Ole Blu turns seaweed into sustainable growth

Ole Blu, a pioneering start-up founded by Anga Mbeyiya, is transforming seaweed into sustainable solutions for agriculture and beyond.

Based in the Eastern Cape, the company sources seaweed from more than 300 cooperatives along South Africa’s coastline, converting it into organic fertiliser and exploring additional value-added products such as cattle feed and sea moss gels.

Mbeyiya’s entrepreneurial journey is rooted in both academic excellence and a strong sense of environmental stewardship.

She holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development in Maritime Studies from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, as well as an Honours degree in Development Studies and an undergraduate qualification in Media, Communication and Culture from the Nelson Mandela University.

Reflecting on her path, she said: “After completing my media studies degree, I wasn’t sure I still wanted to pursue it as a career. A mentor of mine knew how much I cared for the environment, encouraged me to pursue sustainable studies, and the rest is history.”

The idea for Ole Blu was born during her time abroad.

“In 2019, I was offered an opportunity to study in Sweden. I learnt about how seaweed can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When I came back to South Africa, I realised there weren’t enough seaweed-based companies, so I started pitching my idea in 2020 during lockdown.”

The company received its first backing in 2023 from BFA Global, an international impact innovation firm that supports ventures tackling systemic challenges. This investment enabled Ole Blu to launch operations in Kenya, where the business was based for more than three years before returning to South Africa.

“Kenya gave us opportunities that were harder to access in South Africa. It’s rare here for a start-up to receive funding of about $13,000 (around R224,000) before generating revenue. I just wish government could invest more in ideas — to invest in the people,” she said.

Remarkable progress

Despite these challenges, Ole Blu has made remarkable progress. The company now works with over 330 small-scale farmers and cooperatives along the coastline, providing them with a reliable market for their seaweed harvests.

“My work is fulfilling as well,” Mbeyiya said warmly. “I’ll never forget making a woman cry because we were the first people to buy from her co-operative. Until then, they had never had a buyer since registering their business in 2017.”

For Mbeyiya, entrepreneurship is about more than personal success.

“I genuinely believe the best way to help communities is by helping them establish businesses — not by relying on social grants,” she concluded.

For more information on Ole Blu, visit oleblu.co.za, email connect@oleblu.com, or call +27 67 938 3626.