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COMPANY PROFILE
Unlocking algae’s potential for a better future
Algal Bio Co., Ltd., an algae-based biotech startup, was established in 2018 based on results from 20 years of research at the University of Tokyo. The company cultivates unique strains of algae with optimized cultivating conditions to produce functional ingredients such as fatty acids and carotenoids. Algal Bio’s technology has applications in the food, beauty personal care, nutraceutical, and bio-product industries
COMPANY STORY
Origin
Based on the results of over 20 years of algae biotechnology research by Professor Emeritus Shigeyuki Kono of the University of Tokyo, Dr. Takeshi Takeshita, who received his PhD in Kono's Lab, founded the company in March 2018 to start a business to mass cultivate microalgae while efficiently producing functional ingredients, upon the closure of that lab.
Strength
The company has unique algae strains with strong Intellectual Property in the fields of strain screening, cultivation, and production of functional ingredients.
UTEC’s value add
Prior to Algal Bio's incorporation, UTEC donated endowments to the University to sustain the laboratory until commercialization. UTEC then financed Algal Bio up until Series A and beyond as a lead investor from its seed stage, and has provided support in the formulation of business strategies, hiring of senior management, and assistance in finance, etc.
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Algal Bio‘s proprietary techniques enables the company to produce “Nanairo Chlorella” ("Seven-Colored Chlorella") which changes color corresponding to the carotenoids and long-chain fatty acids present
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A typical algal body (left)
A super oil-producing algal body (right) -
Mass-cultivation using a thin-layer light bioreactor
