SeaCrete secures €100K to restore oceans

Wageningen-based startup SeaCrete, a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, has secured €100,000 in pre-seed funding through StartLife. The announcement, made during StartLife’s 15-Year Anniversary Demo Day on October 14, marks not only a crucial step for SeaCrete’s sustainable marine innovation but also a broader milestone: StartLife has now distributed €10 million in early-stage funding to Dutch agrifood startups.

CEO Marc van der Peet's startup, born from research at Wageningen University & Research, is developing a bio-inspired and bio-sourced alternative to concrete. Its main goal: to help restore fragile marine ecosystems around the world.

“We are developing a bio-based coating for concrete that helps increase biodiversity in marine environments,” Van der Peet explained. “That’s a pressing issue globally. Coral reefs are fading, and oyster populations are declining, both of which play a crucial role in healthy ocean ecosystems. Our material supports the rebuilding of oyster reefs and coral reefs. Until now, this was just a promising lab technology. With this funding, we can finally take the next step.”

Oceans need building materials too

Concrete has long been used in marine construction, but it often hinders rather than helps biodiversity. SeaCrete takes inspiration from natural processes, offering a material that can thrive in seawater and foster life rather than suppress it. According to Van der Peet, the breakthrough comes from work by Wageningen scientists whose research laid the foundation for the startup.

The €100,000 injection from StartLife will allow SeaCrete to scale up its innovation, moving closer to practical applications in reef restoration and marine infrastructure.

A wider milestone: €10M for Dutch agrifoodtech

SeaCrete’s funding round was also symbolic for StartLife itself. During the event, Fons de Zeeuw, Director International of Oost NL, revealed that StartLife has now supported 163 Dutch startups with a combined €10 million in pre-seed funding since its founding in 2010. This support, largely powered by the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel and backed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has led to more than 1,000 direct jobs and €230 million in follow-on investment.

“StartLife plays a crucial role in preparing agrifood startups to grow into global players,” said De Zeeuw. “In close collaboration, we’ve been able to provide critical early-stage funding to promising startups, facilitating their growth. This strengthens the economy regionally and nationally, while also helping to shape solutions to global challenges in food and agriculture.”

Among the ventures supported are ChainCraft, Foodcase International, Dutch DNA Biotech (acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks), Revyve, and Orbisk. Together, these companies are tackling challenges ranging from food waste and alternative proteins to circular resource use.

A promising future

For SeaCrete, the recognition at StartLife’s Demo Day was more than financial; it was a signal that ocean restoration is becoming a central part of sustainable food and agriculture strategies. “We feel really honored,” Van der Peet said. “This funding enables us to jump-start our mission to develop and scale our sustainable marine building material.”

As StartLife celebrates its 15th anniversary and its €10 million funding milestone, SeaCrete embodies what the program aims to achieve: turning scientific insight into impactful startups that not only strengthen the economy but also restore ecosystems and contribute to a healthier planet.