Indonesia’s Banyu Secures $1.25m to Boost Seaweed Industry

Banyu, an Indonesia-based technology-enabled seaweed company, has raised $1.25 million in seed funding led by venture capital firm Intudo, the company announced on Wednesday.

The funding will accelerate Banyu’s mission to modernize and scale Indonesia’s seaweed industry, empowering smallholder farmers with advanced farming techniques, high-quality seedlings, and access to global markets.

Founded in December 2023, Banyu aims to transform Indonesia’s fragmented seaweed value chain by introducing innovative farming practices and fostering sustainability.




Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of tropical seaweed, relies heavily on over one million smallholder farmers for cultivation.

The industry faces challenges such as low-quality inputs, inefficient farming methods, lack of price transparency, and limited access to financing and technology.

Banyu seeks to address these issues through proprietary seedling production methods, which have demonstrated a 20% increase in yields compared to traditional practices.

The company collaborates with farmers, traders, and processors to ensure higher-quality seaweed products while promoting sustainable and responsible farming.

“Banyu’s groundbreaking seedling cultivation and innovative methodologies are reimagining Indonesia’s seaweed industry to be more competitive, transparent, and sustainable,” said Co-founder and CEO Dodon Yamin. “This funding enables us to accelerate our vision of transforming seaweed into a high-value, sustainable resource for industries worldwide.”

The company’s global reach includes supplying seaweed to international food and beverage giants, as well as providing inputs for emerging applications such as biofertilizers, bioplastics, and animal feed.

By aligning with buyers’ environmental and social standards, Banyu fosters greater transparency and scalability in production.

With the new funding, Banyu plans to establish a seedling cultivation laboratory and expand its farming operations in Sulawesi, Indonesia’s seaweed production hub, before targeting other regions such as Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, Maluku, and Papua.

Intudo Founding Partner Patrick Yip highlighted Indonesia’s pivotal role in the global seaweed supply chain.

“Banyu is helping Indonesia climb the seaweed value chain by combining local expertise with cutting-edge technology, creating substantial domestic impact while addressing global demand for sustainable bio-based products,” he said.

Banyu’s leadership team, which includes Chief Sustainability Officer Anis Nur Aini and President Commissioner Anthony Kwik, brings expertise in seaweed farming, microfinance, and sustainability.

Their efforts are expected to boost coastal community livelihoods and enhance marine ecosystems through regenerative farming practices.

Business News Asia

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