The Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), a once small-scale dorm room initiative, has grown into a global network of innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs championing ocean conservation through innovation. As SOA celebrates its 10th anniversary, the organization introduces the Ocean Solution Label and welcomes a new cohort of startups into its Ecopreneur program, signaling a new chapter in its mission to revitalize marine ecosystems.
Founded in 2014 by Daniela Fernandez, SOA adopted an entrepreneurial approach to address the climate crisis, tapping into the startup economy to drive scalable, sustainable solutions. Fernandez explained, “Before us, no one was even considering entrepreneurship or innovation as part of the solution. This is an investable industry, and we’re proud to have led the way—deploying nearly half a billion dollars collectively into this space.”
Over the years, SOA has gained the backing of influential investors, including Marc and Lynne Benioff, and cultivated a community of passionate young changemakers. Its accelerator program has supported numerous startups, helping them transition from pre-seed stages to commercialization by focusing on critical impact areas: Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Pollution Reduction, Ecosystems and Species, Blue Foods, and Ocean Data, Literacy, & Research.
The organization’s latest initiative, the Ocean Solution Label, evaluates companies not just on meeting sustainability benchmarks but on achieving measurable, positive impacts on marine ecosystems. This label, developed in partnership with the Solar Impulse Foundation, aims to attract more capital into the ocean sustainability sector. “We’re targeting investors,” Fernandez said. “We need to start signaling and moving more capital into this space. This label ensures that investments go to companies delivering outsized impacts, not those engaging in superficial ‘blue washing.’”
SOA’s Ecopreneur program continues to spotlight startups driving innovation in ocean conservation. The latest cohort includes ventures like Oneka Technologies (desalination buoys), Vlinder (mangrove restoration with carbon credits), and PierSight Space (ocean satellite imaging), among others. These startups exemplify SOA’s commitment to fostering solutions that blend ecological impact with economic viability.
Reflecting on SOA’s growth, Fernandez shared, “We’re now in 186 countries, with projects, founders, and youth hubs actively working on solutions. Applications for our programs are surging, and the variety of companies we’re seeing is expanding. What started in my dorm room has transformed into a systematic, global movement.”
Fernandez hinted at more structural changes for SOA on the horizon, underscoring the organization’s resolve to scale its impact further. As SOA looks ahead, it remains anchored in its mission to inspire ocean-friendly innovation and empower the next generation of “ecopreneurs.”
Featured image courtesy of Sustainable Ocean Alliance
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