For Garret Huelson, the inspiration for Advanced Mineral Solutions came from a leisurely drive past Lake Waikare in 2017. The lake's bright green colour struck him, then a month later, he observed an unnatural purple, both a clear sign of an ecosystem overwhelmed by an algae bloom. After extensive research and conversations with local government authorities, Garret was inspired to find a way to help restore New Zealand's lakes and transform a toxic environmental problem into a viable and valuable resource.
Meet the founders of Advanced Mineral Solutions, one of 18 ventures taking part in the Sprout Accelerator Spring25 Cohort, who are tackling this challenge head-on. Joining Garret on the team are Rod Murray, an engineer with decades of international experience in water and wastewater, and Jeff Too, an automation specialist with expertise in aquatic drone technology. Together, they form a powerful trio looking to address a challenging environmental issue.
The problem is significant. Nutrient-rich runoff drives algae blooms that choke lakes, killing fish and plants while accelerating the decline in water quality. Traditional methods for treating algal blooms such as, chemical dosing, dredging, land use changes , and costly water diversion infrastructure, have slowed but not reversed the damage. Regional councils face projects costing hundreds of millions, often without certainty of long-term success. Enter Advanced Mineral Solutions.
The core idea behind the venture is an autonomous algae harvester designed to target and collect algae. By using wind and wave patterns to pinpoint areas where algae naturally accumulate, the harvester provides a cheap nutrient/nitrogen removal tool at 1/100th the cost of of existing mitigation options. Once harvested, the algae can be transformed into useful byproducts like organic biostimulants and pigments, effectively turning a pollutant into a resource, creating what the team calls an “economy of algae”.
Garret shares, “There is no shortage of Nitrogen and Phosphorus trapped in freshwater lakes around the rohe, 45.8% of 3,813 lakes are rated poor or very poor according to Stats NZ. If the harvesters can produce dried algae at scale, for under $500/tonne, then our tech will have transformed over a thousand degraded lakes into a massive resource, whereby biostimulant production essentially pays for lake restoration”
Like any startup journey, there have been interesting discoveries along the way. One early hurdle the team faced was how rapidly microalgae broke down after being removed from the water. The team quickly turned that challenge to their advantage, finding new opportunities for transformation into other products.
This summer marks an exciting milestone for the Advanced Mineral Solutions team, as they aim to deploy their first working prototype on a small lake in northern Waikato. With the support of iwi partners and regional councils, the venture aims to demonstrate that restoration of our important lakes and water sources can be done cost-effectively, sustainably, and at scale.
For Garret, it’s not just about proving the technology, it’s about showing communities that restoration is possible, and creating a lasting legacy. “Success for us is legacy,” he reflects. “In 20 or 30 years, we want kids to be able to swim, fish, and sail in the same lakes their grandparents once enjoyed.” Ultimately, the team's goal is to restore these lakes for the benefit of future generations.