Mari Granström: Transforming Ocean Overgrowth into Industrial Revolution

Описание: Guest Name: Mari Granström
Company: Origin by Ocean
Country: Finland
Industry: Green Chemistry / Bio-based Materials / Circular Economy
Date Recorded: 2026
Short Episode Takeaway:
You’ll learn how invasive algae can become the foundation of a regenerative chemical industry — and why Europe must dare to invest boldly in first-of-a-kind industrial innovation.

👩‍🔬 Bio of the Female Founder

Mari Granström is a chemist, entrepreneur, and self-described Chief Executive Activist. With a PhD in organic chemistry and experience at global giants like BASF and Stora Enso, Mari saw firsthand how difficult systemic change can be inside large corporations.

Instead of waiting for transformation, she stepped out to build it.

From experimenting in her own kitchen to leading a nearly seven-year-old deep-tech company, Mari founded Origin by Ocean to transform invasive ocean overgrowth like sargassum into high-performance, bio-based ingredients for cosmetics, food, textiles, detergents, agriculture, and packaging.

Scientist. Builder. Activist. Yoga teacher.
Mari represents a new kind of industrial leader — one who believes bravery, not caution, will shape Europe’s economic future.

🌊 Company Snapshot

Origin by Ocean is pioneering a patented green biorefinery process that converts invasive brown algae (like sargassum) into biodegradable, bio-based chemical ingredients that replace fossil-based inputs.

✔️ First commercial-scale production plant under development in Finland
✔️ Industrial partnership with CABB Group
✔️ Engineering partner: Elomatic
✔️ Serving B2B industries across cosmetics, personal care, food, agriculture & materials

As highlighted in COSMΑ (9/2025), Origin by Ocean aims to open the world’s first commercial-scale sargassum facility by 2028

Cosma-Origin-by-Ocean-09-2025

This isn’t just cleaner chemistry.
It’s building a regenerative value chain where cleaning the ocean becomes an engine for economic renewal.

🔥 Highlights from the Conversation

Mari started refining algae in her kitchen before building an industrial biorefinery.

She gathered 12 advisors before even founding the company — creating a “soul circle” of wisdom and early believers.

Her biggest founder learning? Fundraising language matters as much as science.

Europe must stop over-analyzing risk and start building first-of-a-kind infrastructure.

She openly shares her toughest growth lesson: learning when not to trust too quickly.

Origin by Ocean actively promotes competitors’ regenerative ingredients in their demo products — expanding the market instead of fighting for a slice.

💬 Most Powerful Quote

“If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s going to be very difficult for others to believe in you.”

And another that stayed with us:

“We need bravery, not caution, to shape Europe’s future.”

🌟 Female Founder She Highlights

Mari cheers for Maija Itkonen, Founder & CEO of Onego Bio.

Why?
Because even in difficult markets, Maija carries visible positivity and grounded cheerfulness — a reminder that leadership energy matters just as much as strategy.

We love women who lift other women. That’s the Female Founders spirit.