Bionavitas' light technology

Redmond's Bionavitas claims to have come up with a "scientific breakthrough" to increase algae yields by introducing light rods deep in algae pools. That could have wide-ranging impacts on the biofuel industry, which is turning to algae as a possible fuel source. Algae grows so dense near the water surface that it can block sunlight needed for it to develop at greater depths. Researchers at Bionavitas believe they have solved that problem with their patent-ending Light Immersion Technology, which uses artificial and natural light to spur growth.

With the light rods in place, the company claims that it can grow algae up to one meter deep. That compares to current methods of about three to five centimeters.

"Our Light Immersion Technology gives algae a legitimate shot at becoming a cost-effective and sustainable biofuel feedstock because we have cracked the code of the previous problem related to self-shading in algae growth," said Bionavitas co-founder and CEO Michael Weaver in a press release.

Weaver is the former CEO of Applied Discovery, the Bellevue online legal document company that sold to LexisNexis for $95 million in 2003. It will be interesting to see whether Weaver can repeat that success in the clean tech arena.

Bionavitas isn't the only company looking to use light in innovative ways around here. Just don't confuse the company's Light Immersion Technology with the Light Infusion Therapy from Bellevue's Light Science Oncology. That technology uses light to trigger drugs that zap cancer cells.

In fact, the two companies share some other commonalities. James Chen, a co-founder and chief scientific officer at Light Sciences, sits on the board of Bionavitas. So does Craig Watjen, an early investor in Light Sciences.

In that regard, Bionavitas is pretty unique, pulling talent from Seattle's software and biotechnology industries to form a new clean tech business.

UPDATE: The company has been self-funded to date by the founders, but they are looking for a first round of venture funding. It currently employs six people, with another six to 10 contractors.