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OoNee, a company working to convert overpopulated sea urchins into premium uni while restoring kelp ecosystems, has received investment from Builders Vision through a convertible note. The funding will support the company’s expansion of land-based aquaculture and its distribution network to US-based distributors and restaurants.
“This investment allows us to accelerate our mission of building a regenerative seafood supply chain that creates both ecological and economic value. With Builders Vision’s support, we’re moving faster toward scalable kelp restoration and establishing a new category of domestic, high-quality uni for the US market,” said Aaron Huang, co-founder and CEO of OoNee, in a press release.
OoNee’s approach – ranching empty sea urchins collected from marine barren zones – aims to restore balance to ocean ecosystems while producing a high-value product for chefs and seafood buyers. The company has validated pricing with distributors and high-end foodservice partners and is preparing to ramp up production at its Oregon-based facility.
This investment reflects Builders Vision’s commitment to exploring innovative, mission-aligned opportunities and supports growing investor interest in scalable, market-driven climate solutions that generate measurable environmental impact.
“This is the kind of nature-positive innovation we believe can reshape the blue economy and exactly what we look for at Builders Vision. This is a scalable solution that’s rooted in ecological restoration and market opportunity. By transforming overpopulated sea urchins into a high-value seafood product, OoNee is building a regenerative supply chain and helping restore critical kelp forests, which are one of the most powerful carbon sinks in the ocean,” said Chris Wu, a vice president of investing at Builders Vision.