Bright Ocean Marketing is keeping a database of ocean-focused venture capital companies, foundations, family funds, events, projects and companies as a part of our ongoing business development and offerings. You can see the database here.
Here is an overview of several funds that are investing money into Ocean Impact Portfolios. This is not a complete list of all Ocean Impact funds. This article's purpose is to act as a study into the different kinds of funds that are working on SDG 14.
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Ocean Born Impact
https://oceanbornimpact.com/ocean-born-impact-team/
Size of fund: not available
Number of asset managers: ~11 - 50 people
Investment mission:
- Growth Capital for the planet. Impact driven, science-led, returns focused, foundation-owned.
- "It takes more than capital to grow a business. Ocean Born Impact brings together a team of senior professionals with a solid investment track record, broad scientific and impact knowledge, extensive business experience, transformative technology know-how and a passion for what we do. We invest to accelerate great businesses and positively impact planetary health." - from the Ocean Born website.
Fund style (VC/family/etc.): Ocean Born Impact is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ocean Born Foundation, which is a Spain-based foundation founded by Carolina Manhusen Schwab, Martin Schwab and Santiago Corral in 2020. Ocean Born Foundation is a grant-giving foundation with a focus on Ocean Health.
Question: Where does Ocean Born Foundation get it's money? Is this a family fund?
Note: I am guessing this is a family fund for now - that would make the most sense based on everything I know, however it is not explicitly stated anywhere.
Companies in the portfolio:
- Naked Energy, Solar thermal energy provider for hospitality, leisure and industrial sectors, https://oceanbornimpact.com/naked-energy/
- Ocean Rainforest, Pioneering seaweed producer for multiple end markets, https://oceanbornimpact.com/ocean-rainforest/
- Smyle, Plastic free oral hygiene products, https://oceanbornimpact.com/smyle/
- RYP labs, Proprietary biomimicry solution to address food waste, https://oceanbornimpact.com/ryp-labs/
- Bound 4 Blue, Mechanical sails for the decarbonisation of maritime transport, https://oceanbornimpact.com/bound4blue/
- Efficient AI, Developing energy efficient general purpose processors, https://oceanbornimpact.com/efficientai/
- Choose, Carbon measurement and offseting platform for the travel industry, https://oceanbornimpact.com/chooose/
- LooWat, Off-grid sanitation services provider, https://oceanbornimpact.com/loowatt/
- Oceanium, Bio-refining technology and processes for macroalgae, https://oceanbornimpact.com/oceanium/
- QEV, Electrifying delivery fleets and public buses, https://oceanbornimpact.com/qev/
- Sway the Future, https://swaythefuture.com/
Country: Spain
Founders: Carolina Manhusen Schwab, Martin Schwab, and Santiago Corral
Year inaugurated: 2020
Kibo Ventures
Size of fund:
- €1.5B raised over 63 companies in their history
- Currently 4 funds with €300M AUM
Number of asset managers: ~50 - 100 people
Investment mission:
Not all about ocean. However, they have an ESG angle: https://kiboventures.com/sustainable-future/ This leads the portfolio managers to get involved in some companies that have an ESG mission.
They invest in all kinds of solutions, any technology that is ready to scale globally.
Fund style (VC/family/etc.): https://kiboventures.com/about-us/
Companies in the portfolio:
https://kiboventures.com/portfolio/
Country: Madrid (Spain)
Year inaugurated: 2012
Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund
Size of fund: $1B
Number of asset managers: Microsoft is managing their money by delegating it into several smaller more pointed funds. They have listed 13 fund managers on their website. See the list of fund managers here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability/climate-innovation-fund?activetab=pivot1:primaryr7
Investment mission: Carbon removal or preventing Carbon from entering the atmosphere
Fund style (VC/family/etc.): Corporate
Companies in the portfolio: 35 companies. See the list of direct investments here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability/climate-innovation-fund?activetab=pivot1:primaryr6
Country: U.S.A.
Year inaugurated: January 2020
Faber VC
https://www.faber-ventures.com/
Size of fund:
Faber has two funds:
- Faber Tech II - €31M
- Faber Blue Pioneers 1 - €32.8M
Number of asset managers: ~11 - 50 people
Investment mission: Faber has three divisions, one of which is ocean and climate tech. Their mission is in digital transformation and Climate action. As seen on their website: "We focus on the intersection of science and technology to drive digital transformation and climate action."
Here is the Faber VC climate and ocean tech thesis: "Our thesis is based on the belief that deep tech is an urgent accelerator of innovation for high positive impact on ocean sustainability, climate action and decarbonization of the global economy.
We are looking for the new generation of mission-driven entrepreneurs - "blue pioneers" - developing innovative climate/ ocean technology solutions with global ambition in areas such as blue biotech, food and feed from the ocean, ocean health, Earth intelligence or the decarbonization of multiple industries."
Fund style (VC/family/etc.):
Companies in the portfolio: In the Ocean and Climate tech division, Faber VC has 7 investments.
Country: Spain
Year inaugurated: 2012
Climate Asset Management
https://climateassetmanagement.com/
Size of fund: US$10B
Number of asset managers: ~30 people
Investment mission: "We see nature as the most fundamental form of capital."
Fund style (VC/family/etc.): Royalty - Established by His Majesty King Charles III in his former role as The Prince of Wales under his Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Companies in the portfolio: not specified
Country: U.K.
Year inaugurated: 2020
Ocean 14 Capital
Size of fund: €200 million according to https://thefishsite.com/articles/from-kingfish-to-insects-insights-from-the-200-m-ocean-impact-fund-ocean-14-capital
Number of asset managers:
~50 people
Investment mission:
O14C aims to transform late-stage venture and growth ocean businesses into data-led, technology-enabled, circular and regenerative industrial scale platforms.
Fund style (VC/family/etc.):
Investment bank
The money is coming from three major sources:
- Pontos Aqua
- Blue Marine Foundation
- Vedra Partners
Companies in the portfolio:
https://ocean14capital.com/portfolio/
Country: Luxembourg
Year inaugurated: 2020
Good Only VC
Size of fund: Information unavailable but seems on the smaller side, estimated 10-20 million euros.
Number of asset managers: ~10
Investment mission: Investing in only social and environmental impact companies. "We support entrepreneurs who tackle environmental and social issues by adopting innovative and responsible approaches, with a clear objective: to combine maximum impact, transparency and economic potential."
Fund style (VC/family/etc.): Information unavailable. Likely Family fund
Companies in the portfolio: https://www.good-only.vc/portfolio.html
Country: France
Year inaugurated: 2022
There are many more VC firms that are investing in the blue economy. A further collection is listed below. As well, a company called Blue Invest has put together an incredible list of all of the firms investing in the blue economy in their annual investor report. Read the annual blue invest investor report here: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-03/Blueinvest-Investor-report-An-ocean-of-opportunities_0.pdf
Sea Ahead
https://www.sea-ahead.com/investments
Linden Trust
Rotterdam Port Fund
https://www.rotterdamportfund.com/?lang=nl
S2G Ventures
Fynd Ocean Ventures
https://www.impactinvestor.io/companies/fynd-ocean-ventures
Katapult VC
Platform Zero
https://platformzero.co/funding-2/
Global Fund Coral
https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalfundcoral/
Joint SDG Fund
Crowdfunding Platform, Invesdor
