How it started

Thanks to my stepfather Jan, I first came into contact with algae as a source of nutrition. His enthusiasm and conviction intrigued me, making me want to learn more about this fascinating organism.

It was the potential health benefits of algae that further piqued my interest. But what really convinced me was the science that saw - and still sees - algae as the food of the future.

Producers, universities, and governments worldwide invested millions of euros in algae and seaweed. In my opinion, there was only one problem: almost no one understood why they should eat algae. A bridge clearly needed to be built between producer and consumer.

Inspiration

My stepfather (Jan) is a heart patient and suffers from macular degeneration (an eye disease). In addition to the necessary medication, he decided to look further to optimize his health. Algae quickly came into view. Why? Algae offer various nutrients that could help him, such as Omega-3 fatty acids (among other things, to support the heart). It inspired me with how dedicated he was to prioritizing his health – and thankfully still is. I was able to take this mindset with me when founding plnktn.

Amazement

As a young entrepreneur with great ambition and interest in nutrition & sustainability, a world opened up to me during my research into algae. Here is a small selection of the headlines I encountered about algae nutrition:

  • “Algae, the food of the future”
  • “Why algae will conquer the food industry”
  • “Algae as a powerful source of vegan food”

Scientists and universities also wrote extensively about this topic. On the one hand, I was surprised that I hadn't known algae had been considered the food of the future for years. On the other hand, I was inspired to seize this opportunity and do something good for the world with it. This is how plnktn was born. A distinctive brand that believes in the power of algae. This power is the foundation of everything we do every day.

The Future

I am convinced that algae can truly make a difference. Not only because they are incredibly nutritious, but also because they are one of the few food sources that are truly grown responsibly. I was convinced and started plnktn as a 'single-product brand'. After years of development, it's much more than that. plnktn is now the algae brand in the Netherlands, and hopefully soon known in the rest of the world as well.

MEET THE TEAM

  • Thom

    Founder

  • Gijs

    Co-founder

  • Julia

    Student food digestion (Wageningen)

  • Robin

    Designer & art director

  • Pepin

    Head of New Business, Impact & Operations

  • Iris

    Head of Community, People & Culture

  • Janna

    Product developer

  • Shh

    Website developer

  • Lesley

    Videographer

  • Maurits

    Supply chain specialist

  • Kyan

    Customer support

  • Babette

    Customer Lead

  • Marc

    B2B Account Manager

  • Victoria

    Content Manager

  • Do you see yourself working here?

    Take a look at the open positions or simply send an email to werken@plnktn.com

Want to help build the world's most impactful algae brand?

At plnktn, we are always looking for ambitious people who truly want to make the world a better place. It's not the easiest path, but it's the most rewarding. View our open vacancies here.

Open positions