In the world of health and wellness, there is a growing need for innovative, sustainable, and nutrient-rich solutions that cater to the health-conscious community.
At present, companies around the globe are pioneering groundbreaking methods to deliver products that not only promote well-being but also align with eco-friendly practices.
SpirulinaNord has emerged as a game-changer in the field of biotechnology, specifically focusing on the cultivation and delivery of fresh spirulina products.
Spirulina, a microscopic algae with powerful health benefits, has been long studied for its incredible nutritional properties.
However, traditional cultivation methods often fall short in preserving its maximum potency.
The founders and their vision
Agnese Stunda-Zujeva (CEO) and Kristine Vegere (COO), both chemical engineering researchers at Riga Technical University, shared a common vision in 2016 to develop an applied biotechnology project that could enhance personal health and well-being.
Their extensive research on the health benefits of spirulina and the limitations of traditional cultivation methods led them to undertake this ambitious journey.
In 2018, they were joined by Kristine’s husband, Kaspars, who brought expertise in business management, IT, and process automation. This trio registered SpirulinaNord as a company in 2019.
Revolutionary technology for superior quality
SpirulinaNord has developed an innovative bioreactor for cultivating the algae spirulina, and has created recipes for several products.
Spirulina is a widely used food supplement that is rich in protein and minerals such as iron.
Traditional methods of spirulina cultivation face challenges such as air pollution, insect invasion, and unstable quality. SpirulinaNord’s founders recognised the need for a more effective and controlled environment for cultivation.
As a result, they decided to focus on closed indoor photobioreactors which prevent air, water, and insect pollution, ensuring a superior-quality product.
“The commonly available powdered form of spirulina often deters consumers due to its unappealing taste, and many never repurchase. Additionally, dried spirulina loses
about 80 per cent of its bioactive compounds, reducing its nutrient bioavailability,” says Kristine Vegere.
SpirulinaNord has developed state-of-the-art technology that maximises the nutritional value of spirulina.
Unlike the resource-intensive drying process employed by most producers, SpirulinaNord uses innovative recipes to retain the maximum nutritional value of fresh spirulina.
This approach ensures that their products are not only highly nutritious but also delicious and appealing to consumers.
The nutritional powerhouse: Spirulina
Spirulina is a nutrient-rich supplement, recognized by NATO and the UN as a food of the future.
It is known for its potential to boost immunity, increase energy levels, aid recovery, and provide numerous health benefits.
Spirulina’s unique antioxidant composition sets it apart, making it a powerful addition to one’s diet.
Numerous clinical studies have highlighted the nutritional benefits of spirulina as it contains a complete set of essential amino acids, a comprehensive suite of B vitamins, minerals such as iron, and a distinctive blend of antioxidants.
These nutrients contribute to spirulina’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.
Clinical studies have also demonstrated spirulina’s efficacy in combating insulin resistance, mitigating obesity and metabolic syndrome, regulating cholesterol, and reducing high blood pressure.
Furthermore, spirulina is also considered one of the most sustainable plant-based foods available. It thrives rapidly, using fewer resources than other crops (the recommended daily dose is just 5-10 grams), and can be harvested every few days without requiring arable land.
Its consumption is side-effect-free, making it safe for individuals of all ages, including children, seniors, and pregnant women.
Spirulina’s bioavailability is the cherry on top, ensuring efficient absorption even when the digestive system is compromised.
Challenges
One of the major challenges SpirulinaNord faced was in hardware development for the cultivation and production of spirulina.
Hardware development in biotech is known to be difficult, time-consuming and expensive as it involves building and testing that must satisfy the needs of living organisms.
However, SpirulinaNord’s research-based approach, led by the founders’ expertise in engineering, has proven successful in overcoming these challenges.
Another significant challenge SpirulinaNord encountered was introducing fresh spirulina to the market.
“In the Baltic states, less than 20 per cent of people know about spirulina, and if they do, they associate it with bad-smelling powder. Therefore, our challenge was to create a new market for spirulina and reintroduce it to people positively. This was and still is a major challenge for us,” says Agnese Stunda-Zujeva.
SpirulinaNord’s commitment to sustainability
Sustainability plays a vital role in SpirulinaNord’s cultivation process. Spirulina is already considered one of the most sustainable plant-based foods, but SpirulinaNord takes it further by cultivating spirulina indoors in urban areas.
“We skip the energy-consuming drying process and sell it in its most valuable form – fresh. Our spirulina is neither dried nor pasteurised, ensuring it retains its full nutritional value,” says Kristen.
Additionally, their cultivation process does not cause pollution, contributes to reducing greenhouse gases, and requires fewer resources than conventional agriculture.
Funding and Growth
A few days back, SpirulinaNord secured €600K funding from the accelerator “Buildit Latvia,” a private investor and the aquaculture grant programme of the Rural Support Service.
With this funding, a modern biotechnology production plant is being built in Riga, increasing the spirulina cultivation capacity more than ten times.
“Since 2018, we have been actively seeking funding and participating in various programmes that support innovations and startup development,” says Stunda-Zujeva.
To develop a business idea, the founders participated in RTU’s pre-incubation programme “IdeaLAB” and used the support tools of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) offered by the RTU Science and Innovation Center.
The company’s participation in programmes such as EIT Climate KIC, EIT Food, SEB (Ie)dvesmas grants, and the Buildit Accelerator for hardware development has been instrumental in their growth and development.
These programmes provided SpirulinaNord with the opportunity to refine its business model, receive mentorship from experienced professionals, and test marketing strategies.
Financial support played a crucial role in developing their innovative technology and establishing a solid market presence.
Expansion and Export Strategy
SpirulinaNord’s initial sales were primarily in their home country, Latvia, due to limited production capacity.
With a tenfold increase in production yields anticipated in the upcoming year, SpirulinaNord aims to expand its reach to the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, says Kristen.
One market that holds significant potential is the Netherlands where wellness is a hot topic.
“We see great potential in the Netherlands market as wellness is a hot topic there. We are open to collaborating with partners there,” adds Kristen.
SpirulinaNord’s achievements and roadmap
“We have developed a resource-efficient method of growing tropical algae relatively far in the North, far from its natural habitat. Our technology is like the greenhouse technology used in cultivating tomatoes and flowers in regions like the Netherlands, which are far from subtropical areas,” states Stunda-Zujeva.
The company’s technology has enabled the production of the highest quality spirulina, defying geographical limitations.
Further, SpirulinaNord has been honoured as national finalists in the EIT Climate Launchpad competition and has received the EIT Food Innovation prize in Latvia.
Looking ahead, SpirulinaNord aims to become a major player in the European spirulina market. The company plans to increase its production capacity, expand into new markets, and maintain its position as a leader in efficient premium spirulina cultivation and product development.
“We aim to collaborate with like-minded investors and partners, not only to grow our brand but also to contribute to global health and environmental well-being positively,” concludes Stunda-Zujeva.
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/startup-of-the-month-spirulinanord/
