Coast 4C connects smallholder farmers with global buyers through a traceable and sustainable platform.
The Earthshot Prize / Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
Regenerative seaweed company Coast 4C has secured a $2.5 million seed round to scale its platform, which connects farmers with global buyers through a traceable and responsible supply chain.
The platform enables smallholder seaweed farmers to increase productivity while giving global processors easier access to a reliable supply, all while supporting marine conservation.
The round was led by Hatch Blue's Blue Revolution Fund (BRF), a sustainable aquaculture investment fund, with participation from Conservation International Ventures, elea, RS Group, Potato Impact Partners, Minderoo Foundation, Kibo Invest, and Azulito Fund.
According to Hatch Blue, although Southeast Asia produces most of the world's carrageenan, a seaweed-derived ingredient, supply remains fragmented through informal networks, limiting quality, consistency, and farmer income.
Coast 4C addresses this challenge by providing technical support, inputs, and market access to help farmers produce high-quality red seaweed, while promoting regenerative farming practices that support marine ecosystem health.
Additionally, Coast 4C founder and CEO Nick Hill said the funds will be used to establish stability ahead of a Series A round and support expansion into other regions. "We also plan to expand our farmer network across coastal communities and complete the rollout of our digital farm management and traceability platform," he said.
Finally, Sol Park, Principal at Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund, said: "Having supported Coast 4C through our accelerator and pre-seed fund, we have seen first-hand what this company is capable of. BRF's investment is our way of showing that impact-driven companies can attract and sustain institutional capital, and that the sector is ready for it."
The funding was announced at the Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly, held as part of London Climate Week. Furthermore, Coast 4C was a finalist for the 2024 Earthshot Prize, an award founded by Prince William in 2020 to accelerate innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges.
