Meet The Scientist Behind Algaee
From Kenya to Scotland, Seaweed Has Shaped My Journey
Hi, I'm Kiri, a Kenyan marine biologist and PhD researcher specialising in sustainable seaweed extraction.
For years, my work has lived at the intersection of ocean science and real-world application: studying how seaweed protects itself, and how the compounds it produces, the same polysaccharides and extracts that make it useful in skincare, can be harnessed responsibly. Algaee didn't start as a business plan. It started as a question I couldn't stop asking in the lab: if seaweed can do this much, why does no-one know about it?
Seaweed is one of the most powerful materials on the planet its sustainable, fast-growing, packed with compounds that hydrate, protect, and repair skin. It's also deeply tied to coastal livelihoods, including communities in Kenya where seaweed farming is transforming lives.
I started Algaee because I believe we're only beginning to understand what seaweed can do — and because skincare felt like the most direct way to put real marine science into people's hands, not just papers in a journal.
Skincare is where our journey begins. It won't be where it ends.
Why Skincare, Why Seaweed?
Working With Communities
Seaweed doesn't just come from the ocean , it comes from the people who farm it. Coastal seaweed farming supports livelihoods across Kenya and beyond, and sourcing responsibly means recognising that our supply chain starts with real communities, not just raw material.
That's why working directly with local seaweed farmers is central to how Algaee is built. As we grow, so does our commitment to fair, transparent sourcing that puts value back into the coastal communities this entire brand depends on.
Education is part of the mission, too. A lot of people use seaweed-derived ingredients every day without knowing it, through skincare, food, even materials, and we want to change that. Through our journal and outreach, we share the science behind what seaweed can actually do, so our community understands the ingredient list, not just the marketing claims.