Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California that develops leaders, cultivates ideas, and accelerates solutions in the field of ocean health and sustainability.
Daniela V. Fernandez founded SOA in 2014 while she was an undergraduate to give young people a voice and a platform to effect real change on behalf of our ocean and climate. Daniela has since been inducted to 2019’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the World Economic Forum’s Friends of Ocean Action.
In alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, SOA addresses the greatest threats to the global ocean through two programs:
The Ocean Leadership Program provides a platform to build the capacity and connectivity of young leaders from around the world in taking effective and meaningful ocean related action. The program offers access to a global network of ocean leaders from over 80 countries, and provides a platform to develop, advance, and collaborate on innovative ocean initiatives and solutions.
SOA fosters the leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit of our ocean leaders and challenges them to design creative policy and business initiatives, while providing them access to high-level summits to showcase their ideas and solutions. SOA’s pipeline of ocean leaders is cultivated through a hub-based model, led by students at the collegiate and young professional level. Each Ocean Solutions Hub takes on a unique project, ranging from running ocean hackathons, executing high-impact advocacy campaigns, hosting community-centered workshops, and leading regional ocean convenings.
In 2018, SOA launched the world’s first Ocean Solutions Accelerator. Due to the success with its First Wave Cohort of ocean entrepreneurs, SOA is tripling its impact in 2019 by accepting 15 startups into the program. The 2019 cohort will also be invited aboard our Accelerator at Sea in partnership with Lindblad Expeditions.
The program offers ocean-tech startups rigorous curriculum that encourages personal development and executive training, as well as provides them guidance from a global community of ocean experts, marine scientists, seasoned entrepreneurs, experienced investors and esteemed mentors. At the conclusion of the program, the entrepreneurs will showcase their ideas on stage for a Demo Day in front of high-level investors and key media.
“By utilizing emerging technologies and engaging multiple stakeholders across the public, private and civil society sectors, SOA’s Ocean Solutions Accelerator provides the tools needed for scalable businesses that unlock the potential of a sustainable ocean economy.”
– Daniela V. Fernandez, CEO, and Founder of SOA.
June 28, 2019
January 22 – 24, 2019
November 13, 2018
Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 honors Daniela V. Fernandez, CEO
