Coast Capital Venture Prize winner creates seaweed solution to ocean plastics

L-R: Mauro Manzi, Coast Capital; Ranah Chavoshi, PhyCo Technologies; Dr. Joy Johnson, SFU. Photo Credit: Kevin Pilar Photography

A company co-founded by an SFU biology graduate student and partnering with local Indigenous communities to develop bio-based plastic from seaweed—a product capable of breaking down in home compost in just four weeks—is the top winner of SFU’s 12th annual Coast Capital Venture Prize competition. PhyCo Technologies will use a $10,000 cash award to further develop its product.

Coast Capital Venture Prize is SFU’s largest entrepreneurship competition open to the university community. This year’s competitors represented students, staff, faculty members and recent alumni from seven of SFU’s eight faculties.

The annual event has grown to include a top venture, prize and awards for science-based, tech-based, social impact, alumni founded and idea-stage ventures, to encourage and celebrate the diversity of entrepreneurial activity at SFU.

Read more about the 12th annual Coast Capital Venture Prize competition and winners.