The Chilean startup SeaWater 21 is looking to revolutionize the food industry and expand its international presence with an innovative drink based on seawater extracted from Lebu. They already export to Paraguay and Uruguay, and this year hope to expand to the Caribbean and Mexico.
In the middle of the pandemic, a simple curiosity transformed into a business idea with significant international reach.
Today, SeaWater 21 produces 40,000 bottles of isotonic drink made with seawater extracted from the coast of Chile per month, and plans to double production by the end of the year.
The goal? To become a benchmark for innovation in the Chilean food industry and conquer new markets.
An unexpected origin: from Covid-19 to innovation
SeaWater 21 was launched in 2022, following two years of research and development led by engineers Francisco Asmussen and Christian Parada, as reported by Diario Financiero.
The initial spark came during the pandemic, when Asmussen discovered a company that filled nasal decongestants with seawater.
«From that point, I was left wondering why this raw material was given so little use in the food industry,» he explains.
It was then that he contacted Parada, who had been his client at an olive oil packaging company, and together they began developing a preliminary project to evaluate the business’s viability.
The market had already been giving them clear signals: «Seawater has a lot of minerals and, on the commercial side, the isotonic drinks category in Chile moves 4 million liters per month, equivalent to a market of US$ 46 million,» Asmussen states.
Inspired by examples such as tennis player Rafael Nadal, who hydrates with seawater-based drinks, the entrepreneurs decided to get moving.
Lebu: Starting point for food innovation
One of the main challenges was identifying a suitable source of seawater. After consulting with a fishing company, they chose Lebu in the Biobío Region, due to its isolation from rivers and urban areas. After obtaining the necessary permits, they extracted 120 liters for analysis.
«The samples showed the presence of 21 minerals, hence the name SeaWater 21 Iones,» Asmussen explains.
Today, the company extracts 4,000 liters of seawater, which are transported to Santiago, where they undergo a purification process before being transformed into three types of isotonic drinks.
Domestic and international expansion
They began marketing their products in 2023, and they are currently available in Jumbo and Copec gas stations.
They produce 40,000 bottles per month, and hope to reach 100,000 by the end of the year.
Internationally, they have reached distribution agreements with Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. By 2024, their goal is to enter the Caribbean and Mexico.
«We see a tremendous opportunity,» Asmussen says.
An opportunity to invest in food innovation
The case of SeaWater 21 is a concrete example of the potential for innovation in the Chilean food industry.
The product, based on an abundant, sustainable and underexploited raw material, along with its focus on health and well-being, reflects an attractive path for foreign investment.
Chile, with its privileged geography and active entrepreneurial ecosystem, is positioning itself as a development hub for the agri-food tech industry.
Initiatives like SeaWater 21 are opening up new opportunities to diversify investment portfolios and respond to the demands of increasingly conscious and globalized consumers. To learn more about investment opportunities in Chile, check out our website or contact us,
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