Australian seaweed biotechnology company PhycoHealth has attracted more than 4,500 expressions of interest worth an estimated A$12.4 million in its latest equity crowdfunding campaign. The raise, hosted on the OnMarket platform, has reached A$2.4 million from over 1,000 investors without a cornerstone investor. The campaign is being undertaken by parent company Phyco Life as founder Dr. Pia Winberg looks to harness community investment to support the company's next phase of growth.
Community Ownership Model
PhycoHealth reports that during the initial private investment phase, the raise reached just under A$2 million from more than 800 investors. The current campaign has already secured A$2.4 million, and if it surpasses A$2.9 million it will become Australia's largest crowd-equity raise of the year. Winberg said the company has believed a business can be commercially successful without losing sight of its purpose, and its funding approach has been driven by the crowd rather than anchored by a major investor.
Financial Momentum
In the year to June 2026, PhycoHealth delivered A$8.85 million of revenue, a 5.8 times increase on the prior year, across nearly 93,000 orders from more than 56,000 new customers. Gross profit shifted from a loss of A$277,152 to a positive A$4.21 million, representing a 47.6% margin. The company noted that it lost money on every product sold the previous year but did not do so in the latest period, marking a major turnaround in commercial performance.
Seaweed-Based Product Portfolio
Founded in 2014 in Huskisson by marine scientist Dr. Pia Winberg, PhycoHealth specializes in cultivating and manufacturing seaweed-based products for human health. The company develops, clinically tests, and sells a diverse range of functional foods, nutritional supplements, and skincare products made from a sustainably farmed species of Australian green seaweed. These products are designed to address trace element deficiencies, improve gut health, and reduce chronic inflammation.
Research Backing and Academic Investors
Winberg said a number of universities are involved in the company's research, and the investor base now extends into academia. Some researchers are now shareholders, including research students and eminent professors, which may help strengthen the link between scientific innovation and commercial application. PhycoHealth draws on more than 20 years of Winberg's clinical research into Australian seaweed.
Scaling Australian Seaweed Operations
The latest raise follows a strong financial year and a A$2 million government grant to expand processing facilities. In July last year, PhycoHealth raised more than A$1.85 million from 790 investors on OnMarket to fund new farm sites, processing, refining, and research and development. The company plans to combine crowd capital with government support to accelerate the next stage of Australian seaweed production, with products built around Phyaluronic, a sulfated seaweed glycan from farmed Australian seaweed.
PhycoHealth's equity crowdfunding campaign highlights how community investors can support a science-led company without relying on institutional cornerstone funding. The company's revenue growth and positive gross profit indicate improving commercial traction for its clinically tested seaweed products. With expanded processing capacity, new farm sites, and a community of customers and researchers as shareholders, PhycoHealth is positioned to scale its Australian seaweed operations in a purpose-driven way.
Source: Businessnewsaustralia