$20k Prototyping Grant Awarded
July 2026 Newsletter
We’re excited to share that EvoNatura has been awarded a $20K prototyping grant from SeaAhead, with funding provided by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
The recent BlueSwell graduate will use this funding to advance its microbial approach to plastic biodegradation, with help from partnerships facilitated during the program—including the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Check out EvoNatura at a glance:
The problem: Many compostable plastics never make it to industrial composting sites and instead persist in the environment without breaking down.
Their solution: EvoNatura’s drop-in, encapsulated microbes “pre-program” biodegradation, making breakdown possible in natural environments.
Ocean tie-in: Oceanic plastic pollution is an enormous problem, and EvoNatura’s aiming to enable the world’s first ocean-compostable plastics.
How you can help: Have connections within plastics manufacturing or consumer packaged goods? The EvoNatura team is looking for introductions! Please reach out to them here.
Alka and Priyanka Naithani, the mother-daughter team behind EvoNatura.
SeaAhead Startups’ News
Seatrec was awarded $30.8M from the U.S. Department of War’s APFIT program. The funding will speed up production of the startup’s subsea drone, which is powered by oceanic temperature gradients.
Dottir Labs launched the first commercial deployment of its chemical-monitoring system in Scallop Bay Marina’s aquaculture hatchery tanks. The startup was also awarded a Phase I SBIR grant from the National Science Foundation.
Bluesonde is partnering with the University of Maine to deploy low-cost water-quality sensors as part of the NSF Seafood Engine project.
Re-Du announced its first pilot evaluation agreement with Flexcon, in which the startup will process PET-containing waste from Flexcon’s operations.
Robosys Automation integrated and tested its autonomous navigation system onboard an ACUA Ocean uncrewed surface vessel.
Laminar—whose AI-driven solutions for process manufacturers save time, water, and chemicals—was chosen for the World Economic Forum's 2026 Technology Pioneers cohort. Its CEO and co-founder was also named to the 2026 100 Women in AI list.
Flood Dynamics, developer of physics-based flood modeling, was selected for Activate Boston’s 2026 cohort.
ICYMI: BlueSwell Demo Day and SeaAhead Pilot Showcase
Earlier this summer, SeaAhead’s biggest events of the year featured startups innovating across ocean industries, coastal resilience, and asset protection. Read a recap and check out the startups here!
