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§ Private Profile · 1015 Aviation Pkwy Ste 400, Morrisville, North Carolina, 27560, United States
materials developer creating sustainable, seaweed-derived biopolymer fibers for fashion brands, addressing textile waste.
Keel Labs has raised $15.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Keel Labs.
Keel Labs has raised $15.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Keel Labs develops sustainable textile materials from ocean-based resources like seaweed, headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. The company focuses on addressing textile waste in fashion through its flagship product, Kelsun®, a seaweed-derived biopolymer fiber that avoids land use, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. Operating at the intersection of design, science, and engineering, Keel Labs has raised $18 million in funding to date and maintains a team of 21 to 50 employees. Its investor base includes Horizons Ventures, Collaborative Fund, and H&M, while fashion brand Stella McCartney has adopted Kelsun for product lines, debuting it at Paris Fashion Week. The company has also reported over 500 unsolicited requests from global brands interested in its climate-forward materials. Keel Labs was founded in 2017 by Tessa Callaghan and Aleksandra Gosiewski.
Key people at Keel Labs.
Keel Labs has raised $15.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Keel Labs's investors include Sophie Bakalar, Astanor Ventures, Founders Fund, Future Shape, Healthy Ventures, SOSV, Ulu Ventures, Zigg Capital, Aaron Peterman, H&M Group Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Starlight Ventures.
Keel Labs has raised $15.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $13.0M Series A in June 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2022 | $13M Series A | Sophie Bakalar | Astanor Ventures, Founders Fund, Future Shape, Healthy Ventures, SOSV, ULU Ventures, Zigg Capital, Aaron Peterman, H&M Group Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Starlight Ventures, Third Nature Ventures | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2018 | $2M Seed | — | Astanor Ventures, Founders Fund, Future Shape, Healthy Ventures, SOSV, ULU Ventures, Zigg Capital, Aaron Peterman | Announced |
Keel Labs is a sustainable materials company that develops Kelsun™, a seaweed-based yarn to replace polluting conventional fibers in textile production.[1][2][3][4][5] It serves fashion brands and textile manufacturers seeking eco-friendly alternatives, solving the industry's high environmental impact from petroleum-based synthetics and resource-intensive natural fibers by offering a regenerative, ocean-derived material with lower water use, no microplastics, reduced chemicals, and carbon sequestration benefits.[1][4][5] The company has raised $18M from investors like Horizons Ventures, Collaborative Fund, and H&M, received over 500 brand inquiries, and partnered with Outerknown for products like a seaweed-based blanket shirt, signaling strong growth momentum.[1][4]
Keel Labs originated in 2017 as AlgiKnit, founded by Tessa Callaghan (CEO) and Aleks Gosiewski, design students addressing textile waste in fashion by innovating at the materials level.[3][4][5] The idea emerged from their exploration of ocean resources like seaweed, leading to Kelsun fiber production via biopolymer extraction, polymerization, and spinning.[4] In 2022, it rebranded to Keel Labs to expand beyond fiber into a broader platform for ocean-derived climate solutions, with co-founders recognized on Forbes' 2022 30 Under 30 list; early traction includes global brand interest and operations across five regions.[1][3][5]
Keel Labs rides the bio-materials and ocean economy wave, capitalizing on aquaculture to decarbonize textiles—a $1T+ industry responsible for 10% of global emissions.[4][5] Timing aligns with regulatory pressures (e.g., microplastic bans) and consumer demand for sustainability, amplified by investor interest in regenerative tech.[1][4] Market forces like seaweed's abundance and scalability favor it, displacing synthetics while enhancing ecosystems; it influences the ecosystem by proving ocean biotech viability, inspiring startups, and drawing capital to blue economy solutions.[1][3][4]
Keel Labs is poised to scale Kelsun production and diversify into new ocean-derived materials for fashion, apparel, and beyond, leveraging its $18M funding and brand pipeline.[1][3] Trends like circular textiles, EU green mandates, and blue biotech growth will propel it, potentially capturing share from polyester dominance. Its influence may evolve into an ocean materials leader, fostering industry-wide shifts toward regenerative sourcing and repairing human-ocean ties—transforming a polluting sector into a planetary ally.[4][5]
