Portrait No. 001
Alissa Miky
Founder, CEO
Aqua Theon Inc.
Raised — 13M in seed
I moved to Los Angeles with only two suitcases and $15,000, determined to start a business. To save money, I ate cheap, greasy bread, which led me to gain 33 lbs in three months. Afterward, I was diagnosed with cancer, though I am now in remission. This difficult experience made me rethink my relationship with food and its impact on health. When reflecting on the roots of Japanese food culture, I focused on seaweed as a key ingredient and began developing products based on it. Today, seaweed-based food products, which have been a staple in Japan for centuries, are gaining global attention. With people around the world seeking simple, authentic ingredients and growing demand for nutrient-dense, environmentally-friendly foods, now is the perfect time to help guide people toward healthier choices. I believe this is the moment to deliver real, wholesome food that supports both health and sustainability.
In her words
“As a cancer fighter and immigrant founder, I raised $13M in seed capital to pioneer seaweed technology, a space many investors once doubted.”
Chapter I
The toughest challenges you've faced as a founder.
Moving to Los Angeles with no connections and starting a business from scratch with limited funds was the biggest challenge I faced. Being a woman and an immigrant created additional barriers to building trust and credibility, and even during fundraising, I encountered situations where people spoke down to me simply because I am a woman. My first venture, the luxury wagashi brand Misaky.Tokyo, faced major challenges, including social media harassment following a collaboration with Kim Kardashian. A misunderstanding led to accusations of copying another product, but instead of reacting emotionally, I responded calmly and communicated transparently. After sharing my experience on TikTok, more than 4,000 supporters—many from minority communities—publicly defended me. Overcoming these challenges strengthened my resilience and accelerated my growth as a founder. Today, I have raised $13 million in funding and built strong partnerships with investors and customers. My seaweed-based functional beverage brand, OoMee, launched last May and expanded to 700 retail locations within five months. OoMee has received multiple industry honors, including being named a 2025 and 2026 Expo West NEXTY Awards Finalist, an Albertsons Innovation Launchpad 2026 Finalist, and winning the 2025 Beverage Digest Award for “Best New Drink Concept.”
Chapter II
Your vision.
At Aqua Theon, our care for health, people, and the planet guides every decision we make. Aqua Theon means “warrior of the sea,” and our mission is to protect both the environment and human health for future generations. Seaweed is an underappreciated resource, yet it benefits both the body and the planet. Using our proprietary technology, we make it accessible in everyday products beyond traditional seaweed items like nori or chips. One example is OoMee, a seaweed-based functional beverage platform powered by Seabiotics™, designed to help people navigate “food noise” and fleeting nutrition trends while supporting mindful, sustainable choices. The name OoMee comes from the Japanese word for ocean, “Umi,” and encourages a sense of self-affirmation and self-love. Through delicious, seaweed-based functional beverages, we aim to promote inner beauty, well-being, and joy, while contributing to a sustainable, climate-positive food system.
Chapter III
The impact you want to leave behind — for your industry, your community, and the women who come next.
Over the next 30 years, we aim to help people live healthier lives through simple, truly healthy ingredients that reduce reliance on medical intervention. As a cancer survivor, I experienced the gap between food and healthcare firsthand, which shaped our mission to create products that are good for both the body and the planet. I also hope to honor my Japanese American roots by sharing Japanese culture globally and supporting future entrepreneurs. Our goal is to build a $400M, mission-driven company that expands access to healthy living while creating meaningful jobs and lasting social impact.