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AlgenAir
Techstars '21Columbia, US · Founded 2021 · Delaware corporation · 2 employees on LinkedIn · 1 known investors
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AlgenAir produces the aerium, a home device that uses algae to reduce indoor carbon dioxide and increase oxygen while generating organic fertilizer from the algae byproduct. It serves household users seeking improved air quality and plant enthusiasts.
Also known as aerium · AlgenAir, Inc.
Founders & leadership
AlgenAir was founded in 2021 by Dan Fucich and Kelsey Abernathy.
Investors · 1
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · funding news · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$100K disclosed across 1 round · 2021
▶$100KraisedOct 2022 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Kelsey AbernathyExecutive Officer
- Amount sold
- $100K
- First sale
- Jun 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2021
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Sep 2026AlgenAir develops and sells the aerium, a consumer device that grows spirulina microalgae in a glass vessel to reduce carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds indoors while producing oxygen. The company frames the product as a "modern houseplant": the current aerium 3.0 is said to deliver the photosynthetic benefit of up to 60 house plants (earlier materials cite an equivalent of 25 of the highest-performing house plants) and is designed to improve air quality in a room of roughly 10ft x 12ft. The unit holds 1.5 L of algae culture, measures 17" x 8" x 8", weighs 2.87 lbs dry, runs on a 110V US plug, uses an LED light source for continuous photosynthesis, and includes 0.22 micron inline, 0.1 micron lid, and biological algae filters. The algae container and silicone lid are dishwasher safe, and the product carries a one-year limited warranty. Spent spirulina is positioned as an organic nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich fertilizer or compost input for household plants.
The product line spans the aerium 3.0 (from $299 with a refill subscription, $349 without), aerium refill kits (from $27.50), a replacement glass vase kit ($45), and a DIY spirulina grow kit called the EDUaerium (from $45). Refills are sold on a subscription cadence of 30, 45, or 60 days depending on ambient CO2, occupancy, temperature, and light in the customer's space, and include fresh spirulina, concentrated nutrients, and a replacement hydrophobic filter. The company states the aerium is designed, manufactured, and packaged in Pittsburgh, USA, with orders typically shipping within one to two weeks.
Beyond the consumer device, AlgenAir has pursued commercial-scale deployment of what it calls "living technology," including an approximately 8-foot installation holding over 100 gallons of algae, described as having the photosynthetic capacity of more than 5,000 plants and modular for custom retrofitting.
Founding story
AlgenAir was co-founded by Dan Fucich, PhD and Kelsey Abernathy, PhD while they were completing doctoral research in marine biotechnology, with the goal of applying algae to indoor air quality. The two developed the idea from their scientific work on algae combined with business training through the Ratcliffe Environmental Entrepreneurship Fellowship (REEF) at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), where they joined the Harbor Launch startup incubator and were mentored by figures including Dr. Nick Hammond, Dr. Nina Lamba, and Ken Malone of Early Charm Ventures. Both founders planned to defend their dissertations in 2020 and move to AlgenAir full time in early 2021.
Business model
AlgenAir sells hardware direct to consumers through its own e-commerce site and pairs it with a recurring spirulina refill subscription, describing itself as a hardware business with a high-retention recurring revenue subscription model. Refill kits ship on 30-, 45-, or 60-day cycles and are billed after each cycle. The company also sells accessories such as replacement glass vase kits and a lower-priced DIY spirulina grow kit (EDUaerium), and has pursued paid commercial proof-of-concept installations.
Revenue comes from one-time device sales (aerium 3.0 at $299 with subscription or $349 standalone), recurring spirulina refill subscriptions billed per growth cycle (from $27.50), accessories and replacement parts, and paid commercial pilot installations.
Traction
The company reported selling over 500 aerium units following the November 2019 V1 launch, with a spirulina refill subscription introduced in May 2020. Product pages show 48 reviews for the aerium 3.0 (4.7 rating) and 66 reviews for the refill kit, with 137 aggregate reviews of which 77% are top-rated. On Republic, 51 people reserved or invested and 266 follow the company. The founders won more than $50,000 across three pitch competitions in 2020.
Latest developments
The company continues to sell the aerium 3.0, refill kits, replacement glass vase kits, and the EDUaerium DIY spirulina grow kit through its website, with support staff responding to customer reviews. Its Republic equity crowdfunding offering closed to new investment after a February 1, 2023 deadline.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
AlgenAir positions the aerium as the first consumer natural air purifier to use algae, differentiating from conventional particulate air filters by consuming CO2 and VOCs and generating oxygen rather than only filtering particles. The company argues that for roughly 140 million Americans outdoor air is too polluted for ventilation-based dilution strategies used in HVAC.
Differentiators cited by the company include the use of living microalgae rather than filter media, CO2 removal and oxygen generation in addition to particulate removal, claimed photosynthetic capacity equivalent to 25-60 house plants in a single tabletop unit, a byproduct (grown spirulina) that can be recycled as fertilizer, supplement, or compost, US-based manufacturing in Pittsburgh, and a recurring refill subscription that keeps maintenance low.
Technology
The core technology is algal bioremediation: living spirulina microalgae cultured in a 1.5 L vessel consume CO2 and VOCs and release oxygen, with the company stating algae are orders of magnitude more efficient than plants at carbon sequestration. The device uses an LED light source for continuous photosynthesis, a set of filters (0.22 micron inline, 0.1 micron lid, and a biological algae filter), and a dishwasher-safe premium glass container and silicone lid for sterilization. The company describes patent-pending energy-efficient designs intended to reduce power consumption and use ambient natural light, presented through biophilic design. Commercial-scale versions are modular, hold over 100 gallons of algae, and are intended to incorporate automation for faster, more energy-efficient algae growth.
Go-to-market
Sales are direct-to-consumer via the algenair.com online store with a subscription option at checkout, supported by online advertising (the founders were mentored by Phil Masiello of digital marketing firm CrunchGrowth), customer reviews and press placements, equity crowdfunding on Republic to build an investor-customer base, and pilot programs with institutional partners such as a University of Maryland College Park hotel and Pittsburgh International Airport.
Primary customers are households and residential occupants concerned about indoor air quality, brain fog, and "sick building syndrome," including houseplant enthusiasts who can use the spent algae as fertilizer and those without gardening experience. The company has also targeted commercial environments such as hotels and airports, and educational/hobbyist buyers via the DIY EDUaerium grow kit.
Geography
The aerium is designed, manufactured, and packaged in Pittsburgh, USA, and is sold with a 110V US plug. Deployments and pilots referenced include The Hotel at the University of Maryland College Park and Pittsburgh International Airport; the company originated from the IMET incubator in Baltimore, Maryland.
History
AlgenAir launched the first version of the aerium (V1) in November 2019; early customers received complimentary algae refills until the spirulina subscription began in May 2020. In 2020 the founders won prizes at three business plan competitions totaling over $50,000 and began a partnership with The Hotel at the University of Maryland College Park to place aeriums in hotel rooms and monitor CO2 levels. In September 2022 the company unveiled its first commercial-sized unit at Pittsburgh International Airport as a paid proof-of-concept, and the aerium 3.0 was slated for a summer 2022 launch. The company ran a Reg CF offering hosted on Republic (OpenDeal Portal LLC) with a deadline of February 1, 2023.
Risks & controversies
Published customer reviews report recurring reliability issues with the living product, including refill batches of algae that failed to grow or died, inconsistent results across cycles, and at least one customer reporting an unanswered support email; another reviewer said no change was observed in home air-quality monitor readings. Some customers describe the product as expensive. The company responds publicly offering a live-arrival guarantee and replacements, and notes that continuous CO2 monitoring varies with occupancy and HVAC cycles. Stock availability on the flagship product has been shown as low (2 units left).
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 1
Companies working in the same space as AlgenAir.
Timeline · 8
launches, deals, and filingsAlgenAir, Inc. ran a Reg CF offering hosted by Republic (OpenDeal Portal LLC, CRD #283874) using a Crowd SAFE; the deadline was February 1, 2023 and 51 people reserved or invested.
AlgenAir unveiled its first commercial-sized unit as a paid proof-of-concept: an 8ft tall installation holding over 100 gallons of algae, described as having the photosynthetic capacity of more than 5,000 plants.
AlgenAir won the NASA Space Exploration Innovation Award, receiving an additional $25,000.
$25K source ↗
The founders were awarded $25,000 as second place winners.
$25K source ↗
After a period of complimentary refills for early customers, AlgenAir started its recurring spirulina refill subscription.
AlgenAir placed second and secured $7,500 for business development; the founders were also mentored by Phil Masiello of CrunchGrowth through the program.
$7.5K source ↗
AlgenAir partnered to place aeriums in several hotel rooms to monitor CO2 levels over time and collect guest feedback.
AlgenAir launched the first version of the aerium consumer algae air purifier.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- AlgenAiralgenair.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does AlgenAir do?
- AlgenAir makes the aerium, a tabletop microalgae air purifier that reduces indoor CO2 and produces oxygen and fertilizer.
- Who founded AlgenAir?
- AlgenAir was founded by Dan Fucich, Kelsey Abernathy in 2021.
- Who are AlgenAir's investors?
- AlgenAir's investors include Techstars.
- How much funding has AlgenAir raised?
- AlgenAir has disclosed $100K raised across 1 round.
- Where is AlgenAir headquartered?
- AlgenAir is headquartered in Columbia, US.