Sway offers home-compostable replacements for thin-film plastic packaging derived from seaweed. We envision a future where every bag, pouch, and wrapper can help replenish ocean ecosystems and reduce plastic pollution, while simultaneously contributing to the sequestration of tons of carbon, supporting coastal livelihoods, and creating healthy soil in your own backyard after use. A material that gives more than it takes. That's what we're building at Sway — the material and cultural dimensions of a plastic-free future.
The company was co-founded by Julia Marsh, Matt Mayes, and Leland Maschmeyer and is headquartered in Oakland, California, United States.
The company was co-founded by Julia Marsh, Matt Mayes, and Leland Maschmeyer and is headquartered in Oakland, California, United States.
Location: United States, California, San Francisco
Total raised: $7.5M
Investors 6
| Date | Name | Website |
| - | BAM Ventur... | bam.vc |
| - | Berkeley S... | skydeck.be... |
| 26.04.2022 | Techstars | techstars.... |
| - | Centre Str... | centrestre... |
| - | Designer F... | designerfu... |
| 08.09.2021 | Sustainabl... | soalliance... |
Funding Rounds 2
| Date | Series | Amount | Investors |
| 27.02.2024 | Seed | $5M | - |
| 04.11.2021 | - | $2.5M | - |
Mentions in press and media 9
| Date | Title | Description |
| 28.02.2024 | Sway Revolutionizes Packaging with Seaweed-Based Solutions | Sway, a California-based startup, is making waves in the packaging industry with its innovative seaweed-based alternatives to plastic. Recently securing $5 million in seed funding, the company is on a mission to replace single-use plastics ... |
| 27.02.2024 | Sway Raises $5M in Seed Funding | Sway, San Leandro, CA-based startup creating seaweed-based, home compostable replacements for plastic packaging, raised $5M in Seed funding. The round was led by Third Nature Investments and included investment from The Helm, Alante Capital... |
| 23.02.2024 | Sway Launches Seaweed Pellets to Replace Single-Use Plastics at Scale, Following $5M Funding Round | California-based Sway, a startup creating biodegradable alternatives to plastic, has introduced Thermoplastic Seaweed (TPSea), a “breakthrough” biopolymer resin made from seaweed and plants to replace plastic pellets in single-use packaging... |
| 15.06.2023 | Sway is Creating a Biodegradable, Seaweed-Based Solution to the World’s Plastic Crisis | In 2023, the world’s addiction to plastic became more urgent than ever, with the United Nations issuing a report that declared plastic use and pollution had become a global emergency. With 1 trillion pounds of plastic produced each year, an... |
| 31.05.2023 | Algae’s second bloom? ‘Resiliency and productivity are key,’ say second generation startups | Between 2005-2012, venture capitalists poured millions of dollars into startups attempting to make fuel from microalgae, getting their fingers badly burned in the process. But could algae be gearing up for a second bloom? “Having gone throu... |
| 16.12.2021 | Investors Back Seaweed Packaging Innovators As Plastic Waste Crisis Creates Demand For Sustainable Alternatives | 4 Mins Read As consumer dissatisfaction with traditional plastic packaging grows stronger and as the global plastic waste crisis continues to worsen daily, a slew of new material science startups are looking to algae for solutions, and inve... |
| 02.03.2021 | Nine Ways To Ditch The Single-Use Plastic Bag | The PlasticFri solutionPlasticFri |
| - | 🤩 Upfront 2024: The stars were out at venture's glitziest event of the year 🤝 Venture Deals 🤝 Venture Deals 🤝 Venture Deals 📅 LA Tech Calendar 📙 What We’re Reading | 🔦 Spotlight Every year, stars from Silicon Valley and Hollywood descend on LA-based Upfront Ventures’ annual Upfront Summit. This year was no exception. For the last two days, Upfront hosted over 1,000 attendees and dozens of speakers at th... |
| - | Sway Innovation Co. | “Sway harnesses the power of seaweed to create home-compostable replacements for single-use plastic packaging. We believe in circular economy, and the power of regenerative systems. Join us!” |