Meet Seaworthy Collective's Second Cohort of Sea Change Makers

Seaworthy Collective, a Miami-based community leading regenerative ocean and climate impact, launches its second cohort of sea change makers; 10 startups and their founders participating in its 12-week venture studio program.

Once again, the venture studio brings together a cohort of current and aspiring entrepreneurs (known as sea change makers) to either build co-created startups or grow existing ocean and climate impact-focused startups. Over the next 12 weeks, Seaworthy’s cohort members will have the opportunity to make catalytic connections spurring traction and collaboration, with access to Seaworthy’s network of over 250 mentors and collaborators, a community of over 2000 current and aspiring founders and operators, as well as investing partners with over $1 billion in assets under management. All of this leads up to Seaworthy’s biggest event of the year, its startup showcase happening in July.

The startups selected leverage the power of technology, data, and science to address challenges in areas such as coastal waterways, coral reef ecosystems, and the collection of environmental data.

“From turning the tide on climate change and plastic pollution to improving coastal resilience and biodiversity, our second cohort brings together a diverse array of people and solutions expanding on our collective’s goals for regenerative ocean and climate impact. Our second cohort startups are scaling up reef regeneration, driving carbon dioxide removal, taking on plastic pollution (both upstream and downstream), and leveraging technologies from sensors to blockchain to create meaningful data and value. From Hawaii to South Africa, we’re excited to continue growing our global community driving regenerative blue economy development for South Florida and beyond.” said Daniel Kleinman, Founder, and CEO Seaworthy Collective.

Seaworthy Collective’s second cohort participants:

Click the logo of each company to view their website

Clean Earth Rovers

Based in: Cincinnati, OH

About: Every year our waterways are plagued by chemical and physical debris, leaving coastal business and cities to feel the effects of major pollution events. As a result, we’ve created a “Roomba” for coastal waterways that skims for the pollutants you can see and feeds you data in live time on the pollutants you can’t see.

Seed World

Based in: Kaneohe, HI

About: SEED is dedicated to educating others on micro-plastic pollution and the impact it is having on our world. We saw a rapidly increasing problem from our global mismanagement of plastic waste that had dangerous implications. Through technological development, educational programs, community outreach, and scientific application, we have set out to tackle one of the greatest threats posed to our ocean and marine ecosystems. We aim to plant greater SEEDs of change by providing the public and educators with fun and interactive lesson plans that build upon teamwork through S.T.E.M education. Believing that education is a pathway towards innovation, we offer our learning program to those inspired in taking their first steps in collectively solving our global pollution crisis.

ReefVitalize

Based in: Austin, TX

About: Reefvitalize solves for the current lack of access to coral restoration for anyone who isn't a marine biologist, scuba diver, or able-bodied individual by creating an activity that anyone can participate in in less than an hour from the beach. With a new technology and methodology for coral restoration, everyone can participate in ocean conservation with ReefVitalize. Our three-pronged approach will help restore ocean ecosystems, put tourism revenue back in the hands of local stakeholders, and create a regenerative, not consumptive, model for tourism activities.

Smartfin

Based in: Seattle, WA

About: Smartfin is developing an innovative ocean sensor for surfboards and paddleboards that uses IoT technology to connect citizen scientists with ocean scientists and decision makers to gather difficult-to-capture data in critical coastal environments for vital scientific understanding and protection against climate change.

SUPER

Based in: San Francisco, CA

About: SUPER® is a nonprofit, third party, tiered certification program which enables businesses to eliminate single-use plastics in their workplaces operations. Seaworthy will be working with SUPER to co-create a for-profit arm to help scale their impact.

Rovon Technology

Based in: Orlando, FL

About: RovonTech is developing controllable underwater live view camera technology for the consumer.

Lilly1

Based in: Miami, FL

About: Lilly1 is a carbon negative company that targets the upper layers to increase the alkalinity of the ocean rapidly therefore allowing it to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. The company captures CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it safely in the ocean, a 100+ years sequestration solution

Capital Swish

Based in: KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

About: Capital Swish will manufacture high spec FNR (Fishing nets and ropes) compounded plastics for export globally, and for use in our own 3D printed modular on-water structures, which will fulfill our housing freedom and sustainability needs.

Co-created Startups (Launching This Summer)

Web3 x Coastal Resilience Startup

Co-founders: Ryan Sedegat (Coral Gables, FL) and Jordan Gluck (Boca Raton, FL)

Regenerative Media Startup

Co-founders: Ben Hone (Hoboken, NJ), Angela Betancourt (Miami, FL), Rachel Small (Toronto, Canada)

The 8 startups and co-founders for 2 co-created startups were selected from our pool of over 200 applicants. The co-created startups will be working with a team of like-minded, passionate innovators to co-found their own impact venture within one of Seaworthy’s Opportunities for Sea Change.

Read more about each of the startups here.

Seaworthy’s six areas of focus to collectively build a regenerative blue economy are:

• Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gas Removal (CDR), Sequestration, & Decarbonization

• Regenerative Ocean Food Sources

• Seawater as a Resource

• Ocean Data, Technology, & Emerging Innovations

• Coastal Resilience

• Plastics & Pollution Detection, Removal, & Alternatives

While this cohort begins this month, Seaworthy Collective is always looking for aspiring co-founders and existing startups for regenerative ocean and climate impact. It accepts applications on a rolling basis for its Opportunities for Sea Change. Interested applicants can apply here.

Seaworthy celebrated the launch of this second cohort with a hybrid event at Showfields in Miami Beach on April 16, 2022. More than 100 people were in attendance. The evening events kicked off with a panel on regenerative business featuring one of the event sponsors, eco-friendly brand Kind Laundry. Following the panel, Seaworthy revealed the new cohort via in-person introductions and video presentations.

For more information about Seaworthy Collective, visit www.seaworthycollective.com or email Info@SeaworthyCollective.com

About

Seaworthy Collective is the leading community of sea change makers driving regenerative ocean and climate impact. Our community is supported by our non-profit social impact arm, Seaworthy Foundation, and for-profit economic impact arm, Seaworthy Ventures.

Seaworthy Foundation (501c3) builds community and inclusion for ocean and climate impact innovation through accessible education and empowerment.

Seaworthy Ventures drives regenerative blue economy development through community-based opportunities for co-creating and growing profitable ocean and climate impact technology businesses (AKA BlueTech) in our flagship venture studio program.