Q3 Featured Founder | Akua

The 5th New Majority founder currently fundraising from YOU this quarter

Hello New Majority Investor Circle!

Imagine a world where you can enjoy delicious, healthy foods that not only nourish you but are also better for the environment. With Akua, that world is within reach. 🌱

Akua

First, some context:

• 🍽️In today's culinary landscape, meat substitutes are becoming more common, but there's a significant gap in access to plant-based seafood substitutes.

• 🔵Akua is on a mission to transform the food industry by introducing "blue foods" into the mainstream market. 

• 🐟 They’re supplementing dwindling wild seafood populations, and adding a new option beyond farmed seafood.

• 🌿They're trailblazing the creation of meat and seafood alternatives crafted from regeneratively ocean-farmed kelp. 

• 🌍Using kelp is often compared to driving an electric car because of its remarkable eco-friendly benefits. It’s truly the win, win, win of sustainable foods - nutritious, fast growing, and carbon sequestering.

• 💚Their offerings are not only delicious and nutritious but also environmentally responsible. 

This company is made for you if:

• 🤤 You savor the taste of food that's good for both you and the planet, reducing your carbon footprint one bite at a time. 

• 🌊 You're an adventurous foodie eager to explore innovative, conscious ingredients.

Tell me more

Akua is leading the way in sustainable plant-based seafood (and meat) production, enticing taste buds with regeneratively ocean-farmed kelp. 🍽️🌍🌿

Convinced? Invest today in Akua.

More details below.

The details

• Industry: Food

• Impact: A sustainability-focused, women-led business, with positive implications for SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

• Team Diversity: Woman Founder

• HQ: New York City

• Company size: 11-50

• Year founded: 2017

• Key investors: 💰Supported by a roster of lead investors, including Vibrant Ventures focused on food as medicine, Halogen Ventures focused on consumer tech companies led by women (also invested in the Skimm & Flex), Alumni Ventures group, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance.

• Investment type: Crowd Safe*

  • *A Crowd Safe allows investors to make cash investments with rights to receive certain company stock in the future, tied to specific financing events.

  • Valuation Cap:

    • $15M if raised amount is between $0-250,000

    • $16M if raised amount is between $250,000-618,000 

  • Investor Perks: Your investment opens the door to exclusive perks, from trying Akua's SpongeBob Kelp Patties & BBQ Patties at 50% off to receiving a Variety 6-Pack and a 10% off code for one year.

  • Min investment: $100

  • Max investment: $120K

  • Number of Investors: 353

• Deadline: October 17, 2023 

• Early traction:

  • 🌟 Notable partnerships and contracts, including a collaboration with Nickelodeon. 

  • 📱 A substantial social media following, with 25k followers on Instagram and 2,500 on LinkedIn. 

  • 🌐 Recognition in the media, with mentions from VegNews, National Geographic, Whole Foods, The Washington Post, Bon Appetit, Forbes, New York Times.

Founding team

• Courtney Boyd Myers: Founder & CEO of AKUA, entrepreneur, environmentalist, and journalist. With a background in marketing companies like Four Sigmatic and Unframed Ice Cream, she's also been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. Her passion for sustainability and innovation drives Akua's mission.

Due diligence

Pros:

• 🌊 Pioneers in the meat and seafood alternative industry, harnessing the power of ocean-farmed kelp. 

• 🍔 A diverse product range with over 10 offerings and presence in over 800 stores across the USA.

• 💰The alternative protein market, currently valued at $70B, is expected to grow to $290B within 10 years. 

• 💼 Multiple revenue streams and pathways to increasing profit margins over time, spanning e-commerce, retail, and food service.

• 🌿Plant-based meat companies like Beyond and Impossible have faced scrutiny over their ingredients, whereas Akua's products are not only delicious but also crafted with wholesome ingredients.

• 🍍 A groundbreaking collaboration launching in June 2023 with Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants. 

Potential risks:

• 🤔 The market may not shift as quickly as expected in favor of sustainable alternatives.

•  💸 Pricing might be perceived as high, although it remains competitive within the plant-based burger market.

Competitors

• While there are other plant-based meat companies (like Dr Praeger’s, Impossible Foods, Beyond, and BOCA), Akua stands alone in utilizing regeneratively ocean-farmed kelp from U.S. farmers. Akua’s burgers have no preservatives, and are sugar free, gluten free, and soy free. And, the supply chain structure provides Akua with cheaper access to ocean-farmed kelp compared with competitors.

Why Akua: Akua isn't just redefining the alternative seafood market; they're creating it. They are innovative and purpose-driven, with a rapidly growing presence and impactful partnerships. They have spent the last two years focusing on product development, and now are raising funds for retail launches in over 3,000 natural food and conventional grocery stores. By investing in Akua, you're supporting a brand that's committed to your health, animal rights, and the health of our oceans and environment.  🌊🍔🌿

Convinced? Invest today in Akua.