The Ocean Age

#48: Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy (World Ocean Council) – Getting Proven Solutions Past the Pilot Stage

Learn more about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk, Barcelona, 1st Nov 2026 Too many proven ocean solutions never make it past the pilot stage. Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy wants to fix that by replicating what already works: getting tested solutions into many ports, cities, and projects at once, with the funding to match. Stewart’s bio: Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy works at the intersection of ocean leadership, innovation, investment and storytelling, with 15+ years advancing resilience and “precovery” across public and private sectors. As CEO and Managing Director of the World Ocean Council, he brings leaders together to drive practical, regenerative solutions for a resilient blue economy. He is also Co-Founder of Okhtapus and O Lab, connecting innovators, enablers and funders “from reef to roof,” and founder of Precovery Labs, where creativity and visual storytelling help turn ideas into impact. Stewart is a mentor, educator, and advisor, as well as a sailor, swimmer and professional photographer. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:08 - “Turdles” 00:04:15 - Wastewater as the forgotten piece of the blue economy 00:08:05 - What decentralised wastewater treatment looks like 00:15:40 - Precovery and the disaster, rebuild, repeat treadmill 00:21:15 - Blue Mind and why access to water should not be a privilege 00:30:15 - Why so many proven ocean solutions stall at the pilot stage 00:40:25 - The three hearts of Okhtapus: innovators, enablers, and funders 00:43:25 - How a port finds and buys a solution 00:51:10 - Why Okhtapus is not an accelerator, and how it makes money 01:01:20 - The World Ocean Council’s new strategy 01:05:50 - Tomorrow Blue Economy and the Walk & Talk event in Barcelona Useful Links & Resources: Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy on LinkedIn World Ocean Council: Website, LinkedIn, and Instagram Okhtapus: Website and LinkedIn Tomorrow.Blue Economy World Congress The Ocean Age Walk & Talk Turtles, not Turdles, Stewart’s article for the Ocean Sewage Alliance Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols Get in touch with The Ocean Age’s host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, X or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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#47: Catarina Ricca (Ínclita Seaweed Solutions) – The Biotechnologist Who Learnt the Science of Selling

Here is a link to get more information about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Getting the science right turns out to be the easy part. Catarina Ricca trained as a biotechnologist and spent years in the lab before crossing over to the commercial side of the business. At Ínclita Seaweed Solutions she takes seaweed-based active ingredients into cosmetics, an industry with long buying cycles, gatekeepers at every stage, and firm ideas about what a product should look and smell like. This is a practical walk-through of how that market actually works and what it takes to get an ingredient into it, with many of the tactics being transferable to many other B2B go-to-market strategies. Catarina's bio: Catarina Ricca is Business Development Manager at Ínclita Seaweed Solutions in Porto, where she has led the commercial side of the business since 2023. She trained as a biotechnologist at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia of Universidade Católica Portuguesa and holds an MSc in Technology, Science and Food Safety from Universidade do Porto. She started her career in the lab, running yeast cultures in the beverage industry, before moving into genetics and preclinical work, then crossing over to the commercial side selling genetic tests to hospitals.She then spent thirteen years in software, mostly SaaS, doing business development and product management. Ínclita was founded in 2018 as the first spin-off of CIIMAR, the marine research centre at the University of Porto. It develops seaweed-based active ingredients using green extraction methods and a biorefinery approach aimed at zero waste, starting with cosmetics and expanding into nutraceuticals, pet care, food, and biostimulants. The company reports five patents submitted, full traceability from sea to factory, and opened its own biorefinery in Portugal in 2026. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:29 - Deciding at fifteen to become a biotechnologist 00:20:24 - The three-hour conversation that led to Ínclita 00:23:50 - What Ínclita does and why it started with cosmetics 00:26:27 - Building a second revenue stream through co-development 00:38:45 - The emerald green extract nobody would buy 00:43:23 - Rebuilding the roadmap around colour and scent 00:49:21 - The green premium and who ends up paying for it 00:58:05 - Why distributors will carry most of the revenue 01:07:46 - Formulators, marketing, and the people who sign the order 01:26:21 - Pastéis de nata and the small things buyers remember 01:46:43 - A call for unity across the seaweed industry Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Catarina Ricca on LinkedIn ISS - Ínclita Seaweed Solutions: Website, LinkedIn, and Instagram Derek Sivers on the CD Baby order email Fed mentions: The most successful email I ever wrote Derek Sivers' book Anything You Want Ínclita at Cosmetorium, Barcelona, 21 and 22 October Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, X or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#46: Robert Bergstrom (OceanWell Water) – Fresh Water From the Depths of the Ocean

Here is a link to get more information about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Episode Intro: California is in its deepest drought in 1,200 years, and Robert Bergstrom reckons that without the ocean the state would have to depopulate. He spent decades building desalination plants the traditional way: on land, pumping seawater up, pressurising it, and pushing salty brine back out. Now he is sinking the membranes 450 metres down and letting the ocean's own pressure do the work for free. No high-pressure pumps, no marine life caught in the filters, and a far weaker brine. Robert's bio: Robert Bergstrom is the founder and CEO of OceanWell, a Californian water technology company building subsea desalination. He has worked on desalination since 1996 and came into water from a career in finance. He founded Seven Seas Water, growing it from two people in a pickup truck into a business that built and operated plants across the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands. He retired in 2012, then came back to solve the problem he had spent his career working around. OceanWell was founded in 2019 with Charlie McGarraugh and Michael Porter. Its pods sit roughly 450 metres below the surface, where natural hydrostatic pressure drives reverse osmosis instead of high-pressure pumps. Each pod is about the size of an upright school bus and can produce up to a million gallons of fresh water a day. The company raised an $11m Series A backed by Kubota, is developing Water Farm 1 in California's Santa Monica Bay with a group of regional water agencies including Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, and has signed an MOU with Eau d'Azur to develop a demonstrator off Nice. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:53 - Why the water crisis is getting worse 00:01:56 - Atmospheric thirst and what one degree does 00:04:49 - California's deepest drought in 1,200 years 00:08:15 - Thirty years in water and building Seven Seas Water 00:09:54 - What desalination actually is, from thermal to reverse osmosis 00:13:22 - Brine, marine life, and the cost of pressurising water 00:21:02 - How OceanWell differs: using the ocean's own pressure 00:28:21 - Pods, umbilicals, and what a water farm looks like 00:33:59 - Serving 10% of the Los Angeles area, and who buys the water 00:45:17 - Permitting, and regulations written for older technology 00:58:35 - The Colorado River, water wars, and water exchange Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Robert Bergstrom on LinkedIn OceanWell: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, X or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#45: Tom Pickerell (World Resources Institute) – Energy, Food, and Data: This Is Where the Demand Is in the Blue Economy

Here is a link to get more information about the Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Episode Intro: Continuing on the quest to find out where the demand is for startups to build in the blue economy. Today we get a big-picture view that identifies three pillars, energy, food, and data, and the opportunities lying within each of them. Tom Pickerell thinks that this is where founders should look, and crucially he thinks that a lot of it can be done by leveraging existing technology. He's been an advisor to government ministers, heads of state, and company CEOs on scaling a sustainable ocean economy, so he's got a well-rounded understanding of the challenges, the opportunities, and what needs to be done. Tom's bio: Dr Tom Pickerell is Global Director of the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute (WRI) and head of the Secretariat for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, a group of 19 serving world leaders working to advance a sustainable ocean economy. He is a marine biologist with over 20 years in ocean sustainability, covering fisheries, aquaculture, climate impacts, and policy. He has worked in UK government and at Pew, WWF-UK, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch programme, and he was Executive Director of the Global Tuna Alliance, which grew under his leadership from a handful of UK founding members to 53 members covering roughly a third of the tuna sector. He holds a degree in marine biology, a master's in analytical biology, and a PhD in shellfish genetics. WRI is a global research organisation working on climate, nature, and people, with over 1,700 staff and offices around the world. Its Ocean Program focuses on ocean-based climate action, sustainable blue food, ocean equity, and ocean finance, and serves as the Secretariat for the Ocean Panel, whose members have committed to sustainably managing 100% of the ocean under their national jurisdiction, guided by Sustainable Ocean Plans. Tom is based in WRI's London office. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:59 - Tom's role at WRI and the Ocean Panel 00:02:59 - The shift from conservation to food, energy, and security 00:04:26 - The three pillars of demand: energy, food, and data 00:06:22 - Five gigatons of savings using technology that already exists 00:09:20 - Decarbonising shipping and why ports are the bottleneck 00:14:04 - Marine protected areas and the return on investment problem 00:16:23 - The 100% approach: protect 30, sustainably use 70 00:26:51 - Blue foods, overfishing, and the 15% of the catch thrown away 00:28:16 - Getting 100% out of a fish, from Iceland to Namibia 00:37:04 - Seaweed and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture 00:39:26 - Ocean data, the funding gap, and who takes the first risk Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Tom Pickerell on LinkedIn. World Resources Institute: Website, Ocean Program, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (the Ocean Panel): Website. The published Sustainable Ocean Plans Tom mentions in the episode: Ocean Panel. Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, X or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

#44: Chris Gorell Barnes (Ocean 14 Capital) – An Investor’s View on the Biggest Opportunity in the Blue Economy

Here is a link to get more information about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Episode Intro: The blue economy is growing fast. It's expected to reach US$3 trillion by 2030. And if you're an ocean founder, you may be wondering: where is that growth happening? How do I tap into that potential and contribute to positive change? Chris Gorell Barnes from Ocean 14 Capital thinks the biggest opportunity to drive growth is to transition the established, proven businesses to become more modern, digitalised, and sustainable. Plug innovation into what already exists rather than building something new from scratch. Chris's bio: Chris Gorell Barnes is a Founding Partner at Ocean 14 Capital, an impact fund investing in the blue economy. Before he moved into ocean investment, he built a career in media and marketing, founding the brand communications agency Adjust Your Set, which he later sold to the OLIVER group, and producing the award-winning documentary The End of the Line, about the global overfishing crisis. He also co-founded the Blue Marine Foundation, a marine charity that creates marine reserves and works to establish sustainable models of fishing. Ocean 14 Capital backs growth-stage businesses across the blue economy, from sustainable aquaculture and alternative proteins to seaweed and plastics, all guided by UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. Launched in 2020, its first fund closed at €201 million, making it one of the largest dedicated to the blue economy, with backers including Nestlé, the European Investment Fund, Monaco's sovereign wealth fund, and Skype founder Niklas Zennström. The firm is a certified B Corp. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:25 - Who Chris is and what Ocean 14 Capital does 00:02:53 - The fund's two themes, food security and marine ecosystems 00:03:23 - Kingfish and the case for land-based fish farming 00:04:47 - Why the real gap is growth capital, not startup money 00:05:46 - Transitioning fish farms off Excel spreadsheets 00:08:38 - Venture fatigue and the shift to growth equity 00:11:33 - The biggest misconception about the ocean 00:12:30 - Why SDG 14 is the least funded goal 00:15:22 - Where investors lose money, insect protein and RAS 00:20:40 - The sales problem holding blue economy businesses back 00:26:23 - Final advice, do your homework first Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Chris Gorell Barnes on LinkedIn Ocean 14 Capital: Website, LinkedIn, and Instagram Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, X or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

#43: Jeremy McKane (OCN.ai) – Turning Ocean Protection Into Profit

Here is a link to get more information about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Episode Intro: Can marine protected areas be profitable? Most ocean protection runs on government aid and philanthropic foundations. However, Jeremy McKane thinks the only way to make protection permanent is to make it pay for itself. He's the CEO of OCN.ai, and he's building the data infrastructure that lets investors see whether ocean assets are actually performing, turning ocean protection from a leap of faith into something you can actually invest in. Jeremy’s bio: Jeremy McKane is the founder and CEO of the Ocean Currency Network (OCN), where he combines over 30 years of tech experience with marine conservation. His career began in tech, and he built OCN.ai, a platform that monitors marine ecosystems and verifies blue carbon credits using real-time data updated every 30 minutes, a major leap from the traditional five-year reporting cycle. Described as a "Fitbit for the ocean," the platform helps unlock revenue through biodiversity and blue carbon credits, with partners including PwC, The Crown Estate UK, and Blue Green Future. He's also an underwater photographer and installation artist and co-founded Ultramarine on Richard Branson's Necker Island, an initiative focused on protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:10 - Jeremy McKane’s mission at OCN.AI 00:02:10 - Technology as way of exporting value from oceans whilst preserving them 00:02:30 - What is a digital MRV platform and how it applies to ocean conservation 00:03:20 - What an healthy ocean and marine protection are worth to any individual 00:04:10 - Using the market forces as an answer to value the ocean without taking from it 00:06:30 - Better than ordinary carbon credits, with OCN technology tracking capabilities 00:07:10 - Developing Marine conservation areas as a parenting model: funding the development phase to pass the assets on the markets where they can self-sustain 00:08:10 - Misconceptions about carbon credits, learning from past mistakes to improve 00:09:30 - Pricing natural resources to bridge the language and understanding and language 00:10:50 - Working within the system rather than against the system 00:12:10 - Technology, AI, and spotting ocean anomalies before catastrophe 00:13:10 - Why risk assessment matters to ocean investors 00:15:10 - The British Virgin Islands pilot, capacity building, and a nature-based economy Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Jeremy McKane on LinkedIn Jeremy McKane’s website OCN.ai: Website *** Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. The show notes for this episode were produced by Cecilia Bombonato. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#42: Ralph Chami (Blue Green Future) – How Much Is a Whale Worth, Dead or Alive?

Here is a link to get more information about The Ocean Age Walk & Talk and join the waitlist. Ralph’s bio: Ralph Chami is the CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Green Future and Rebalance Earth. He spent 25 years at the International Monetary Fund, most recently as Assistant Director, before turning his focus to valuing living nature as an asset class. His work, which puts a financial value on the ecosystem services provided by whales, elephants, seagrass, mangroves and forests, has been featured at TED, in the Financial Times, National Geographic, the New York Times, and on CNN. He is the recipient of the 2024 MadBlue Five Oceans Award and holds a PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. Timestamps: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist 00:01:10 - Introduction: Ralph Chami 00:02:10 - Ralph Chami sharing his early passion for music 00:04:17 - The whale encounter that changed everything “before 2017” and “after 2017” 00:05:20 - Building a model to estimate the economic value of whales’ carbon capture 00:09:30 - Fertilising, another unknown ecosystem service provided by whales 00:13:15 - How wrong incentives completely alter the true value of whales 00:16:00 - Telling the story of whales and elephants as natural assets with Fabio Bergonzi 00:18:15 - Seagrass and Carlos Duarte’s marine ecology insights 00:19:05 - More living entities that provide valuable services for free 00:22:05 - The fallacy of the current system which ignores planetary boundaries 00:24:40 - From valuing extraction to rewarding the preservation of living things 00:27:00 - Seeing the intrinsic value of nature can make for a better future Useful Links & Resources: The Ocean Age Walk & Talk - Link to join the waitlist Ralph Chami on LinkedIn. Blue Green Future: Website, LinkedIn and YouTube. Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. The show notes for this episode were produced by Cecilia Bombonato. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#41: Emily Charry Tissier (Whale Seeker) – AI to Track Whales and Why Ocean Tech is Stuck at the Pilot Stage

We’re pleased to bring you, over the next few weeks, a series of in-person interviews we recorded at the World Ocean Summit in Montreal at the beginning of March. This first episode is with Emily Charry Tissier, Founder and CEO of Whale Seeker, a company that uses AI to detect and monitor marine mammals from visual data such as drone or satellite images. The data feeds into everything from shipping routes to marine protected area management. Emily also poses a question: ocean technological solutions already exist, they work, and regulators have approved them. So why aren't they scaling? She has a clear view on why. We sat down in a quiet corner of the conference venue, with a view of the city in the background and a full-size whale model hanging from the ceiling, which also explains the occasional whale noises you’ll hear in the background. It was an inspiring conversation in a special setting, and we hope you can catch a glimpse of that atmosphere and energy. Emily's Bio: Emily Charry Tissier is a marine ecologist and the CEO and co-founder of Whale Seeker, a company that uses AI to detect marine mammals from drone, aircraft and satellite imagery. With 20 years of experience in coastal and arctic ecosystems, she has built Whale Seeker into a tool used across environmental impact assessment, shipping route management and marine protected area monitoring. She has engaged with international bodies including the IMO and IHO, and works at the intersection of ocean technology and maritime governance. She was named one of the top 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics. Timestamps: 00:00:10 - Introduction: Emily Charry Tissier and Whale Seeker 00:02:24 - What Whale Seeker does and why ocean data matters 00:05:10 - Who pays for ocean data? 00:06:00 - Government and industry mandates 00:08:37 - Dynamic shipping routes and marine life protection 00:09:03 - Working with regulators from day one 00:10:37 - Misconceptions about AI and why they matter 00:13:07 - Are we in an AI bubble? 00:15:05 - Hype cycles in ocean solutions: seaweed, carbon capture and beyond 00:17:19 - Why ocean tech isn't scaling: technology isn't the problem 00:20:44 - The psychology of change 00:22:47 - Ego as a barrier to adoption 00:24:45 - Certified routes: building a community around sustainable shipping 00:26:01 - The economics of whale-safe shipping routes 00:28:54 - Emily’s “Why” Useful Links & Resources: Emily Charry Tissier on Linkedin. Whale Seeker: Website and LinkedIn. Emily’s piece on The Journal of Ocean Technology: Innovation without Adoption: The Ocean Tech Bottleneck Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#40: Kate Streather – Behind the Making of "Ocean with David Attenborough"

Kate's Bio: Kate Streather is a documentary researcher with over five years of experience across some of the most respected names in natural history filmmaking, including BBC Studios, Silverback Films, Wildstar Films, and Open Planet Studios. Their credits include Ocean with David Attenborough and Blue Planet III. Kate brings a rare combination of scientific rigour and production expertise to their work. As a biologist with a First-Class degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Durham, where they specialised in animal behaviour, ecology, and climate change, they bring a depth of understanding to the stories they help tell. Their hands-on experience spans the full production process, from pre-production and development through to post-production as a core member of edit teams. In the field, Kate has set up and directed a wide range of shoots, including Cineflex, human, macro tank, dive, long lens, drone, and interview, across some of the world's most remote and challenging environments, including Antarctica and West Africa. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - How Kate Streather’s found her passions 00:04:10 - Branching into wildlife film making and the opening of new opportunities 00:08:40 - What it means to work as a scientist in the film making world 00:14:50 - Strengths and struggles of working in wildlife documentaries 00:18:30 - The opportunity to work with Sir David Attenborough in “Ocean” 00:22:00 - What to expect from “Ocean” and what it takes to develop such a project 00:28:10 - Structuring the content in film making: blending science and storytelling 00:33:20 - Why “no one today has seen a truly wild ocean” and a comparison to the past 00:35:00 - The challenging access to the fishing industry and how to convey difficult images 00:39:00 - How “Ocean” condenses a wealth of incredible experiences around the world 00:47:30 - Adventures on board of a Sea Shepherd’s campaigners boat in Antarctica 00:53:00 - Liberia: election tensions, coastal communities, overfishing and pollution 00:55:10 - More with Sea Shepherd’s cooperating with the Liberian Coast Guard 00:59:00 - The challenges of being a researcher for “Ocean” 01:02:30 - The incredible unbalance between Liberian and Norwegian fishing fleet 01:04:05 - Kate's once-in-a-lifetime experience working with Sir David Attenborough 01:07:10 - Post-production: editing, archive, fact‑checking, and premiere in London! 01:12:40 - The far-reaching impact of “Ocean” into politics and institutions 01:15:00 - Kate’s motivations and future plans *** Useful Links & Resources: Kate Strether on Instagram, Linkedin Ocean with Sir David Attenborough, 2025 official trailer Sea Shepherd's website: Sea Shepherd *** Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. The show notes for this episode were produced by Cecilia Bombonato. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#39: Dr Catherine Jadot – Blue Finance Expert and Author of “How It Doesn’t End”

Today we dive into the finance side of the ocean economy because, like it or not, without capital, we won’t be able to make the impact and change we want to see in the world. Finance will be needed to make it happen. To explore this difficult topic, I sat down with Dr Catherine Jadot, author of the book “How It Doesn’t End”. She’s a fantastic person to talk about this because she’s a marine biologist AND blue-economy finance specialist with over 20 years of experience working with organisations from governments to start-ups. We didn’t just cover blue finance; we also looked at the psychology of action and the behavioural science behind influencing the positive change ocean founders and innovators want to see. Catherine's Bio: Dr Catherine Jadot is a marine biologist and blue economy finance specialist with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of climate resilience, ocean governance, and sustainable development. She advises governments and regional organisations in islands and coastal states on how to design and finance policies and projects that protect marine ecosystems while supporting inclusive growth. She currently leads blue economy and blue finance work for European and international institutions, including multi-country investment facilities, technical assistance programmes, and innovative financing mechanisms for coastal and island regions. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:15 - Catherine Jadot’s early career amidst the doom and gloom narrative 00:09:45 - The limits of project-level work​ and need for a bigger-picture approach 00:16:15 - Why governments and blue finance are necessary to the ocean economy 00:19:30 - Focusing on solutions​ and writing “How It Doesn’t End” 00:22:45 - The sources of a new, constructive perspective 00:29:15 - Social experiments to understand everyday climate behaviours​ 00:35:45 - The importance of people’s perceptions in changing cultural norms 00:37:45 - Finding impact investors to share the potential of the blue economy 00:42:15 - Behavioural science insights for ocean entrepreneurs​ 00:44:30 - Bankable vs investment-ready projects and mangrove finance examples​ 00:47:15 - Financial models: grants, blended finance, public–private partnerships 00:51:00 - ​Finding the right investors: what to do and what to avoid 00:55:45 - The Ocean Startup Blueprint, helping startups moving forward 00:59:30 - ​Learning to identify the impact investors and become investment-ready 01:02:00 - Closing reflections on the approach to ocean entrepreneurship Useful Links & Resources: Catherine Jadot’s book How It Doesn’t End (Amazon, Goodreads) Catherine Jadot on LinkedIn and Instagram The Ocean Startup blueprint Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. The show notes for this episode were produced by Cecilia Bombonato. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#38: Jose Puga (ChucaoTech) – Patagonia Special 3/3 – Nanobubbles to Remediate the Seabed

This is the third and final part of a special series I recorded as I was connecting with ocean founders and experts in Latin America. Each episode is a standalone interview, so if you’ve missed the previous two, that’s absolutely fine. This time, my guest is Jose Puga, Co-Founder and CEO of ChucaoTech. This is a start-up based in Chilean Patagonia that uses nanobubble technology in aquaculture. Injecting nanobubbles provides oxygen to the fish but is also used to remediate the seabed from the pollution caused by open-net fish farms. We’ll dive into this innovative and award-winning technology, but we’ll also hear Jose’s entrepreneurial journey, which is a really cool story. A mechanical engineer who was in the world largest radio telescope (working with oxygen masks up at 5000 m or 16000 feet in the Atacama Desert), he moved to the UK as a consultant, to then come back to Chile and start his own business, which was not without some tense and dark moments. Jose's Bio: Mechanical engineer, Master of Science in Engineering (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile) and a Master's in Industrial Systems (University of Cambridge, UK). With more than 10 years of experience in Chile and abroad in the implementation of various projects and design of products in sectors such as aquaculture, astronomy, mining and consumer products. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to The Ocean Age Podcast 00:00:32 - Guest Introduction: Jose Puga of ChucaoTech 00:02:03 - Defining the Problem in Aquaculture 00:05:48 - Seabed Remediation Problem 00:08:49 - Nanobubbles Explained 00:13:07 - Customers and Market for Chucao Tech 00:23:05 - Jose's Background: ALMA Project in Atacama Desert 00:28:48 - Transition to Cambridge and Product Development 00:35:01 - Founding ChucaoTech 00:42:03 - Pivot to Seabed Remediation Service 00:47:03 - Difficult Moments and Financial Strain 00:49:35 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 01:10:23 - Ocean Concerns and Environmental Purpose 01:12:59 - Difficult moment: From 65 to 13 People 01:14:29 - Final Message and Contact Information Useful Links & Resources: Jose Puga on LinkedIn ChucaoTech: Website, LinkedIn Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co *** The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#37: Catalina Cendoya (Por El Mar) – Patagonia Special 2/3 – The Dark Side of Aquaculture.

This episode is part 2 of a special series recorded as I was travelling across Argentina and Chile, connecting with ocean founders, entrepreneurs, experts and activists. My guest today is Catalina Cendoya, whom I met when I visited a marine conservation organisation called Por El Mar (literally translates to "For the Sea"). Por El Mar coordinates projects across Patagonia, including, for example, rewilding subantarctic kelp forests in Tierra del Fuego and working on the conservation of a biological corridor off the coast of Argentina that includes 5 major marine species: sharks, orcas, whales, sea lions and dolphins. Catalina, or Cata, as everybody calls her, specifically is the Director of the Global Salmon Farming Resistance, which is the group behind the campaign that resulted in the ban of open-net salmon farming in Argentina, and it is now (as the name suggests) a global network. It was a really open and honest conversation, looking at all the different perspectives on the matter. And it was a nice way for me to get out of my bubble and challenge my own assumptions. So if you’re up for the challenge, please enjoy! Catalina's Bio: Catalina feels at home by the coast, close to the sea, surrounded by nature. That deep sense of belonging has shaped her path, leading her to join The Global Salmon Farming Resistance (GSFR) in 2022. In 2023, she became the Director. She holds a degree in Political Science, driven by a commitment to creating meaningful change in people’s lives. She has worked in government roles supporting people in vulnerable situations and studied in Germany, where she learnt the language and was inspired by a culture deeply rooted in environmental care. As Director of the GSFR, Catalina leads the alliance’s actions and works with the team to shape strategies that protect the ocean from the harms of industrial salmon farming. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to The Ocean Age and Guest Introduction 00:02:04 - Catalina Cendoya's Background and Journey 00:05:15 - Por el Mar and the Campaign to Ban Salmon Farming in Argentina 00:10:06 - What Is Open Net Salmon Farming? 00:12:58 - Environmental Impacts: Pollution, Disease, and Escapes 00:21:12 - Social and Economic Challenges for Local Communities 00:27:05 - Consumer Awareness and Norway's Marketing Success 00:31:00 - Can Salmon Farming Be Made Sustainable? 00:42:49 - Economic Arguments: Norway, Chile, and Tourism 00:49:10 - The Problem with Regulation and Certification Schemes 00:58:06 - Salmon vs Other Protein Sources: A Comparison 01:04:36 - Alternative Ocean Economies and Other Fish Species 01:06:12 - Global Movement: Key Victories and Milestones 01:09:48 - The Power of Global Collaboration with Local Solutions 01:13:45 - Vision for the Future and Resources to Learn More Useful Links & Resources: Catalina Cendoya on LinkedIn Por El Mar: Website, LinkedIn The Global Salmon Farming Resistance (GSFR): Website, LinkedIn Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#36: Daniela Allerbon (Aquit) – Patagonia Special 1/3 – Replacing Antibiotics in Aquaculture for the Prevention of Fish Infections.

For the last month or so I've been travelling through Argentina and Chile, exploring what is an incredibly beautiful and important region for the world ocean economy, but one that we don't really hear much about, particularly in Europe and North America. Through the last four weeks or so, I have connected with lots of brilliant, brilliant people, from founders and entrepreneurs to experts and activists. Some of these in-person conversations will be turned into podcast episodes, and this is the first episode of this Patagonia Special series. My first guest is Daniela Allerbon, who is the CEO of Aquit, a startup that developed preventative treatment for infections in farmed fish that replaces antibiotics. The WHO predicted that by 2050 more people could die from super-resistant bacteria than cancer. Antibiotic overuse, a lot of which happens in animal production, including aquaculture, is one of the main causes of this global problem. Something that reduces the use of antibiotics could have a big positive impact. We recorded the interview at their office in Buenos Aires, but the company operates down here in Patagonia, mostly on the other side of the Andes, in Chile. Daniela's Bio: Daniela is an economist specialising in the marketing and development of science-based products, with a focus on sustainable aquaculture and biotechnology. She has 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur, 4 of which were devoted to developing and commercialising feed additives, utilising pre-clinical trials for human health products. She has also worked across the private and public sectors, as well as with NGOs and international organisations. Prior to founding Aquit in 2022, Daniela led research and development initiatives at Silvateam, where she managed the launch of a new business unit and coordinated international research on the microbiome and COVID-19. She has received several notable recognitions in the sector, including her participation in the Hatch Blue and Conservation International Ventures "Women in Ocean Food" program, and her completion, coming up first place, of the BIGinBIO program with the Ganesha Lab, focusing on biotechnology management. Daniela holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universidad de San Andrés and has completed postgraduate studies in management and policy in culture and communication. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to The Ocean Age and Patagonia Special Series 00:01:04 - Guest Introduction: Daniela Allerbon and Aquit 00:02:23 - Innovation Park and Team Dynamics 00:03:57 - Daniela's Early Career and the 2001 Economic Crisis 00:08:16 - Adapting to Change and Entrepreneurial Spirit 00:13:12 - Public Perception of Aquaculture and Communication Challenges 00:19:10 - Daniela's Career Transition to Aquit 00:31:16 - Aquit's Mission: Farming Fish Without Antibiotics 00:37:31 - Innovation Challenges and Award Recognition 00:41:03 - The Science Behind Aquit's Product 00:46:24 - Expanding Technology to Other Species and AI's Role 00:49:25 - Compelling Reasons for Farmers to Adopt New Solutions 00:54:00 - The Global Issue of Antibiotic Resistance 01:05:03 - Radical Empathy: Advice for Entrepreneurs 01:06:43 - Ocean Entrepreneurs and the Impact-Profitability Challenge 01:10:37 - Being a Latin American Startup with Global Ambitions 01:21:11 - Unconscious Bias in Venture Capital Useful Links & Resources: Aquit’s website Aquit on LinkedIn Daniela Allerbon on LinkedIn Daniela mentioned the book "Reinventing Organizations" by Frédéric Laloux Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host F& Send us Fan Mail

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#35: Adam Parker (OceanSaver) – Building an Ocean Megabrand: How to Take on the Giants in The Consumer Goods Market, with the ReFounder of OceanSaver

Adam Parker is a seasoned brand leader with over 13 years of experience building consumer goods brands into household names. Currently leading Ocean Saver, a UK brand creating plastic-free, plant-based cleaning products that protect ocean life. He's passionate about scaling next-generation brands that are transforming entire categories. Prior to Ocean Saver, Adam was the first employee and Managing Director of PÄRLA, a plastic-free oral care brand that he established as the #1 challenger in the category with over 1,000 distribution points across major retailers including Boots, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose. Before his startup ventures, Adam spent six years as Brand Director of Oral-B at Procter & Gamble, managing a £500 million revenue business. Under his leadership, Oral-B achieved market share leadership and became the #1 most popular brand within P&G's entire portfolio. His notable achievements include making Oral-B the top-selling product on Amazon Prime Day for three consecutive years. Adam studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University and completed leadership training at the Institute for Young Leaders in Jerusalem. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:10 - Meet Adam Parker: Background and Leadership Training 00:07:21 - Studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford 00:13:57 - The Journey at Procter & Gamble 00:16:14 - Learning from Brand Management at P&G 00:22:12 - The Importance of Consumer Research 00:25:49 - Transitioning to Ocean Saver 00:28:53 - The Challenges of Sustainability in Big Corporations 00:32:10 - The State of Ocean Saver Upon Joining 00:35:05 - The Role of Re-founders at Ocean Saver 00:41:14 - Creating an Ocean Megabrand 00:44:14 - Differentiating from Niche Eco-Brands 00:46:45 - The Power of the Ocean in Marketing 00:50:26 - Consumer Psychology and Purchase Decisions 00:51:23 - Making the Leap of Faith Smaller for Consumers 00:53:12 - Where to Find Ocean Saver Products and Closing Useful Links & Resources: Ocean Saver website: ocean-saver.com Ocean Saver on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube Adam Parker on LinkedIn *** Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#34: Jay Dignan (BioMara) – Cracking the Seaweed Code: How Fucoidan Unlocks a Profitable Business Model

As the founder of BioMara, a marine biotech startup based in Scotland, Jay Dignan is dedicated to transforming regenerative seaweed into functional and healthy B2B ingredients for the food and wellness industries. His professional journey began in New Zealand and includes a diverse range of experiences, from deep-sea salvage and working with Tibetan yak wool to media mergers and acquisitions. Jay has over two decades of cross-disciplinary experience as a founder, CFO, and strategic consultant. His self-described "squiggly" career path was complemented by an MBA from a UK university. He is passionate about seaweed's potential to contribute to a sustainable future and help feed the world. Jay is focused on finding synergies among researchers, innovators, investors, and business leaders to help realise the promise of the seaweed industry for a healthier planet and healthier people. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:44 - Jay's Background and “Squiggly” Career Path 00:06:50 - The Importance of Diverse Experiences 00:10:33 - The Role of an MBA in an Entrepreneur's Journey 00:14:03 - The Tibetan Yak Herder Experience 00:20:31 - The Challenges of the Western Seaweed Industry 00:24:54 - Frustrations Faced as an Ocean Entrepreneur 00:34:25 - The Founding of BioMara and Its Business Model 00:41:02 - Developing and Validating the biorefinery System 00:43:43 - Understanding BioMara's Core Products 00:46:40 - The Potential of Fucoidan in Human Health 00:54:19 - Lessons from the Ashwagandha and Manuka Honey Markets 00:58:55 - The "Health by Stealth" Approach 01:09:18 - The Process of Building a Founding Team 01:12:54 - A Call to Action for Food and Nutraceutical Companies Useful Links & Resources: Jay Dignan on LinkedIn BioMara’s website: Food & Wellness. Products: Seafibrex & Thalivra & Revyntra BioMara on Linkedin Biomara’s White Paper on Fucoidan Scientific paper by BioMara’s team with an overview of fucoidan, its applications and extraction technique. *** Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#33: Kira Smiley (TidalX) – Seeing the Unseen: Ocean Tech, AI, and the Data-Driven Future of Aquaculture

Kira Smiley is the Global Director of Sales and Marketing at TidalX AI, a startup born from Google[x] (now X, the moonshot factory), focused on developing radical technologies to support the ocean economy while sustainably managing and protecting it. Since joining Tidal in 2020, Kira has worn several hats across business development, product, international customer operations, and program management. She served on the leadership committee for Alphabet’s Women of X organisation for several years and is a member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture. Kira attended Stanford University and received both a B.S. in Earth Systems and an M.S. focused on sustainable global food security and the environment. She is a 2019 recipient of the DoSER Public Engagement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Kira Smiley and TidalX Technology 00:04:19 - Importance and Environmental Impact of Tidal's Technology 00:08:49 - Health Monitoring and Sea Lice Management 00:10:23 - Tidal's Mission and Origin at X the Moonshot Factory 00:13:29 - The Origin Story of Tidal and its Partner Mowi 00:20:03 - Kira Smiley's Background and Interest in Aquaculture 00:23:13 - The Sustainability of Fish as a Protein Source 00:27:06 - The Culture of Innovation at X 00:32:49 - The Principle of "Starting with the Hardest Thing First" 00:35:10 - Transition from R&D to a Commercial Product 00:40:51 - Early Challenges and Pivots in Development 00:43:18 - Factors Leading to the Spin-off from Alphabet X 00:48:52 - Tidal's International Expansion and Strategy 00:57:10 - The Future of the Blue Economy and Investment 01:07:10 - A Call to Action for Innovators and Final Remarks Useful Links & Resources: Kira Smiley: LinkedIn TidalX AI Aqua Nor Conference, Trondheim, 18-21 August 2025 World Bank Report - Harnessing the Waters: Sustainable Aquaculture Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture Global Salmon Initiative Google X: Website *** Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#32: Linzi Hawkin – Impact Strategy Expert On Building Purpose-Driven Ocean Businesses That Make Real Impact And Real Money

Linzi Hawkin is a creative strategist passionate about protecting the ocean through the power of strategy, storytelling, and education. She is the co-founder of Protect Blue - an ocean-focused organisation built around two core pathways: a creative agency that partners with NGOs, governments, and brands to drive tangible impact, and a direct support platform for ocean advocates and activists, providing the tools, community, and resilience they need to lead lasting change. Through this dual approach, Linzi strengthens conservation efforts while nurturing a thriving network of grassroots ocean leaders - helping them stay energised, impactful, and deeply connected to nature. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to The Ocean Age Podcast and Expert Guest 00:01:04 - Defining Impact Strategy for Purpose-Driven Businesses 00:02:40 - The Importance of Gaining Clarity on a Problem To Solve 00:07:44 - Finding Your Niche in the Ocean Space and Experimentation 00:11:42 - The Importance of Real-World Feedback and Minimum Viable Product 00:16:16 - The Challenge of Saying No to Opportunities to Maintain Focus 00:19:48 - Strategy as a Filter for Decision Making in Impact Ventures 00:20:52 - Practical Frameworks for Building an Impact Strategy 00:28:50 - How to Identify When Your Strategy is Flawed or "Off" 00:30:53 - Measuring Real Impact vs. Misleading "Vanity Metrics" 00:35:01 - Understanding and Avoiding Common Vanity Metrics 00:42:52 - Course Correction and Strategy Adjustment 00:48:50 - "Green Hushing" and Brands' Fear of Greenwashing Accusations 00:52:40 - Balancing Profit with Positive Impact for Financial Sustainability 00:57:07 - Case Study: The Innovative Seaweed Surfboard Project 01:04:17 - Challenges Faced by Ocean Activists and Entrepreneurs 01:06:58 - Advice for Young Professionals 01:13:11 - Upcoming Projects 01:20:00 - The "Stoke" Piece: Importance of Wellness and Fair Pay in Impact Work 01:23:44 - Conclusion and Where to Find More Information Useful Links & Resources: Linzi Hawkin: Website and LinkedIn Protect.Blue: Website Wavemakers UnderCurrent IDEO free courses Acumen Theory of Change free course The Seaweed Surfboard Project Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lesha. Sarah Carpenter is our research assistant. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#31: Olly Hicks (Algapelago) – World Record Ocean Explorer Turned Aquaculture Entrepreneur, the Expedition Mindset Every Ocean Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed, Nutrient Credits and Securing Funding for Ocean Projects.

Olly Hicks is a world record-breaking British ocean explorer, motivational speaker, and ocean entrepreneur. Known for his minimalistic, human-powered expeditions, Hicks is the first and currently only person to have rowed solo from America to England, completing this feat in 2005 at the age of 23, making him the youngest person to row any ocean solo. He has spent over 2.5% of his life alone on the ocean, covering more than 7,000 miles on various expeditions since 2005. Today, Hicks is a co-founder of Algapelago, which operates as the largest UK licensed offshore kelp cultivator. This mariculture business focuses on rewilding oceans and producing sustainable agricultural products through its Blue Forest Programme, aiming to boost marine biodiversity and sequester carbon. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction to Olly: Ocean Explorer & Three-Time World Record Holder. 00:16:00 – Childhood Dreams and Early Inspirations for Ocean Rowing. 05:57:00 – The Most Significant Expedition: Solo Atlantic Crossing. 07:06:00 – Expedition Preparation. 08:04:00 – The Mental Game of Expeditions: Solitude and Adaptation. 10:26:00 – Securing Sponsorship: A Thousand Letters and Key Partnerships. 14:14:00 – Challenges of Sponsorship: Competition and Personal Interest. 16:30:00 – Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing "Blind Optimism". 19:46:00 – Learning from Failures: The Attempt to Row Around the World. 20:40:00 – Cultural Outlooks on Failure (UK vs. US) and Startup Mindset. 24:05:00 – Toughest Moments: Preparation Stress and the "Jumping Off" Transition. 27:05:00 – Expeditions as "99% a Mental Game". 28:05:00 – Cherished Moments: Awe in the Wilderness and Gaining Perspective. 30:53:00 – Balancing Risk: Evolving Perspectives with Life Stages. 33:57:00 – The Innate Human Need for Adventure: Treading New Ground. 38:42:00 – Founding Archipelago: Pioneering Offshore Mariculture. 40:46:00 – Similarities Between Leading Expeditions and Entrepreneurship. 44:42:00 – The Solitary and Uncomfortable Nature of Startup Leadership. 46:31:00 – Main Lesson for a Startup Founder: "KBO" (Keep Buggering On). 49:30:00 – The Blue Forest Programme 52:54:00 – Nutrient and Biodiversity Credits to fund ocean regeneration projects 01:05:40 – The "Secret Sauce" of the Seaweed Sector: Diversified Business Models. 01:08:56 – Connecting with Olly and Archipelago Useful Links: Olly Hicks: Website, LinkedIn, Wikipedia page. Algapelago: Website Blue Forest Programme: Website Olly’s TEDx Talk “The benefits of risk” Get in touch The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at fed@oceanage.co The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojša Lešević. Sarah Carpenter is our research assistant. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

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#30: Emily Power (OceanMade) – From Microsoft to Kelp Pots, developing a biodegradable seed starter pot, designing a successful pre-sale campaign, navigating imposter syndrome and making decisions with limited information.

Emily Power is the founder of OceanMade, who is bridging the gap between terrestrial agriculture and ocean innovation with her groundbreaking Kelp Pots. Sparked by Bren Smith's seaweed farming feature on '60 Minutes', Emily transitioned from her corporate role at Microsoft to ocean entrepreneurship. After pivoting from an initial sustainable marketplace concept, she discovered her mission while confronting the plastic pollution in her own garden. Drawing on seaweed's remarkable properties, Emily developed biodegradable seed starters that significantly outperform both plastic and existing alternatives. In this episode, Emily shares her winding path from corporate life to sustainable innovation, the challenges of developing Kelp Pots, and the surprising results of her experiments. She offers candid insights about imposter syndrome, the value of communication, and building a business that solves real problems while helping the planet. You will appreciate her insights on market validation, product testing, and communicating complex marine benefits to everyday consumers. This conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone working to translate ocean innovation into practical, scalable solutions that create both environmental and economic impact. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Emily's experience at Microsoft 00:06:44 - Most valuable skills learned in corporate life: communication and initiative 00:10:45 - Leaving Microsoft 00:13:50 - First iteration of OceanMade as a sustainable marketplace 00:15:06 - Products must solve problems first, sustainability comes second 00:17:45 - Building your business as your own "utopia" 00:20:35 - Most expensive mistakes: premature branding and imposter syndrome 00:24:50 - How doubt led to thorough research and product validation 00:27:30 - Current focus of OceanMade and Kelp Pots description 00:28:45 - The "eureka" moment that inspired Kelp Pots while gardening 00:30:40 - Problems with existing biodegradable pots in the market 00:33:25 - Research, development and prototyping process 00:35:47 - Breakthrough discovery: complete biodegradation and superior growth 00:39:27 - Moving from MVP to market validation 00:40:47 - Future R&D plans for different seaweed species and applications 00:41:56 - Importance of seeking mentors and support 00:44:31 - Making decisions with limited information and moving forward 00:45:54 - Marketing strategy and pre-sale success 00:49:01 - Using storytelling and the hero's journey in marketing 00:52:06 - Target audience: home gardeners and anyone who wants to grow 00:53:31 - Marketing channels: word of mouth, Reddit, and gardening communities 00:57:31 - Future vision: eliminating plastic from gardening and agriculture 00:59:01 - Challenges with scaling and maintaining sustainability 01:02:26 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in sustainable products 01:04:56 - ChatGPT as a research assistant and closing information Useful Links: Emily Power on LinkedIn OceanMade and Kelp Pots Macro Oceans Fun Stuff Designs Derek Sivers, author of "Anything You Want" Seth Godin, author and marketing expert Bren Smith, author of "Eat Like A Fish" Get in touch The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing him directly at fed@oceanage.co Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Send us Fan Mail

Inside Seaweed becomes The Ocean Age

This is a brief update episode where I share my plans for the direction of the podcast going forward and the thinking behind it. New episode coming later this month! In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts; feel free to reach out on social media with your feedback or suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover. Many thanks, and see you soon. Best, Fed Fed DeGobbi on Linkedin and X. Send us Fan Mail