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About Us
About Us
Founded in 2025 by Karley Stephens and Adrianna Sasser, we are a bio‑focused start up set on creating gouache and acrylic-like paints from algae and sustainably sourced and eco- and human-friendly additives.
We met in a bio-innovation and design class at the Missouri University of Science and Technology where we partnered up for a class project to design a biological solution to a widespread problem. As scientists and artists, we decided to put our diverse skill-sets together to solve the widespread reliance on traditional synthetic paints like watercolor, gouache, and acrylic.
Traditional synthetic paints often contain heavy metals, petroleum‑based pigments, microplastics, and harsh additives which can harm artists and the environment. Artists with conditions like asthma or eczema can have symptoms triggered by these compounds, and water ecosystems are overloaded with toxic inputs from synthetic paints.
Our answer is to build a simpler, safer, and sustainable alternative that still delivers vibrant, professional‑quality color to artists of all ages and experience levels: MicroHues!
The public reaction to our idea was overwhelmingly positive. Neither of us expected to gain so much support so quickly! We soon outgrew the classroom, leading us to officially register the business and continue raising funds to bring our paints to the public.
Since our founding in December of 2025, we have:
Since our founding in December of 2025, we have:
Pitched at our university's Start-Up Challenge and placed First winning a $4,000 seed fund for development of our paints
Applied for and been accepted into the national VentureWell E-Teams Pioneer Program for Start Up Businesses which granted $5,000 in funding, a two day workshop in Boston, MA, and the opportunity to apply for the Propel Program
Developed a prototype formula that we can't wait to share with the world!
Want to try MicroHues yourself? Use the form below to join our team of Beta Testers!
About You
About You
MicroHues couldn't have made it this far without the help and support of so many others, and it will take the help and support of many more to meet our goal of bringing a safe and sustainable paint alternative to every artist!
Because of this, and because we are only two people with limited expertise in many of the areas we are finding ourselves in, we have decided to try something we don't think many start ups have tried before...
We are creating this space for anyone interested in our idea to offer their time and and expertise to help us make this happen!
Volunteers, like you, can use this site to browse and identify projects they find interesting, sign up for them, and keep track of their progress and contributions which will be public to all. These contributions won't be a huge time commitment, and will make an excellent addition to a resume.
When MicroHues LLC commercializes, we will be hiring our dream team from this very pool of volunteers first!
When MicroHues LLC commercializes, we will be hiring our dream team from this very pool of volunteers first!
Interested? Check out the Project Dashboard!
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