How it started

Thanks to my stepfather, Jan, I first encountered algae as a food source. 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 sparked my interest. But what truly convinced me was the science that saw—and still sees—algae as the food of the future.

Around the world, producers, universities, and governments invested millions of euros in algae and seaweed. In my view, there was just one problem: almost no one understood why they should eat algae. Clearly, a bridge between producer and consumer needed to be built.

Inspiration

My stepfather (Jan) is a heart patient with macular degeneration (an eye disease). In addition to taking the necessary medication, he decided to look further afield to optimize his health. Algae quickly came into focus. Why? Algae provides various nutrients that could help him, such as omega-3 fatty acids (which support his heart, among other things). I was inspired by how dedicated he was to prioritizing his health—and thankfully, still is. I was able to incorporate this mindset into the founding of plnktn.

Amazement

As a young entrepreneur with a lot of ambition and an interest in nutrition and sustainability, my research on algae opened up a whole new world for me. Here's a small selection of the headlines I encountered about algae nutrition:

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

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

The future

I'm convinced that algae can truly make a difference. Not only because they're incredibly nutritious, but also because they're one of the few food sources that's truly responsibly farmed. I was convinced and launched plnktn as a single-product brand. After years of development, it's become much more than that. plnktn is now the leading algae brand in the Netherlands, and hopefully, it will soon be known worldwide.

MEET THE TEAM

  • Thom

    Founder

  • Gijs

    Co-founder

  • Sascha

    Customer support

  • Kevin

    Digital marketer

  • Julia

    Student food digestion (Wageningen)

  • Robin

    Designer & art director

  • Pippin

    Head of new business, impact & operations

  • Iris

    Head of community, people & culture

  • Janna

    Product developer

  • Charlotte

    Customer support

  • Sil

    Website developer

  • Mathijs

    Email marketing intern

  • Lesley

    Videographer

  • Maurice

    Supply chain specialist

  • Kyan

    Customer support

  • Babette

    Customer lead

  • Do you see yourself sitting here?

    Check out our open positions or simply send an email to werken@plnktn.com

Want to help build the most impactful algae brand in the world?

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

Open positions