We replace toxic plastic packaging with regenerative seaweed.
Building a world where our inputs and outputs align with Earth’s natural processes.
Next Up
Come cook up some good stuff with us:
— Q1 ‘26: Field test of our proprietary seaweed-derived coating feedstock which provides industry-standard grease-resistance on to-go wraps (99% seaweed-derived, 1% our special ocean-friendly sauce)
— Q2 - Q4 ‘26: Pilot engagements
— ‘27 and beyond: Let’s dance!
Notes
🚀 Why SeaSol’s win matters
Seaweed-based biopackaging is one of the most promising avenues for reducing single-use plastics. SeaSol is now preparing equipment purchases and scaling trial production - positioning itself as a future player in global food-service packaging.
🎙️ As Zhang noted, “The diversity and support in this community is what makes innovation possible.”
Big win for sustainable materials innovation at UConn. SeaSol Technologies - a startup transforming seaweed into compostable food packaging took home the Grand Prize at the 2025 Wolff New Venture Competition.
👩🔬 Founder: Yidan Zhang, University of Connecticut Ph.D.
🏆 Award: $30,000 + $5,000 in pro-bono advisory
🌱 Innovation: A simple, scalable process that coats paper with plastic-free, compostable, tasteless seaweed, ideal for food-service wrappers (sandwiches, donuts, pizza, etc.)
The goal: provide a healthier, greener alternative to the plastic-lined papers currently used across the $37B food-packaging sector.
“Seaweed literally makes water healthier just by growing in it. We’re committed to full traceability, from the ocean to the packaging line.”
— Jonathan McGee
SeaWeed Farmer &
Packaging Innovator
🚀 Why SeaSol’s win matters
Seaweed-based biopackaging is one of the most promising avenues for reducing single-use plastics. SeaSol is now preparing equipment purchases and scaling trial production - positioning itself as a future player in global food-service packaging.
🎙️ As Zhang noted, “The diversity and support in this community is what makes innovation possible.”
♻️ We only source cultivated seaweed from the Northeast — never wild-harvested. That means cleaner oceans, stronger coastal economies, and total transparency.
With support from CCEI’s Summer Fellowship Accelerator, SeaSol is now working to launch its first pilot trial, test packaging with food startups, and attend food tech conferences to connect with global buyers.
Seaweed is more than 90% water — drying and rehydrating it made no sense. We built a smarter, cleaner way to process it.
Unlike many sustainable solutions that still rely on petrochemical plastics, SeaSol’s materials are 100% plastic-free, commercially scalable, easy to integrate into existing packaging systems, and traceable back to the farm.
Compostable packaging isn’t just possible — it’s necessary. We’re showing how seaweed can get us there.
Meet the Team
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Dr. Yidan Zhang
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
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Jonathan McGee
Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer
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Dr. Mingyu Qiao
Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer
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Richard Hubbard
Chief Communications Officer
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Evan Blackford
Chief Marketing Officer
