Courtney Boyd Myers (aka CBM) is the co-founder and CEO of AKUA, a US based startup on a mission to bring healthy, sustainable seagreens (kelp) products to markets across the world. AKUA launched their business with ‘kelp jerky’ via a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2017, and recently launched a new ‘kelp burger’ via an equity crowdfunding campaign that secured over $US1m on the Republic platform. Each time we speak about seaweed and the remarkable opportunities to accelerate seaweed startups on the Ocean Impact Podcast we get a huge response, and that’s no surprise. Seaweed is a ‘zero input crop’ meaning that no water, fertilisers, pesticides or additives are required during the growing process and the result is a growing medium that is left in a better state than when it was found i.e. cleaner water. Sourcing their sustainable kelp from a network of (majority female owned) seaweed farms along the coast of Maine, USA, AKUA is helping an industry that currently supplies more seaweed than is in demand - we all need to help change that! A global citizen, CBM has had a diverse career as a journalist, community builder, entrepreneur and investor. Courtney is also an avid kite surfer and is most happy when on, in or near salt water. We thank CBM for her determination and leadership in building AKUA and being a pioneer for sustainable seagreens - keep up the great work Courtney and Team! P.S. Customers across the US can now order AKUA’s ‘kelp burgers’ online and find them on an increasing number of menus, keep an eye out and ask for one at your local burger joint! Please visit the following links for more information AKUA website: https://akua.co/ Order kelp burgers (US): https://akua.co/products/kelp-burger AKUA campaign on Republic: https://republic.co/akua AKUA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeakua/