Compound
By Samuel Wines
31 March 2026
Compound explores what becomes possible when we begin treating the ocean not as a resource to extract, but as a living system to work with. Their scope focuses on marine bioproducts with a priority on algae (both micro and macro) as foundational organisms with the potential to reshape how we think about materials, food, carbon, and coastal economies.
What they’re building isn’t a single product or solution. It’s closer to a platform rooted in biology – one that spans cultivation, processing, and application. From seaweed farming to bioplastics, fertilisers, and bio-based inputs, Compound is working across the full value chain, asking how algae can support systemic innovation through seeding regenerative industries that restore ecosystems while creating new forms of value.
There’s a strong systems logic to their work. Algae sits at the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and material innovation, sequestering carbon, improving water quality, and supporting marine life, while also offering viable alternatives to petrochemical-based products. Compound is leaning into this complexity, designing interventions that operate across scales, from local coastal communities to global supply chains.
At the heart of Compound are its founders, Simon Beirouti and Vasundhara Gaur.
Simon brings a deep sensitivity to ecological systems, paired with a builder’s mindset. His work is grounded in understanding how natural systems function and how technology can support – rather than override – those dynamics. There’s a quiet intentionality to how he approaches problems, often holding the long-term implications alongside the immediate task at hand.
Vasundhara moves with equal fluency across strategy, design, and storytelling. She brings a strong orientation toward commons thinking, not just about what is being built, but who it serves and how value is shared. Her work carries a clarity of vision, paired with an ability to translate complex ideas into tangible, real-world pathways.
Together, they’re building something that feels both experimental and grounded (our favourite combo). There’s ambition here, but not in the conventional startup sense. It’s more about exploring a different relationship with the ocean, and what kinds of ventures emerge when you start from that place.
From a CoLabs perspective, Compound represents the kind of work we’re excited to see more of: ventures that are biologically grounded, systemically aware, and oriented toward regeneration. Not just reducing harm, but actively contributing to the health of ecosystems and communities.
It’s still early. But that’s part of the energy. Compound is not arriving with fixed answers; they’re striving to continually ask better questions, building as they go, and inviting others into the process.
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