Porto-based CleanTech startup Seamoretech, which develops technology to turn desalination waste into freshwater and valuable minerals, has raised €1.1 million in the first part of its Seed funding round.
The round included investments from Rypples, 7Seas Capital and Crédito Agrícola. These investors bring experience in the OceanTech and ClimateTech sectors.
“We are entering Seamoretech’s next phase with a clear ambition: to scale our technology, accelerate our market entry, produce freshwater at a lower cost, and establish a European reference in critical raw materials recovery, while helping protect marine ecosystems,” said Sofia Delgado, CEO and co-founder of Seamoretech.
Founded in 2021 by Delgado and Eva Sousa, Seamoretech started as a spin-off from the University of Porto’s Faculty of Engineering (FEUP). The company focuses on solving the problem of brine, a highly salty waste liquid produced during desalination. This waste is often discharged into the ocean, which can harm the marine environment.
Seamoretech has developed its own technology to turn this waste into useful resources. Its system recovers clean freshwater and valuable minerals, including magnesium, calcium, copper and lithium, from brine. These materials can be used in different industrial applications.
The company uses a container-based system that can be installed at existing industrial facilities. It uses a process called forward osmosis to recover water and minerals while aiming for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). This means the system is designed to prevent leftover liquid waste from being released back into the ocean.
The technology can also be added to existing facilities without stopping their operations or requiring plant operators to make an upfront investment in new infrastructure.
According to Seamoretech, its technology can double freshwater production, reduce energy use by 50% compared with traditional reverse osmosis systems and lower operating costs by 30%. The company also says its process can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional mineral mining.
Seamoretech aims to address two major challenges in Europe: water shortages and the need for a reliable supply of critical minerals. By recovering materials such as lithium and magnesium from local sources, the company wants to reduce dependence on imported raw materials and support more sustainable mineral production.
The new funding will help Seamoretech further develop its technology and expand its commercial operations. The company is planning to launch in Spain next year. It has already started building partnerships in the country and is developing potential pilot projects in several markets, including Spain and Egypt.
