Sustainable Ocean Alliance

Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a prominent global non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco, dedicated to fostering innovation and empowering a new generation of leaders to protect and restore the ocean. Established with a mission to support impactful solutions, SOA operates at the intersection of environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, SOA's investment approach is deeply rooted in its philanthropic objectives, aiming to catalyze early-stage ventures that align with critical ocean health challenges. Their unique model provides crucial catalytic capital and resources to startups that might otherwise struggle to secure initial funding in the specialized ocean economy.

SOA's primary mechanism for supporting startups is its highly regarded Ocean Solutions Accelerator program. This intensive three-month initiative provides early-stage ocean technology and conservation startups with essential seed funding, comprehensive mentorship, and unparalleled access to a global network of experts, investors, and industry leaders. Each startup accepted into the accelerator receives a standardized seed investment of $25,000. This non-dilutive capital is designed to help founders validate their concepts, build prototypes, and achieve key milestones, paving the way for larger follow-on investments from other sources. Since its inception in 2018, the accelerator has successfully supported 46 startups from 21 countries, demonstrating SOA's significant global reach and commitment to diverse solutions.

Beyond direct funding, SOA plays a vital role in building the broader ocean innovation ecosystem. They focus on solutions spanning sustainable aquaculture, marine plastic pollution, ocean data and analytics, renewable ocean energy, and blue carbon initiatives. Their holistic support extends to capacity building, strategic partnerships, and connecting entrepreneurs with a community passionate about ocean health. While their initial check size is fixed, SOA's value proposition lies in de-risking early-stage ventures and preparing them for subsequent growth, thereby attracting further capital into the critical ocean economy.