Elevating the aquaculture industry.

At Nāmaka Algae we are driven to help build a robust algae industry while making unique feed ingredients that scale with the expanding aquaculture market.

Team

Headshot of founder and CEO Valerie Harmon

Valerie L. Harmon

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

37 years

• Sales - responsible for multiple large exclusive contracts worth up to $10 million in annual recurring revenues.

• Productivity increases of 2-3X with improved reliability.

• Product quality increases that translate to higher margins.

• Business development and regulatory dossiers.

Harlan L. Miller

Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer

17 years in the cleantech, agtech, and biotech industries

•Algae cultivation system engineering and manufacturing at Algenol Biotech, a $300M algae biotechnology company.

•Commercialization of Zivolife®, a novel microalgae food product, from concept through plant commissioning, regulatory approval and product launch.

•Carbon dioxide utilization and direct air capture.

•Executive management, team building, and project management.

Albert Tacon

Advisor

Dr. Tacon is a world-renowned expert in aquaculture nutrition.  He has a Ph.D. in fish nutrition and over 50 years of professional experience in aquaculture R&D, focusing on aquatic feeds and nutrition.  His experience includes 11 years of teaching and research in the UK, 14 years working for the Food and agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and over 25 years in practical experience in public and private research institutions and with companies across the world.

Support

Logo for the National Science Foundation.
Logo for the Hatch Ocean Foundry.

  • About the U.S. National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards more than $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development, helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $9.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.

  • After five decades, NELHA is well on track to fulfill its mission as an engine for economic development in Hawaii and the economic impact generated by HOST Park is approaching $150M annually with the creation of over 700 jobs statewide.  HOST Park is a unique outdoor demonstration site for emerging renewable energy, aquaculture and other ocean-based sustainable technologies.  HOST Park has become the world’s premier ocean science innovation hub and operates at the nexus of water, energy, and food.  They are uniquely positioned where R&D intersects with the world’s largest multi-species subtropical aquaculture location.  To have their support to develop our technology is proving invaluable to Nāmaka’s growth and development.

  • Nāmaka Algae, Inc. is honored to have been selected to participate in the Blue Startups accelerator program in Honolulu, Hawaii. Established in 2012 by Henk and Maya Rogers of The Tetris Company and Chenoa Farnsworth of Hawaii Angels, Blue Startups has played a pivotal role in building Hawaii’s “Startup Paradise” ecosystem. The accelerator focuses on scalable technology companies with the potential to thrive in Hawaii, leverage the state’s strengths in tourism and sustainability, and benefit from its strategic position between Asia and the U.S. mainland.

    Blue Startups was created as a public-private partnership, supported by the State of Hawaii, the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, The Tetris Company, and private investors. Through its program, participants gain access to experienced mentorship, business expertise, peer review, customer acquisition strategies, pitch development, and introductions to investors, all of which are critical to Nāmaka Algae’s accelerated growth from startup to a high-impact company.

  • We have benefitted from the mentorship of the Hatch Ocean Foundry program based in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. The incubator stimulates, guides, develops, and supports the world’s best aquaculture and innovation talent in their drive to solve key aquaculture sustainability challenges.

Values

Illustrative drawing that represents Namaka balance of ocean and land. The image shows a volcano with lava entering the sea.

In Hawai’ian mythology, Nāmaka (or Nā-maka-o-Kahaʻi, the eyes of Kahaʻi) appears as a sea goddess. She is an older sister of Pele-honua-mea (or Pele), the volcano or fire goddess. The two sisters are opposites. One rules over the fiery volcanoes of the Hawai’i islands, while Nāmaka bodies the vast and dynamic energy of the ocean.

  • Nāmaka protects her ocean realm with fierce care. Her story teaches us to be guardians of what we manage, whether that’s natural resources, relationships, or responsibilities, results in enduring value for business and society.

  • Nāmaka remains true to her purpose. Integrity is staying rooted in principles, even when it’s hard, and demonstrating transparency, honesty and accountability.

  • Her conflict with Pele leads to the creation of new land. Nāmaka reminds us that tension can spark transformation, and new solutions often arise through challenge. At Nāmaka Algae we empower curiosity, creativity, and continual improvement.

  • The ocean’s tides, under Nāmaka’s control, follow a dependable rhythm. Like her, we aim to be consistent, dependable, and resilient, which results in products with consistent quality and reliable delivery. To be reliable is to be trusted like the ocean’s tides.

  • Nāmaka’s protective instincts reflect a deep empathy for the ecosystems and beings within her domain. Compassion is strength guided by care. It means listening, understanding, and acting with empathy, even when enforcing boundaries. Strong relationships are built with appreciation and celebration of achievements, milestones, and shared successes.

  • Stewardship appears again, not by mistake, it’s central to Nāmaka’s identity. It underscores our responsibility to act as trusted caretakers, with long-term vision and respect for our environment and community, and especially for our customers, stakeholders, and employees.