SOA Hosts the First Annual SEA Summit 2024

San Francisco, CA — On October 1-2, 2024, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) hosted the first annual SOA Ecopreneur Activation Summit (SEAS) to activate our global network of ocean ecopreneurs and industry champions and foster greater action, innovation, and collaboration in the sustainable blue economy. 

RELATED | MEET THE ECOPRENEUR NETWORK

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, we gathered 90 ocean ecopreneurs, partners, mentors, investors, and beyond from 15 countries in the heart of San Francisco to celebrate our collective achievements and cultivate the next wave of innovations in ocean technology and restoration.

Day 1, October 1: Connect & Learn

On day one, we dove into the future of ocean technology with an immersive experience of ecopreneur innovations all across the city, including:

• Blue Ocean Gear’s award-winning smart buoy reducing the pollution of ghost fishing gear

• Hohonu’s next-gen water monitoring sensors gathering water data in real time for flood prevention and climate adaptation 

• An exciting demonstration of Reefgen’s coral and seagrass planting robots for restoration

• Several tours on the all-electric flying boat of the future, Navier

SOA Team Members (Left to Right): Chandana Jasti, Caroline Rosenberg, Anne Park, Craig Dudenhoeffer, Samanta Jovanovic, Jon Letts, Camila Vega

Group Photo at Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point

Ittinsect and Flexsea Team Members

Blue Ocean Gear's Smart Buoy

Panel: Marine Pollution and Fisheries: A Crisis for Ocean Health at Blue Ocean Gear HQ

Marine Pollution and Fisheries: A Crisis for Ocean Health panelists: Inty Gronneberg, Kortney Opshaug, Holly Kaufman, and Mojca Zupan

Navier flying hydrofoil electric boat in the SF Marina

Brian Glazer of Hohonu speaking on the company's water level data sensors in the SF Marina. 

Reefgen's seagrass planting robotic 'grasshopper'

Panel: Innovative Approaches to Ocean Restoration: Technology and Solutions at Reefgen HQ

Navier Hydrofoil Flying Electric Boat 

SEAS participants aboard the Navier Boat

SEAS participants at the Evening Reception, Swissnex SF, Pier 17

Benjamin Lesage (SOA) and Marcus Lehmann (CalWave)

Left to Right: Virginia Pan (SWEN Blue Ocean), Ashlan Cousteau (Seavoir), Craig Dudenhoeffer (SOA), Laura Francis (Sea Forward Fund) 

Left to Right: Carlo Fedeli (Flexsea), Alessandro Romano (Ittinsect), Guy Maurice (BZEOS)

Left to Right: Yanis Souami (Sinay), Daniela V. Fernandez (SOA), Inty Gronneberg (Ichthion)

Brittany Gamez (Muuse) and Alexei Levene (Desolenator) 

Thamires Pontes (Phycolabs) and Alyssa Pace (Sway) 

Left to Right: Kahan Chavda (INVERSA), Alivia Kaplan (INVERSA), and Matt Mulrennan (SOA) 

We also heard informative panels and unique insights at each site visit from experts and leaders across the sector:

• Panel on Marine Pollution and Fisheries: A Crisis for Ocean Health with Kortney Opshaug of Blue Ocean Gear, Mojca Zupan of PlanetCare, Inty Gronneberg of Ichthion, and moderated by Holly Kaufman, Co-Founder & Director at The Plastics & Climate Project

• Panel on Innovative Approaches to Ocean Restoration: Technology and Solutions with Tom Birbeck of ARC Marine, Chris Oakes of Reefgen, Austin Martin of Coral Vita, and moderated by Brad Ack, CEO at Ocean Visions

After a full day traveling around the City to experience firsthand ocean solutions in action, we ended Day 1 with a closing reception at Swissnex SF with the breathtaking San Francisco Bay as our backdrop. SOA's Founder & CEO Daniela V. Fernandez gave participants a warm welcome with her remarks, encouraging those present to engage with one another, share experiences, and discover new pathways of support.

Day 2, October 2: Network & Collaborate

Hosted at Salesforce Tower, the second day of SEAS focused on cultivating deeper connections with our ecopreneur community, including networking opportunities, informative panel discussions, and beyond. 

Highlights and key discussions included: 

• A heartfelt welcome to Salesforce Tower from Suzanne DiBianca, Salesforce Executive Vice President & Chief Impact Officer

• A surprise visit from award-winning National Geographic photographer and documentary filmmaker Louie Psihoyos alongside worked-renowned environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan to discuss his newest upcoming film on plastic pollution and its impact on human health.

• An honest and informative Seaside Chat moderated by myself with Tom Chi, Founding Partner at At One Ventures.

• A panel featuring some of our changemakers from the Ecopreneur Network to discuss their first-hand experiences in scaling ocean innovations: Lindsey Hoell of Dispatch Goods, Alain-Olivier Desbois of Oneka, and Yanis Souami of Sinay.

• And lastly, we heard about the future of ocean investing from a distinguished panel of venture capitalists and impact investors that was not dry of humor: Adam Draper (Founder and Managing Director at Boost VC), Mike Biddle (Partner at Evok Innovations), and Laura Francis (Director at Sea Forward Fund). 

Our final activity of the event before our closing reception asked all participants to write down a personal or professional commitment to our ocean. The responses were deeply inspiring and ranged from raising significant capital to personal lifestyle changes for ocean health and restoration.  

Ilaria Reale and Alessandro Romano of Ittinsect

Day 2 at Salesforce Tower

Kortney Opshaug (Blue Ocean Gear) with Daniela V. Fernandez and Benjamin Lesage (SOA)

SOA's Chandana Jasti and Anne Park

Members of the SOA Team (Left to Right): Anne Park, Daniela Fernandez, Chandana Jasti, Caroline Rosenberg, Camila Vega

Opening remarks from Daniela V. Fernandez (SOA)

Members of SOA's Solutions Team (Left to Right): Benjamin Lesage, Camila Vega, Matt Mulrennan, Samanta Jovanovic, Craig Dudenhoeffer

Ocean Bingo Networking Activity

Ocean Bingo Networking Activity

Mini 3D Printed Model of ARC Marine's Reefcubes

Daniela Fernandez (SOA) and Suzanne DiBianca (Salesforce)

Surprise panel discussion from Louie Psihoyos and Dr. Shanna Swan with Daniela Fernandez (SOA)

Group Photo Day 2 at Salesforce Tower

INVERSA invasive species-based leather sample made from invasive python 

Seaside Chat with Tom Chi (At One Ventures) and Daniela Fernandez (SOA)

Panel: Blue Economy Financing: What is the Future of Ocean Investing? with Mike Biddle (Evok Innovations), Adam Draper (Boost VC), and Laura Francis (Sea Forward Fund) moderated by Matt Mulrennan (SOA)

Closing remarks from Daniela Fernandez (SOA)

Closing Reception Day 2 at Salesforce Tower

Closing Reception Day 2 at Salesforce Tower

Craig Dudenhoeffer and Daniela Fernandez (SOA)

Throughout SEAS, the spirit of collaboration could be felt in every room at every moment. Participants walked away from SEAS uplifted and motivated by the ideas and innovations being brought forth by this vibrant community of ocean-dedicated individuals and companies.

It was an incredible two days in San Francisco and our team is so proud of what we were able to accomplish together. With the success of the inaugural launch of this event, Sustainable Ocean Alliance is so excited to continue to host SEAS annually.

Until next year... 'Sea' you then! 

View the full event photo gallery here.

Sustainable Ocean Alliance would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the following:

Event Venue Hosts:

Salesforce, Swissnex SF

Sponsors:

BMO

Speakers:

Holly Kaufman, Kortney Opshaug, Mojca Zupan, Inty Grønneberg, Brian Glazer, Brad Ack, Tom Birbeck, Chris Oakes, Austin Martin, Suzanne DiBianca, Louie Psihoyos, Dr. Shanna Swan, Tom Chi, Lindsey Hoell, Alain-Olivier Desbois, Yanis Souami, Adam Draper, Mike Biddle, Laura Francis, Victoria Raiser

SOA Team:

Daniela V. Fernandez, Craig Dudenhoeffer, Caroline Rosenberg, Camila Vega, Matt Mulrennan, Benjamin Lesage, Chandana Jasti, Jon Letts, Anne Park, Samanta Jovanovic, Sabrina Skelly

Event Producer:

Patrick La Cotera, LALO Productions

Videographer:

Corey Sheppard, Cut Canvas