[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in SEADLING.]
Seaweed is a billion-dollar industry in Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines alone, but it’s a tough one to access because of farms’ remote locations.
Simon Davis discovered this during a six-year-long trek sailing around the Pacific Ocean, where he saw both the potential of seaweed farms and the destruction of the oceans endangering it.
He founded Borneo-based biotech startup SEADLING in response. SEADLING provides Elkhorn Seamoss (Kappaphycus sp.) seaweed seedlings to farmers in the Malaysian portion of Borneo, who cultivate the plants to maturity.
From there, the seaweed undergoes a fermentation process and is later dried, milled, and packaged into consumable products. SEADLING currently works in the pet food market but has plans for other markets, including human health.
Davis spoke to AgFunder recently as part of the latter’s 2026 Global AgriFoodTech Investment report.
AgFunderNews (AFN): What challenge(s) does SEADLING solve?
Simon Davis (SD): SEADLING addresses several key challenges in the traditional seaweed value chain and broader agrifood systems.
There’s the unstable market access for farmers: We bypass exploitative middlemen by offering direct buy-back contracts and dependable prices for smallholder seaweed growers, improving income stability.
Regarding quality and traceability gaps, through technical services, seed supply, training, and quality control across the farming and supply chain, SEADLING ensures high-quality raw materials for downstream use.
To address innovation barriers in seaweed products, our proprietary fermentation and biotech processes create higher-value, functional ingredients (like enhanced prebiotics and vitamin K2), expanding application into pet food, plant and animal health, and future human nutrition markets.
AFN: How is SEADLING helping smallholders and local communities?
SD: SEADLING’s model actively supports farming communities by providing high-quality seedlings and technical training so farmers can improve productivity and resilience. We are offering guaranteed purchases of harvests, giving farmers market security and reliable income.
We’re also collaborating closely with communities to introduce sustainable farming practices, promote biodiversity, and share knowledge for long-term economic benefit.
This creates a more inclusive, traceable value chain while empowering local seaweed growers in Borneo and across Southeast Asia.
AFN: What were your highlights of 2025?
SD: In 2025, SEADLING achieved several major milestones.
We closed a successful US$1 million seed funding round with leading investors AgFunder, Toyo Seikan Group, The Yield Lab Asia Pacific, Katapult Ocean, and Kul Loesningar 3, enabling expansion and scaling.
We launched a second processing facility in Sabah, Malaysia, significantly increasing production capacity for functional seaweed ingredients.
We also expanded our global footprint, with exports of fermented seaweed products to markets including the US, Singapore, and India, and established partnerships with major agribusiness players.
Finally, we strengthened government and public support, with high-profile local launch events and recognition of SEADLING’s role in building Sabah’s biotech potential.
AFN: What were the challenges of last year?
SD: Despite growth, SEADLING also faced typical early-stage challenges, like scaling operations while maintaining quality and certification goals, including aiming for international standards like GMP+ by 2026.
Another challenge was scaling rapid product innovation with supply chain sustainability, ensuring smallholders can keep up with quality demands at scale.
Market expansion hurdles were also in play, as entering new markets (like Europe and China) requires navigating regulatory and commercial complexities.
AFN: Plans for 2026?
SD: Achieving key certifications (e.g., GMP+) to strengthen animal feed and ingredient quality assurance.
We will expand product lines and markets, including deeper penetration in pet food, plant biostimulants, and starting the work for human products. We’ll also be increasing production capacity and operational efficiencies at the new Sabah facility.
Broader geographic expansion, especially into India, Thailand, Europe, and China, is also in the works, building on export momentum.
AFN: One line of advice for other startups
SD: Be bold and think big.
Download AgFunder’s 2026 Global AgriFoodTech Investment report.
