Hey y'all,

I’m currently based in Berlin and looking to dive into the algae biofuel industry, specifically by building a subscription-based vertical farming service that helps companies scale their biofuel production. Instead of producing biofuels myself, my goal is to lease vertical farming systems to biofuel companies, providing them with the infrastructure they need to lower their feedstock costs (which I know is a huge pain point).

I’m at the early stages and want to get some advice on a few key areas:

1.	Building the Team: What specialists should I hire? I’m thinking bioengineers, vertical farming experts, and software developers to manage the subscription model. Am I missing anyone crucial?
2.	Funding: I’m researching grants like Horizon Europe, but has anyone had experience securing similar grants for biofuels or sustainability projects? Any tips for success or specific grants I should be looking at?
3.	Technology: For those familiar with algae cultivation or vertical farming, what’s the current best tech for large-scale algae production? How feasible is this approach for scaling biofuel production?
4.	Market Validation: If you’ve worked in the biofuels space or helped businesses scale, how do you ensure a vertical farming solution like this would be in high demand? Are there specific sectors (e.g., transportation, aviation) that are most likely to benefit?
5.	Challenges: For those who’ve been in renewable energy startups or biofuel production, what are the biggest hurdles I should prepare for (both regulatory and operational)?

Any advice from entrepreneurs, algae biofuel specialists, or anyone with experience in vertical farming or renewable energy would be much appreciated as it feels pretty daunting but I'm sick of sitting on the sidelines.

Thanks so much!

Can anyone help me identify the black/brown stringy algae (assuming it’s even algae) that’s covering this rock at a jetty in NC?

Sorry I can’t get a close up pic. :(

We found globs of this gelatinous pinkish substance by our local pond. Google lenses said it was Hildenbrandia rivularis. Does anyone know for sure?

Wasn't here a few weeks ago now it's all over this part of the steam.

From a lab practice in college :) I was told this is a red algae

Hi Guys, I'm working on a Photobioreactor in NYC for my Senior project and I think I messed up the ratios in my growing medium for my Spirulina, so I'm struggling to figure out where to get more Live culture here in the US. Does anyone know anyone in NY or nearby who is willing to donate or sell me some?

The setup is temporary, she'll live in a bigger bowl with rocks but i think she's adorable as is :)

There's a bunch of small snails feeding off it and it doesn't seem to go away

This is in spots in my Gravel driveway I recently found little lesions on my dogs belly and I know like a month or two ago he was laying in the driveway where the spots were just wondering if they're harmful to my dog and they cause these things on my dogs belly who already has allergies

Hello,i was looking at this algae through my microscope and all i know about her is that it has no flagela and has a darker spot in the middle.What species it could be?

https://preview.redd.it/r2627jmaftpd1.png?width=1023&format=png&auto=webp&s=ea634cb76e461f811ccbf80a58a51067d15c77c7

https://preview.redd.it/v6r8k4cgrppd1.jpg?width=2880&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0c4fcf9d263f72a579451b3f93595fc755a3c92

Hi guys, newbie here,

thanks a lot for your input in my previous post, I managed to do DM for my algae, but I still need help from you guys to identify this correctly, thanks before :)

Hello everyone, I am a master's student who has recently developed an interest in microalgae, and I would like to ask for your advice regarding an issue I am facing.

My Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strain CC-4414 is growing abnormally in TAP (Tris-Acetate-Phosphate) medium, cultured in a shaker at 125 rpm, incubated at 25°C under limited light (dark) conditions with a 12:12 hr light/dark cycle. The picture I showed is of C. reinhardtii incubated for 7 days. Has anyone ever encountered this problem before?

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii growth after incubated for 7 days

Algae presence in water no joke, and honestly, with all the stuff you hear about contaminated water, it’s hard not to worry...I started thinking about how to keep my family safer at home, so I picked up an electric water filter that handles over 30 contaminants...I’m going to also invest in a really good water testing kit to see what’s actually in the drinking water. 

Hi guys, newbie here. I bought micro algae starter from sho**ee for my project, but they didn't provide the name. What's the best way to identify it? Thanks before.

Does anyone know how you preserve this kind of algae? I need them to stay flexible and not rot for two weeks. I have them in a plastic bag now with just a bit splash water. Do you have any experience or ideas? Thank you!

Breeding

Breeding

I’m an oyster farmer/algae technician. we’ve been buying starter cultures that have been good, but i am curious on how to breed my algae. from what i’ve gathered it’s a series of dilutions until you can isolate the single cells. there was other information about pheromones and nitrates and i would like to know more about manipulating those factors. any input would be appreciated thank you.

Our little lake has had some pretty serious algae overgrowth, despite tegular treatment by a water management company . Last week the water maintenance company confirmed that its Lyngbya. They proposed a treatment with phycomycin, said it “might work” , but usually “it goes away on its own” ? The internet says that it’s usually pretty difficult to treat and may never go away.. has anyone had experience with this? We live in Michigan, during winter, there is a lot of cloud coverage and this lake almost completely freezes over and gets covered with snow.. 🤔

Hello, I need help choosing the best Chlorella from 2 different manufacturers (for selling to others).

1. EU manufacture.

Pros: Their chlorella is grown indoors (heterotrophic cultivated) so it doesn't have any heavy metals.

Cons: The tablets are small, so it may be inconvenient to take 6-12 a day (250mg per tablet). Also, they are less potent because they contain less nutrition and chlorophyll (there is no sun when growing)—Chlorophyll per 100 grams is only 488 mg.

See full label here

2. Taiwan manufacture

Pros: Bigger tablets (400 mg). More nutrition, more chlorophyll compared to the EU (because it's grown outdoors and gets direct sun) - Chlorophyll >2000 mg/100g.

Cons: Possibility of heavy metals because it's grown outdoors. Also, more expensive.

See full label here

What would you recommend? I want the most effective Chlorella with lots of chlorophyll so it helps detox the body better, improve immunity and so on. But I also don't want to have any possibility of heavy metals.

Hello, I am an engineering student interested in working on a project related to algae. Specifically, I require the algae Chlorella vulgaris culture for this project. I have attempted to find it online without success, and the local dealers and manufacturers I've contacted so far only sell extracts or powder. If you have any details or information about a seller, manufacturer or any labs who can provide me with a culture of Chlorella vulgaris, please mention it below to assist me.

I found this light purple algae growing in my lake a couple of days ago. I have not been able to identify it but I go swimming with my dog and just want to be safe in case this algae is toxic. Thanks!

I live in Washington if that helps.

Anyone else freaking out about the algae blooms affecting our water? It's gross...I’m seriously considering getting a reverse osmosis water filter just to make sure there’s ZERO algae residue at all. Apparently the algae can either get into the drinking water or it also produces toxins that can get into the water, and there’s more and more growing from the warmer temperatures/global warming. I even found this article from the CDC talking about the issue and what they’re doing to prevent it from affecting drinking water. Idk I just want to safe, would a RO filter be overkill?