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
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Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Harmon has been working in large scale commercial microalgae production for 30 plus years, with expertise ranging from business development, sales and regulatory to product manufacturing and cultivation. She has led teams in some of the largest algae companies in the world to develop optimal production methodologies for large scale production ponds, contributing to productivity increases of 2-3X, quality increases that translate to higher margins, as well as improved reliability. In addition to her cultivation and manufacturing expertise, Harmon also brings significant experience in regulatory affairs for microalgae products across multiple markets, as well as a history of strong success in building solid relations with customers. She was responsible for multiple large exclusive contracts worth up to $10 million in revenues from microalgae products. Harmon holds a Masters in Agriculture, with an emphasis on Aquaculture, Fisheries Economics and Business Strategy from Oregon State University and a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College.
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Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Miller has over 17 years of experience in the cleantech, agtech, and biotech industries and has a continued commitment to developing environmentally responsible technologies and products.
Prior to joining Nāmaka Algae, Dr. Miller was Vice President of Technology and Global Supply at ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., where he led the development efforts to successfully commercialize Zivolife®, a novel microalgae food product. Prior, Dr. Miller served as Director of Manufacturing at Global Thermostat, LLC, where he managed an engineering team tasked with delivering a groundbreaking CO2 direct air capture plant. His industry career began at Algenol Biofuels, Inc., where he advanced to Senior Director of Technology. His expertise includes algae cultivation system design, product development, plant engineering and commissioning, manufacturing, and project and executive management.
Dr. Miller has a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Marine Science and completed post-doctoral research in the University of Georgia Marine Science Department.
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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
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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.
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We are proud members of the Hatch Ocean Foundry program based in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. The incubator campus hosts, stimulates, guides, develops, and supports the world’s best aquaculture and innovation talent in their drive to solve key aquaculture sustainability challenges. 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 our company’s growth and development in Kailua-Kona Hawai’i.
VALUES
Nāmaka commands the tides, protects marine life, and challenges imbalance when it threatens harmony.
In Hawaiian mythology, Nāmaka (or Nā-maka-o-Kahaʻi, the eyes of Kahaʻi) appears as a sea goddess in the Pele family. 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.
By exploring Namaka’s story, we uncover lessons that become the framework for our adopted values.
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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.
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Even when it pits her against her sister, Nāmaka remains true to her purpose. Integrity is staying rooted in principles, even when it’s hard, and demonstrating transparency, honesty and accountability.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stewardship appears again, not by mistake—it’s central to Namaka’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.