The Story of Phytabar: Bringing Omega-3s to the Chocolate Aisle

The Story of Phytabar: Bringing Omega-3s to the Chocolate Aisle

Phytabar is a nutrition bar that harnesses the power of seaweed to bring important nutrients, like omega-3s, to the widespread population. The journey of Phytabar began with a Northeastern student becoming what we like to call, a sjomatinfluencer (sjomatin, meaning seafood in Icelandic). Racking up almost 18m likes on TikTok, our story starts with James Sibley. 

James Sibley is a Northeastern student and one of the founders of Phytabar, a seaweed chocolate nutrition bar packed with omega-3s. He started his journey in the health foods world first during a co-op at Whole Foods. There, he filmed videos explaining the science behind fish and seafood. He also recognized the important health benefits of omega-3s. These videos quickly gained traction on TikTok, showcasing James’s talent and the market’s intrigue into the marine health world.

An Innovative Idea

Despite his success on TikTok, James noticed a significant gap in the American market: no one was using seaweed as a primary source of omega-3s. Seaweed, a nutrient-dense and sustainable superfood, was virtually untapped. Inspired by this observation, James had a lightbulb moment—why not mix seaweed with something everyone knows and loves: chocolate?

The Perfect Partnership

As James was refining his idea, he met Sebi in a marketing class the following semester. Their class had a unique opportunity: students could pitch their business ideas, and the top three would be chosen for class projects. Sebi was so inspired by James’s quick pitch of Phytabar that he wrote a three-page essay to his professor, passionately requesting to join James’s team.

Prototyping and Testing

With Sebi on board, the founding duo set to work in James’s kitchen, making prototypes of their take on an omega-3 rich healthy snack. It took three rounds of prototyping to perfect the nutrition bar, ensuring it was both delicious and nutritious. The initial feedback was positive, and they knew they had something special on their hands.

Husky Startup Challenge

Their big break came during the Husky Startup Challenge, a Northeastern startup pitch event. James and Sebi had finished prototyping and were ready to see how the people reacted. They pitched Phytabar to the challenge judges and their peers, hoping their innovative nutrition bar would stand out.

And it did. Phytabar won first place for both the students’ favorite and the judges’ favorite, a testament to its potential and the hard work James and Sebi had put into it.

Phytabar Today

Today, Phytabar is more than just a nutrition bar; it's a mission-driven company dedicated to addressing the widespread omega-3 deficiency in a delicious and sustainable way. By combining seaweed, a nutrient powerhouse (especially rich in omega-3s), with chocolate, James and Sebi have created a product that’s as enjoyable as it is beneficial.

Phytabar’s story is one of student innovation, perseverance, and the power of omega-3s. From a Whole Foods co-op to a winning pitch at the Husky Startup Challenge, James and Sebi’s journey demonstrates that with the right mix of passion and creativity, you can turn a simple idea into a groundbreaking product.

Join us on our journey towards better health and sustainability with Phytabar. Whether you’re looking to improve your omega-3 intake, enjoy a tasty snack, or support sustainable nutrition, Phytabar nutrition bars are here for you. Together, we can make a difference, one bar at a time.

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