News

Published: October 17, 2025

GOA Ventures wins a Biotech Booster award to scale-up our seaweed biorefining technology

Meet the project that is developing a technology that produces two high-demand products out of fresh seaweed: functional food proteins and biogas. Read their full press release below.

GOA® has been awarded funding from Biotech Booster, following a competitive selection process. After several applications and pitch rounds, GOA was awarded to join Biotech Booster’s program with a Level 2 Proof-of-Principle project: GOA@EASE. The €1.6 million in funding was granted based on the evaluation by an external panel of entrepreneurs advising Biotech Booster.

These examiners pointed to the substantial impact the GOA technology will have on both the environment worldwide and on the economic opportunities for coastal communities. By early 2026, GOA aims to have a pilot plant operational, to scale up this innovation through a full season of seaweed processing, and expand our innovative seaweed biorefining technology.

“Being recognized by an organization like Biotech Booster is a great acknowledgment for GOA, its technology, and its committed team. This project is going to be a testament to the power of collaboration in driving sustainable, impactful biotechnology innovation forward. With GOA@EASE, we’re not just extracting valuables from seaweed—we’re paving the way for a circular bioeconomy from sustainable ocean resources and allowing new economic opportunities, especially for coastal communities.” -Theo Verleun, CEO, GOA Ventures BV.

This project marks a significant scale-up milestone for GOA’s innovative seaweed biorefining technology. From every kilogram of fresh seaweed we process, our technology produces two high-demand products: high-performance functional food proteins and biogas. With these two products, we contribute to both the protein and energy transition. In addition, the GOA@EASE initiative in Yerseke will strengthen the Dutch seaweed sector and reinforce the province of Zeeland’s position as a global hub for seaweed entrepreneurship.

This project will be carried out in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and several Dutch seaweed SMEs. Project funding is provided and supported by Biotech Booster B.V. and its partners, The National Growth Fund, De Meulemeester, and Rabobank.

About Biotech Booster

Biotech Booster is a Dutch national program to stimulate commercialization of biotechnology research from academia and small industry. The program offers mentorship, financial support and networking opportunities, to guide founders from the idea stage to developing an investable and commercial proposition.

The program is financed by the National Growth Fund with a subsidy of ~ € 250M, to which cofinancing from partners will be added.

www.biotechbooster.nl

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