Our team is hard at work on a breakthrough solution to drastically reduce the methane produced by livestock around the world, naturally.
It’s going to be awesome.
Our Core Values
At Symbrosia we pride ourselves on a strong commitment to our values. They are integral to our team dynamic and our company identity:
Making mistakes is an essential part of learning.
We believe that fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement requires a willingness to take risks, make mistakes, and embrace failure as an opportunity for growth. We value individuals who demonstrate a growth mindset and are committed to ongoing personal development, while also practicing empathy for others striving to learn.
Climate change is a social science.
We believe climate justice is community and place-driven, and won’t be solved by the world’s billionaires alone. If our goal is to improve environmental well-being — people, their quality of life and cultural preservation are critical components of that. Our focus is on creating a positive impact for all stakeholders, rather than solely maximizing profits or personal success.
Timely transparency builds trust.
Employee to Employee - Empathetic Transparency creates a culture of mutual support, where everyone feels heard, understood, and valued.
Symbrosia to Employee - Radical Transparency creates a culture of trust, where everyone feels empowered to contribute to our success.
Symbrosia to the World - Thoughtful Transparency is being transparent with the public about our impact on society, the environment, and the communities where we operate.
Everyone, regardless of title, has unique experiences and knowledge.
We strive to create a culture where everyone feels empowered to share their ideas, perspectives, and expertise, and where all voices are heard and valued. Diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes as we create a culture that values and celebrates diversity. We don't have to conform to a certain look, behavior, or mindset. In fact, we are stronger when we embrace our diversity.
Take fun seriously.
By valuing both goals and fun, we create a culture where everyone feels empowered to achieve their best work and to enjoy the journey along the way. We believe that this approach creates a workplace that is both productive and fulfilling.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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Alexia Akbay
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
A member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 2022 class in the Social Impact category, Alexia founded Symbrosia. With a background in green chemistry and a lifetime growing up amid entrepreneurship, Alexia’s passion is climate innovation management. Her previous work focused on the effects petroleum-based consumer products on public health, medical marijuana and a blockchain-enabled carbon accounting system. She received an MPH from Yale and holds a B.S. from New York University in Chemistry. Outside of work, Alexia enjoys outrigger canoe, painting, cooking for friends, and volunteering for local organizations tackling waste and food sovereignty.
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Avery Kramer
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Avery has 15+ years of experience in the algae industry, working on global projects in North America, Europe, Africa, and Hawai'i. In 2007, he became the first employee at Cellana, a $100M Royal Dutch Shell JV focused on novel biofuel feedstocks from microalgae. He facilitated the construction of a world class algae pilot facility and led workflows in operations, quality assurance, and business development. He went on to consult for a number of early-stage carbon reduction companies to streamline operations as they moved toward commercialization. Avery received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and manages a small coffee farm with his family in Kailua-Kona, HI.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
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Mallory Honan PhD
ANIMAL SCIENCE & PRODUCT LEAD
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Kaulawena Reis-Moniz
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
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Heather Remo
HEAD OF MARKETING
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Ben Bergin
PROJECT MANAGER
CULTIVATION
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Amanda Pavese
CULTIVATION MANAGER
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Carl Yoshida
CULTIVATION LAB LEAD
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Samson Crawford
ALGAE PROCESSING LEAD
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Hoku Hudman
ALGAE TECHNICIAN
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Kyler Shigematsu
ALGAE LAB TECHNICIAN
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Rocky Thiel
ALGAE TECHNICIAN
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Charlotte Taylor
ALGAE TECHNICIAN
ENGINEERING
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Juan Alcala
FACILITY ENGINEER LEAD
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Andrew Cooper
AUTOMATION ENGINEER
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Aaron Gibb
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER
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Rob McKenzie
FACILITY ENGINEER
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
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Caroline Harmon
R&D Coordinator
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Claire Goloja
DATA LEAD
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Makanahele Emmsley
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Kayley Jakob
QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICIAN
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Shey Dorji
SPECIAL PROJECTS LEAD
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Martin Kennedy
RESEARCH ENGINEER
YOUTH CLIMATE ADVISORY BOARD
Youth are undeniably the biggest stakeholders in shaping the world we inherit, and we believe in their power to create a positive impact. Bodhi and Nava bring fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and a determination to combat climate change head-on. 💪🌿
Together, we will collaborate, innovate, and amplify the voices of the next generation, ensuring their ideas and solutions are at the forefront of our initiatives. 💡
Join us as we embark on this exciting journey, united in our shared vision for a world where the power of youth transforms our planet for the better. 🌏✨
Bodhi Patil, 21 years old
Bodhi Patil is a UN-recognized, award-winning GenZ ocean-climate “Solutionist” dedicated to improving the interconnectedness between ocean and human health. He is co-creator/cofounder of Ocean Uprise and SeaDragon Studios and advises several love-based eco-organizations on a mission to protect our planet. He is a student leader in the BA + Masters of Management program at the University of British Columbia studying oceans, climate action, and business. Connect with him and learn more here.
Navahine Fukumitsu, 16 years old
“My name is Navahine Fukumitsu and I’m from Hakipu‘u, O‘ahu. My family has farmed kalo on the same Kuleana lands in Hakipu‘u for 10 generations. I grew up living off the land and learning about the fragile connection we have to the ‘āina and the reciprocal relationship we share with our ecosystem. Through this connection to my home, I’ve felt and seen the many threats to the future of this place and so I strive to be an advocate and protector, most recently by becoming a plaintiff in the youth lead constitutional lawsuit Navahine F. vs Department of transportation. My biggest hope or dream is to be able to preserve and protect our ‘āina, our home, for future generations.
I dream that one day I will be able to watch as my children and grandchildren work in the lo‘i like I do, care for the land like I’ve grown up doing, and provide for their family with the kalo that they grow as our ‘ohana (family) has for so many generations.
This opportunity of being a youth advisor at Symbrosia is such a honor for me because I’m constantly striving to be more involved in efforts that actually perpetuate positive change. I’m so humbled and blessed to be a part of this amazing team that is taking huge strides to protecting our home and it’s future.”
Our Strategic Advisors
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Rani is the Managing Partner of Venvest Capital, an opportunistic equity investment & buyout firm. He previously served as director of Craftsman Capital Advisors, providing venture structure, financing, and merchant banking services for entrepreneurs and venture investors in the technology, biotechnology, and fashion industries. While President of USA Link, a mobile solutions provider, his team launched the first text messaging marketing campaign in the US for P&G. While co-founder and Chief Strategic Officer of Enverta, a B2B platform in the confectionery industry, he led corporate strategy and business development.
He received his BA in Economics from Yale University and his MBA in Entrepreneurship from MIT. He has helped raise $250M+ for ventures and investment funds and serves on the board of several companies.
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As a proud Belgian, Loick always had a passion for the transformation of raw materials into various types of food and the technology associated with it. He is currently the VP of Sales at Brightseed,AI-driven data and biosciences startup on a mission to illuminate nature to restore human health. Previously he was Head of the Life Science and Nutrition at Dohler, one of the largest food ingredient manufacturers in the world. There, he is responsible for the creation of a new division set to offer ingredient solutions to improve the nutrition benefits of food products. Prior to that he held various business development positions at Naturex and Cosucra, both strongholds in the plant-based food ingredient space.
Loick holds a Master degree in Biological Engineering from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and specialized in Fermentation Technologies at INAF. He also graduated from Yale University with an MBA focused in Sustainability.
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Jonathan is Sustainability Director at Thomas Foods International, an importer responsible for processing and distributing more than 100 million pounds of quality meat products year round throughout the USA. Prior he was head of sustainability at America’s largest Hispanic-owned meat processing company, Lopez Foods. Previously he guided Organic Valley to become the world's largest 100% renewably-powered food company. He has worked in sustainable agriculture and food systems for twelve years, to promote resilient food and energy systems and carbon drawdown.
Jonathan currently serves as a review board member of the natural products industry Climate Collaborative. He earned his MA in Environment & Community from Antioch University Seattle and resides in Ojai, California with his wife Vanessa and their two young children.