Materials—
Discovered, Designed, Prototyped, Funded.
Building earth-positive ideas into venture backed companies
We help scientist-founders developing materials and ingredients tell their stories to captivate audiences, garner organic press and raise capital with ease.
Working with innovators around the world
Keep Earth Company is a design & venture studio supporting material innovators.
1. Materials
Discover & develop materials for your next product
2. Design
Build your start-up’s identity into a efficient and fundable brand
3. Prototype
Build v1 of your dream product and use it to tell your story
4. Fund
Hone your pitch into an irresistible offer for your dream investors
For start-ups, founders, and intrapreneurs:
S/01
Material Discovery
Find the right materials for your application or differentiate with something completely new.
S/02
Clean Messaging
Clarity creates organic press and VC interest. Tell your story right and watch the press flywheel grow.
S/03
Industrial Design
Create build products that delight humans and help humanity. We lead and support product development.
S/04
Fundraising Campaigns
Close in weeks not months. We've helped start-ups raise millions in as little as 3-6 weeks.
For investors, accelerators, and grant makers:
S/05
Technical Diligence
Understand technology risks and opportunities across materials, climate and biotech.
S/06
Portfolio Support
On-tap support for early stage portfolio companies.
Work together
Advisory
As needed support on material discovery, pitch development, market intelligence, and technical diligence.Hourly rates available
Collaborate
For regular projects that require a mix of advice and work. Great for long term projects or regular advising that gets sh*t done.Flat rates per quarter
All-in Support
Like an extra co-founder on-tap. We work according to need, whatever the business needs, as fast as possible, for a flat rate.Flat rates per quarter
Custom Project
Something specific in mind, like a new product, website or pitch? Let's talk—if I can't help I know who can.Project rates
From bio- and circular materials, to clean tech, climate tech or hard tech. If it has a Earth-positive outcome, we can help.
T/01
" Aaron has a unique ability to polish a team and their pitch into a WOW moment for every audience."
William Calvert
CEO & Co-founder, Return to VendorFrom start to signed term sheet in under three weeks.
Projects
W/01
The concept shoe that raised $2.3M
AlgiKnit
Developed footwear concept, design and prototypes that attracted organic press, brand and investor interest.
W/02
A backpack with spacesuit engineering
Final Frontier Design
Selected materials, designed and prototyped product.
W/03
The next-gen clothing repair patch
New New Patch
Researched and selected safe and performant materials, designed in-situ performance testing protocols, solved manufacturing challenges, developed marketing claims.
W/04
A lightweight bio-based braiding hair
Lillian Augusta
Advised on material design from concept stage through commercialization to created a product that is scalable, bio-based, compostable and performant.
W/05
The worlds first tampon from seaweed
Vyld
Supported material development, equipment sourcing & design, contracted research, manufacturing, and LCA.
W/05
Textiles with memory
TEK-Tiles Fellowship
Designed auxetic knit textiles showcased at the Queens Museum.
W/06
Flexible seaweed biomaterials
AlgiKnit
Developed chemical process to create novel (patented) seaweed-based material in multiple form factors.
W/07
Coming Soon
Keep Earth Co. x Fun Stuff Design
Novel material development, sourcing and manufacturing for packaging applications.
W/08
Coming Soon
Stealth
Developed novel material and application. Designed in-situ performance testing protocols. Techno-economic model.
T/02
" Aaron's advice put us on the path towards an amazing product."
Jannice Newson
CEO & Co-founder, Lillian AugustaDeveloped a novel braiding hair with bio-based and compostable materials
About
Working as a solo consultant, Aaron has helped launch clean-tech ventures and develop bio-based products from 0—1.
Aaron Nesser is an award winning scientist, designer, and entrepreneur dedicated to building Earth-positive businesses.He excels at working across disciplines, solving mission-critical challenges, and finding clarity in complex and dynamic environments.Keep Earth Co. was founded after Aaron served as CEO and CTO, of Keel Labs, working towards transforming the apparel ecosystem with kelp-derived textile fiber for six+ years.He obtained his Masters of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, and a Bachelors of Biology at Beloit College. His work has been exhibited around the world.
Press
P/01
“The most potential for innovation is found between information silos.”
P/02
“If designer and biologist Aaron Nesser ’11 has his way, your next pair of tennis shoes won’t last thousands of years in a landfill.”
Kiernyn Orne-Adams, Beloit College Magazine
P/03
Global Grad Show Success Story AlgiKicks by Aaron Nesser, Pratt Institute
P/04
“Seaweed Sneakers Look Fly, Could Help Save the Environment. The pitch: Just-in-time degradability”
Brad Jones, Futurism
P/05
AlgiKnit’s seaweed-sourced materials could mend the textile industry’s toxic habits
Kate Park, Techcrunch
P/06
How Can Nature Help Us Shape the Future of Materials?