Product details

Product details
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Abstract

Sea6 Energy, founded in July 2010 by four engineering students under the mentorship of Shrikumar Suryanarayan, former R&D head of Biocon and adjunct faculty at IIT Madras, embarked on a mission to revolutionize sustainable farming. The case study explores their journey from the inception of the idea to develop large-scale agriculture on the sea using sea plants to produce marine biomass for biofuels. It delves into the deep-tech ecosystem in India and the challenges the team faced in securing funding and developing products. The focus then shifts to Sea6's innovative efforts, including patenting products derived from sea plants, such as biofuels and biostimulants, to ensure exclusivity and monetization. Key innovations like the SeaCombine, the world's first sea tractor, and Dweep, an artificial floating island system, highlight their approach to scaling production. The case concludes by examining the market for biostimulants and ocean farming, and the challenges Sea6 faces as it transitions from research and development to scaling, growth, and profitability. This case study is ideal for courses in Entrepreneurship, particularly those focusing on deep-tech startups and sustainability-driven ventures. It can also be used in Innovation Management to discuss technology commercialization and patent strategies, as well as in Sustainable Business courses that explore the balance between profitability and environmental impact, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2010-22.

Geographical setting

Region:
Asia

Featured protagonists

  • Sowmya Lakshmi Balendiran (female), Co-founder
  • Sri Salina Nori (female), Co-founder
  • Sayash Kumar (male), Co-founder
  • Nelson Vadassery (male), Co-founder

About

Abstract

Sea6 Energy, founded in July 2010 by four engineering students under the mentorship of Shrikumar Suryanarayan, former R&D head of Biocon and adjunct faculty at IIT Madras, embarked on a mission to revolutionize sustainable farming. The case study explores their journey from the inception of the idea to develop large-scale agriculture on the sea using sea plants to produce marine biomass for biofuels. It delves into the deep-tech ecosystem in India and the challenges the team faced in securing funding and developing products. The focus then shifts to Sea6's innovative efforts, including patenting products derived from sea plants, such as biofuels and biostimulants, to ensure exclusivity and monetization. Key innovations like the SeaCombine, the world's first sea tractor, and Dweep, an artificial floating island system, highlight their approach to scaling production. The case concludes by examining the market for biostimulants and ocean farming, and the challenges Sea6 faces as it transitions from research and development to scaling, growth, and profitability. This case study is ideal for courses in Entrepreneurship, particularly those focusing on deep-tech startups and sustainability-driven ventures. It can also be used in Innovation Management to discuss technology commercialization and patent strategies, as well as in Sustainable Business courses that explore the balance between profitability and environmental impact, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Settings

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2010-22.

Geographical setting

Region:
Asia

Featured protagonists

  • Sowmya Lakshmi Balendiran (female), Co-founder
  • Sri Salina Nori (female), Co-founder
  • Sayash Kumar (male), Co-founder
  • Nelson Vadassery (male), Co-founder

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