Macro Oceans, the California-based seaweed biotechnology start-up, has secured a $2.5 million extension to close a $7.5 million seed funding round led by Refactor Capital and acquire Everything Seaweed.WHO: Established in 2020, the California-based seaweed biotechnology start-up is a developer of a multiproduct zero-waste system designed to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, bio-based economy and help restore the oceans' vitality. The company's technology specializes in processing seaweed using a gentle extraction process to preserve the unique bioactive compounds. It produces a range of all-natural, quality functional plant-based ingredients, building bioplastics for packaging and more, enabling companies to meet their customer expectations with products like bioplastics that are carbon-neutral, fully traceable, and good for the environment. Macro Oceans has a single ingredient on the market today called Big Kelp Hydration.Everything Seaweed is a start-up based in Maine aiming to mitigate petrochemical reliance and plastics waste by bioengineering a new, superabsorbent, biodegradable material made from seaweed cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). Based on two patented processes, EvSe’s first-of-its-kind zero-waste biorefinery will process several seaweed species for a wide range of secondary products, including alginate and carrageenan for the food additives market. Their primary products will replace synthetic fossil-fuel–based polymers in personal care, paper coatings (replacing PFAS), and drug release systems.