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§ Private Profile · Plymouth, MI, USA
Biotechnology company developing algae-based ingredients, producing beta-glucan for animal health and human nutraceuticals.
Algal Scientific is a biotechnology company based in Plymouth, Michigan, that develops proprietary algae fermentation processes to produce beta glucan and other specialty compounds for animal health, human nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. The organization primarily manufactures specialty nutritional ingredients, such as its flagship AlgaMUNE product, which is utilized in livestock feed to boost immune systems and reduce the need for antibiotics. Operating with approximately 10 employees, the enterprise raised roughly $10 million in total venture funding, including a $7 million Series B round. This equity financing was backed by notable institutional investors such as Formation 8, Evonik Industries, and Independence Equity. The company ultimately exited the market when its core beta glucan technology and intellectual property were acquired by Kemin Industries in 2017. Algal Scientific was founded in 2009 by Jeff LeBrun, Geoff Horst, Robert Levine, and Bradley Cops.
Algal Scientific has raised $10.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Algal Scientific has raised $10.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Algal Scientific has raised $10.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Series B in February 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2015 | $7M Series B | JIM KIM | Grand Ventures, Jeff Clarke, Evonik Venture Capital, Independence Equity | Announced |
| Apr 29, 2014 | $3M Venture Round | Bernhard Mohr, James Zhang, Independence Equity | Envy Tech Fund I, Michigan | Announced |
Algal Scientific was a technology company founded in 2008 that developed algae-based solutions for wastewater treatment and nutrient production, primarily targeting municipal and industrial clients facing high treatment costs.[1] It created systems using a proprietary algal strain to remove pollutants like biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen, and phosphorus from wastewater, while generating valuable algal biomass for applications such as fertilizers, bioplastics, biofuels, and beta-glucan for animal and human nutrition.[1][2][4] The company served wastewater-intensive sectors by slashing treatment expenses and enabling byproduct revenue, but it reached a dead stage after raising $11.19M, with its beta-glucan technology acquired by Kemin Industries around 2017.[1][2][3]
Algal Scientific emerged in 2008 from Plymouth, Michigan (initially associated with the Michigan Life Sciences & Innovation Center), founded by entrepreneurs including Geoff Horst, who served as chief science officer and leveraged Endeavor's mentorship network.[1][3][4] Horst, selected as an Endeavor Detroit entrepreneur in 2015, drew on expertise in algal processes to address wastewater nutrient recovery, proving the technology through pilots and patents (filing 6, with grants like one in 2021 for immune-supporting polysaccharides).[1][3] Early traction included staff expansion for revenue projects and global sales of beta-glucan products supporting animal immune health, culminating in Kemin's acquisition of its manufacturing assets, facility, and key team members.[2][3][6]
Algal Scientific rode the early cleantech and biotech wave in algal wastewater remediation and sustainable nutrition, aligning with rising demands for antibiotic alternatives in animal feed and cost-effective pollution control amid environmental regulations.[2][3] Timing was ideal post-2008 recession, when green tech funding peaked (raising $11.19M via debt), and nutrient recovery addressed industrial wastewater challenges in a market favoring circular economy solutions.[1][6] It influenced Michigan's biotech ecosystem via the Life Sciences Corridor and Endeavor, paving the way for acquisitions that scaled innovations globally through firms like Kemin, boosting algal tech's credibility in agribusiness.[3][4][7]
Post-acquisition, Algal Scientific's independent operations ceased (marked dead), but its beta-glucan technology thrives under Kemin, expanding registrations and integrating into gut health portfolios for reduced antibiotic use in livestock—a trend accelerating with global sustainability mandates.[1][2] Expect algal-derived ingredients to grow in animal nutrition and wastewater sectors, driven by climate pressures and bioeconomy shifts; Kemin's scale positions this legacy tech to capture poultry/pig markets previously uneconomic. Algal's story underscores how targeted cleantech startups catalyze industry pivots, from wastewater woes to scalable green nutrition.[2][3]
Algal Scientific has raised $10.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Algal Scientific's investors include Jim Kim, Grand Ventures, Jeff Clarke, Evonik Venture Capital, Independence Equity, Bernhard Mohr, James Zhang, Envy Tech Fund I, Michigan.