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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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. 

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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

G

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.