SEADLING: how seaweed biotech boosts farmers’ income

SEADLING, a biotech startup founded by Simon Davis and based in Borneo, is transforming the seaweed industry by improving market access, ensuring quality, and creating higher-value products, with a focus on supporting smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia, as reported by AgFunderNews.

SEADLING was created after founder Simon Davis identified structural challenges in the seaweed value chain, including limited access to markets, inconsistent quality, and low product innovation. The company now operates in the Malaysian region of Borneo, supplying seaweed seedlings and working directly with farmers to build a more efficient and sustainable system.

According to Davis, one of the main problems in the sector is the dependence on intermediaries. “We bypass exploitative middlemen by offering direct buy-back contracts and dependable prices for smallholder seaweed growers, improving income stability”, he explained.

The company’s model focuses on guaranteed purchasing agreements, which provide farmers with predictable income and reduce financial uncertainty. In addition, SEADLING offers technical training, seed supply, and quality control, ensuring better yields and more consistent raw materials.

Another key aspect is innovation. Through its proprietary biotech processes, SEADLING transforms raw seaweed into higher-value functional ingredients, including enhanced prebiotics and vitamin K2. These products are currently used in the pet food industry, with plans to expand into plant health, animal nutrition, and human consumption.

The startup has also made progress in building a traceable and sustainable supply chain, working closely with local communities to promote biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience. This approach strengthens both production capacity and ecological balance.

In 2025, SEADLING reached several milestones. The company secured $1 million in seed funding from investors including AgFunder and Toyo Seikan Group, allowing it to scale operations. It also opened a second processing facility in Sabah, Malaysia, increasing production capacity and enabling exports to markets such as the United States, Singapore, and India.

Despite its growth, the company faces challenges common to early-stage startups. These include scaling operations while maintaining quality standards and certifications, as well as navigating regulatory barriers in new markets like Europe and China.

Looking ahead to 2026, SEADLING plans to achieve international certifications such as GMP+, expand its product lines, and increase production efficiency. The company also aims to deepen its presence in existing markets and expand into new regions, including India, Thailand, and Europe.

Davis summarized his approach with a simple message for entrepreneurs: “Be bold and think big.”