader in helping startups across Europe and beyond grow their businesses. To date, 610 MassChallenge Switzerland alumni have raised more than CHF 985M (AUD $1.6B) in funding and created value for both economies and societies around the world!

SeaStock currently has a multi-year collaboration agreement with the Marine Research team at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, to generate IP related to the extraction of seaweed-based compounds and to ensure a commercially
optimized outcome is achieved.

The company’s cultivation method has the potential to be replicated globally and generate the natarual bromoform feed supplement that can be used across the diary and beef industries globally.

SeaStock has also filed for a patent for a novel method to cultivate and replicate the reproductive lifecycle stages of Asparagopsis taxiformis seaweed.

The company completed its first commercial harvest at the Abrolhos Islands off Geraldton Western Australia in November 2022 and established a corporate headquarters and pilot plant facility in Fremantle Western Australia earlier this year and is currently engaged in conducting feasibility studies for a fully operational
commercial plant in regional Western Australia in 2024.

Mass Challenge Switzerland partners Buhler Group, Givaudan, Nestle, DSM, Louis Dreyfus Company and Sudzucker promote the challenge with the aim of identifying startups or scaleups with proven solutions or technology in the areas of sustainable
food and feeding solutions, sustainable supply chain and manufacturing, sustainable
packaging and Agri Tech.

Shortlisted companies are given a direct pathway to multi-national corporations to explore ways to collaborate with them and to assist them to scale their technology.

Judging criteria for the challenge focuses on a company’s ability to impact emissions
reduction targets and to be both viable commercially and scalable.

DR SANJANA SENTHILKuMaR

Research Scientist

Dr Sanjana Senthilkumar is a Ph.D. graduate of Philosophy in Biosciences and Bioengineering, from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, and holds a Bachelor of Technology in biochemistry from Sathyabama University, in India. During this time Sanjana gained vast research knowledge on plant secondary metabolites and their physiochemical properties. Her nearly decade-long experience spans across plant tissue culture, natural product chemistry, photo-physics, and various analytical techniques. She possesses skill in experimental design, research review, execution, data analysis, and scientific writing. She has led and executed a research entrepreneurship project, which involved design, development, and patenting of an innovative apparatus for use in chemistry laboratories. Additionally, she has undertaken several roles as a trainer, teaching assistant, supervisor, instrument operator, and laboratory demonstrator. Sanjana has been appointed to the position of Research Scientist to support the next phase of the Company’s commercial growth. Tasked specifically with helping establish a scientific approach to developing sustainable and commercially viable biomass growth of macro algae.

Zoe HOpKINSON

Production Technician

In 2023 Zoe completed a Bachelors in Coastal and Marine Science at Curtin University. During her study Zoe also gained work experience as an aquaculture volunteer, including roles with PhD students and Department Primary Industry Resource Development (DPIRD).  In addition Zoe worked at the Geraldton TAFE commercial hatchery, which introduced her knowledge to cultivate Asparagopsis seaweed and aquaculture operations.
Within completing Zoe's degree, she also completed field work studies on fish behaviours and interacted with multiple marine based professionals.  Zoe had access to innovative technology that made her learning & experiences much more immersive and accessible, enabling her to gain experience in technologies, equipment and platforms used within the aquaculture research industry.  Zoe is thrilled to be a part of the Seastock science team, which has further ignited her passion for the ocean and participating in work which will benefit the state of our climate. Working towards a more positive future for all.