About Thalasso
A team shaped by the ocean, working for the ocean
Our highly skilled international team combines over 100 years of experience across blue economy, business development, biochemistry, and ocean sciences to deliver innovative solutions for people and planet.
Values
What guides us
Field-first
Every decision is grounded in direct engagement with coastlines, communities, and the operational reality of sargassum management.
Community-led
We build with the people who live with the ocean every day. Local knowledge is our foundation.
Scientifically honest
We only advance what the data supports. Rigour matters more than hype in this sector.
Commercially serious
Impact scales when the economics work. We treat commercial viability as an environmental strategy.
How we work
A practical approach for community-led sargassum management
01
Bloom
We coordinate with coastal communities to closely monitor sargassum blooms.
02
Harvest
We collect the seaweed before it hits the shore and becomes a hazard.
03
Assess
We holistically assess both the negative and potentially positive impacts of blooms.
04
Create value
We transform seaweed into valuable bi-products, ready to commercialize.
Our team
The people behind Thalasso
A small, senior team combining engineering, commercial development, and decades of experience delivering complex projects — with more people joining as the company grows.
Steven J. Keays
B.Eng., M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer
A licensed Professional Engineer with graduate-level engineering credentials and three decades of experience across aerospace, defense, energy, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. Steven has led complex capital projects, directed engineering and manufacturing operations, and built companies at the intersection of technical and commercial imperatives.
Frode Sønstebø
Founder & Commercial Director
Frode founded Thalasso and has led it from inception through R&D, investor engagement, and the delivery of its first commercial biorefinery. He has engaged directly with governments, industry partners, and affected communities across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, with a background spanning venture development and business development across Europe and Latin America.
Gilberto Sanchez Enkerlin
Chairman of the Board
Gilberto chairs the Thalasso board, bringing governance, regional insight, and long-standing business leadership to the company's strategic direction as it scales its biorefinery and harvesting programs.
Ehab Shaheen
MSc, PhD, P.Eng., PMP
Chief Technology Officer
Ehab leads Thalasso's technology development, bringing advanced engineering credentials and project management discipline to the design and delivery of the biorefinery and ocean harvesting platforms.
More team members joining soon.