Cascadia Seaweed: Scaling a Regenerative Aquaculture Business

Name: Cascadia Seaweed: Scaling a Regenerative Aquaculture Business (English version)
SKU: W50156

Oana Branzei, Michael R. King, Jie Zhang

Product #:W50156

Supplier:Ivey

Discipline:Entrepreneurship, Sustainability

Setting:Canada, 2025

Details:Case (PDF) • 14 pages • 2026-05-27

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Cascadia Seaweed Corp. (Cascadia) was a vertically integrated regenerative aquaculture company based in British Columbia. Cascadia cultivated kelp on First Nation–owned ocean tenures and processed it into seaweed-based biostimulants and animal feed additives for the agricultural sector. In July 2025, cofounder and chief executive officer Michael Williamson faced a pivotal scaling decision. Following a CA$4 million Series A financing, the company was expanding production capacity but faced uncertainty around market demand, distribution, and product adoption. Williamson had to decide whether to deepen Indigenous ownership, partner with a global agribusiness incumbent, or position Cascadia for a future initial public offering.

Learning Objectives

This case is suitable for introductory and advanced undergraduate or graduate courses in sustainability, entrepreneurship, strategy, and finance. It is particularly well suited to courses that examine how firms scale mission-driven or regenerative business models while navigating trade-offs among growth, governance, and capital structure. The case can also be used in interdisciplinary courses that explore Indigenous economic reconciliation, Indigenous–settler partnerships, and the role of business in supporting self-determination and stewardship.

After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following:

Define and evaluate the concept of regeneration and explain how Cascadia illustrates the defining characteristics of a regenerative business model.
Analyze and explain economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, assessing how Cascadia operationalizes reconciliation through partnerships with coastal First Nations.
Assess and apply the concept of reciprocity by examining how Cascadia’s relationships with First Nations shape its business model and long-term value creation.
Identify and evaluate the strategic options available for Cascadia to scale the business, with particular attention to constraints related to market demand and distribution.