Jonathan Ballesteros | Greyser

Outdoorsy, overland enthusiasts, this one’s for you. Jonathan Ballesteros is the mind and heart behind Geyser Technologies— a portable water system that helps reduce water consumption by more than 40% and feels just as clean in the process.

Ranked as REI Co-op's highest-rated hot, portable shower, the system uses less than 1 gallon of water and is ready in as little as 5 minutes.

Jonathan’s vision is to use the technology and solve a real-world problem faced by 2.3 billion people: water scarcity and sanitation.

His team is redefining sustainable living by maximizing the use of every drop of water through patented technology that reduces water consumption by 90%. While also serving natural disaster relief, drought conditions, and off-the-grid situations.

Patrick Schnettler | 12 Tides

Patrick Schnettler is creating a sea change in the food system by making eco waves in the snack industry. Having experience in commercial fishing and aquaculture, he saw the impact of overfishing, pollution, and coastline destruction.

12 Tides produces organic seaweed puffed snacks in flavors such as sea salt, chili and everything seasoning. The company sources sustainably harvested North American kelp, which is nutrient-dense and supports ocean restoration, according to the company.

“The truth is our snacks are nothing without the ocean. We’re ocean activists at heart. With 12 Tides, we’re turning the tides on climate change, one kelp chip at a time.” — Patrick (Spotlight feature, INHABITAT)

Malte Niebelschuetz | Shore Buddies

Shore Buddies wants to ‘empower kids to stop ocean plastic pollution’ while using its platform to better the world.

Malte used recycled plastics for his toys, but with new reports on nanoplastic dangers, he's shifting to entirely biodegradable products.

“If we do not lead the change and get our customers informed on how they can be a part of the solution and not part of the pollution, we are missing a tremendous opportunity to really improve the world through play.” — Malte (Spotlight feature, POC)

Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern | Coral Vita

Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern are the power duo behind no small feat!

Coral Vita exists to solve one of our planet's greatest challenges: preserving the reefs we love.

Their land-based farms supply corals for restoration projects and function as education centers for local communities and eco-tourism attractions. 

You can adopt a coral for yourself or as a gift and get updates on its growth to support their purpose-driven cause.

And if you’re traveling to the Bahamas, make your island vacation an educational one and be a coral technician for the day!

“We need everyone everywhere to care about their fate, and we need our fellow global community of tireless restoration practitioners to be given the power to preserve the world’s precious coral reefs for generations to come.” — Sam (Spotlight feature, Earth Shot Prize Org)

Matt Porteous & Tamsin Raine  | Ocean Culture Life

If you're a storyteller and you're looking to join a global community, Ocean Culture Life will feel like home.

This is a community of ocean lovers, storytellers, scientists, and conservationists dedicated to promoting ocean conservation through the power of storytelling.

The idea is that sharing stories about the ocean and its inhabitants can inspire people to connect with and protect the marine environment. Pretty cool, right?!

Julia Marsh | Sway 

Sway is a company that specializes in creating sustainable, seaweed-based packaging alternatives to traditional plastic materials, and it’s bound to come to a package near you.

Their goal is to reduce plastic pollution and promote a more environmentally friendly approach to packaging.

Sway products will be distributed to a network of thousands of brands. This could have a sizeable impact since the packaging sector is the largest generator of single-use plastic in the world, accounting for 36% of all plastics produced, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

“Clean oceans, abundant biodiversity, and thriving coastal economies all intertwine with Sway’s success as we accelerate production in 2024,” says Julia Marsh, CEO & co-founder of Sway. “We believe everyday materials should help to replenish the planet from sea to soil.” — (Spotlight for Packaging Strategies)

Also, if you’re interested, this is a highly educational piece by EcoEnclose on Sway’s holistic approach to seaweed packaging. 

Daniel Kleinman | Seaworthy Collective

Miami-based nonprofit organization focused on supporting entrepreneurs working on ocean and climate impact innovation (BlueTech).

Their mission is to make BlueTech accessible and inclusive, empowering Sea Change Makers to drive positive change for our planet. They provide:

Startup Support: Provide mentorship, funding, and resources to early-stage and aspiring BlueTech entrepreneurs.

Community Building: Foster a community of like-minded individuals passionate about ocean conservation and innovation.

Impact Investment: Invest in BlueTech startups that have the potential to positively impact the ocean and climate.