The plant-based algae textile, Algaeing takes home the top prize at VWS Pathfinders. It is the world's largest global competition dedicated to female vegan founders. 

Algaeing, led by CEO Renana Krebs, has won a reward package valued at US$50,000. The CEO assures the consumers that the startup will continue to accelerate the development of algae-powered sustainable solutions to revolutionise the sustainable textile industry. The award ceremony took place on December 5 and featured 46 founders, investors and industry figures hailing from over 20 countries globally. Among the 800 applicants, five finalists were handpicked, to showcase their innovative plant-based solutions, ranging from food to fashion.

Algaeing has developed an algae-based sustainable bio-fibre in a 100% closed-loop system and took home the winning prize for this innovation. The value includes a US$10,000 cash reward sponsored by Purple Orange Ventures, US$35,000 worth of branding services from Evolution Bureau. 

Krebs stated that as an entrepreneur and a mother, she was honoured and thrilled that Algaeing had been selected the winner of the VWS Pathfinder Pitch Competition. She added that at Algaeing, they have patented a unique algae-based method to create and dye textiles, actively enabling sustainable manufacturing.

Krebs added that they believe in being a force for good and are excited to have the support of VWS Pathfinder to continue creating groundbreaking plant-based innovation solutions for a healthy environment. The other four contestants competing for the first place included Whistler-based Aki Kaltenbach, founder and CEO of plant-based seafood brand Save Da Sea Foods; Astrid Prajogo, founder and CEO of Shanghai’s peanut protein chicken startup HaoFood; Courtney Blagrove, co-founder of Whipped Urban Dessert Lab in New York; and Isabella Iglesias-Musachio, co-founder of Berlin-based mycelium alternative meat company Kinoko Labs. 

Jennifer Stojkovic, the founder of VWS, stated that the plant-based revolution is here and was being led by women. She added that they were thrilled to announce Renana and Algaeing as our first VWS Pathfinder winner. She stated that Algaeing stood for an exciting new area of innovation for plant-based founders. She concluded by stating that they received over 800 applications from 31 countries for this pitch competition and they were certain that the algae had a very bright future having received pitches from many algae-based products ranging from fabrics to yogurts.