ABOUT US
We are a global non-profit platform welcoming Ocean passionate people to connect, learn, share ideas, shape our community and act in the best interest of the Ocean.
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We provide learning programs and knowledge, to support choices in daily life, influence regulators, and to use knowledge as the foundation for innovation.
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We invite early sustainable ideas into challenges and ideation ponds to help them grow into acceleration ready early stage solutions, and fill a void in the ocean innovation ecosystem for early innovators and ideas with impact potential that are not yet accelerator- or investor ready.
Our Team
Our competence includes marine sciences, technology, leadership, business, finance, operations, marketing, media and communications. We have been active in different industries and start-ups. We are all united in our passion for the Ocean and planet-friendly innovation and action.
Susanne Wedin-Schildt
Founder & CEO
Susanne has a long career leading teams across industries in Business Development, Operations and IT across industry verticals. She has also spent multiple years working for leading Management & IT Consulting firms and server as trusted advisor to CxOs in Digital Strategy. She is passionate about leveraging IT to drive sustainable business growth. Her focus is now on purposeful impact investments and advisory in the circular economy. She is a plant-based future friend, and true animal- and ocean lover who recently pulled up her Swedish roots replanting them on the Silver Coast of Portugal. She has recently taken her first surfboard and kite surf lessons enjoying the challenging wind and waves of the ocean.
Christina Friberg
Co-Founder & COO
Christina has a long and solid experience from management positions and leading functions in the Finance Industry and leading global Consulting Firms covering Business and Product Development, Innovation, Corporate Strategy and Organizational Change. Christina is a thought leader and expert in the Payments industry and has held various CxO positions. She Is passionate about driving and leveraging Business growth and change. Been living close to the sea she is passionate about the ocean and all kind of ocean sports, mainly sailing. Her main drivers now being solving the environmental and food challenges we are facing by creating a sustainable and circular economic model based on new innovative solutions. Christina is committed to take on the challenge that UN are addressing in the Sustainable Development Goals by building a business case attracting necessary investment and scout for suitable start-up ideas to support the UN goals.
Mafalda de Freitas
Chief Marine Scientist
Mafalda is a Marine Biologist with degrees in Marine Biology from University of St Andrews in Scotland and a Master in Marine Acoustics from Aarhus University in Denmark. She has worked in a number of research projects that used innovative technologies to study marine mammals. Mafalda is currently the Project Manager for Peniche Ocean Watch.
Vanessa Domingos
Chief Knowledge Officer
Vanessa was born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, and from early years enjoyed camping during summer holidays near the beach.
She still captures energy from the ocean engaging in water sports such as swimming and surfing, and she also has a coastal boat license.
Vanessa holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering - Quality & Environment and a Postgraduate Degree in Integrated Quality, Environment Management Systems. She has been working for the Pharmaceutical Industry for the past 14 years where her main tasks include project management and laboratory team supervision.
Vanessa is passionate about the environment, sustainability and Blue Circular Economy projects and all its contribution to the bigger cause; Protecting the planet!
Sanne Persson
Chief Social Media
and Community Officer
Born and raised in a small seaport in the south of Sweden, the ocean has been constant in Sanne's life; both as a place for recreation as well as a creator of livelihood for the community. Sanne holds a B.A in Media and Communication Studies and is currently pursuing a B.S.c in Business and Economics with a major in Business Administration. She has also conducted an internship in Lisbon at the Swedish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce.
Advisory Board and Jury Assembly
Our competent and experienced advisors supports us on our venture journey.
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Anette Nordvall
Keiretsu Nordics
Anette leads the OCC Jury Assembly and is an active early stage tech investor focusing on ICT and deep-tech science based innovation while adding global environmental goals into the mist. Anette has received multiple recognitions; One of Sweden’s most powerful tech investors 2016, Nordic 100 most influential persons 2018 and mentioned in EBAN 2018 report on 200+ most active Business Angels in Europe. Anette was crowned “Sweden’s nicest Business Angel” at Venture Cup Sweden 2018. Anette is a Partner at Stockholm Business Angels, Managing General Partner at Nordvest, Venture Partner at Butterfly Ventures, Chairwoman at “We Don’t Have Time”, Managing Partner and founding investor at Cross Nordic Capital and is the Chapter President and CEO of Keiretsu Forum Nordics.
Ann Carpenter
Braid Theory
Ann Lee Carpenter, the co-founder and CEO of Braid Theory, serves as an advisor to deep tech companies in ocean/maritime, transportation and goods movement, and related industrial sectors. She brings more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, business development, and community outreach.
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Marcus Hølland Eikeland
Katapult Ocean & Katapult Climate
Angel investor and co-founder of 4 startups. First hire in Katapult, and is leading their efforts in building the most comprehensive impact program in the world as the Program Director. Marcus also lead Katapults first white-label program in Copenhagen from 2018-2019. MSc and MBA.
Rita Sousa
Blue Pioneers Fund
Rita Sousa is Partner at Faber Blue Pioneers Fund, an early-stage Fund, investing in the early stages of high potential deep-tech startups aiming for high positive impact on ocean sustainability and climate action. Rita has been working in VC for 7 years, is a jury member for the EIC/European Commission and has previously worked in energy & utilities, innovation and CRM consultancy. Rita is a Mechanical Engineer (IST), MSc. Energy/Environment (Strathclyde), MBA (AESE/IESE BS) and MiF (Católica BS).
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Ron Tardiff
World Economic Forum, UpLink Ocean
Ron currently Leads the UpLink Ocean impact pillar of Friends of Ocean Action at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. Prior to this, he worked for nearly two years with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance to build the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders. While engaging and empowering ocean youth from many angles, at the start of the pandemic Ron built the Ocean Solutions Microgrant Program, the first program in the world to provide small grants to youth-led ocean projects on a global scale. The program, now in its second year, has funded nearly 200 projects in more than 50 countries. Ron has conducted research, developed strategy, managed projects, and supported outreach for 11 organizations on issues ranging from fisheries governance to marine education. Ron is a marine ecologist by training with degrees in Marine Sciences, Maritime Studies, Aquaculture, Environment & Society, and is finishing up a Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Blue Growth. He has studied all things ocean at 8 universities and research institutions around the world and has lived, worked or studied in 10 countries. Ron is a scientist and policy wonk at heart driven to improve ocean governance and innovation, increase equitable access to marine resources and services, and to conserve and restore ocean biodiversity.
Coaches
Our competent and experienced advisors supports us on our venture journey.
Ana Pinela
Beta-i
Ana Pinela works at Beta-i Collaborative Innovation as a Senior Innovation Consultant and Project Leader, where she is currently responsible for coordinating and managing the Atlantic Smart Port Blue Acceleration Network (AspBAN), a project co-funded by the European Union’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Ana has a Master and a PhD in Marine Sciences and Conservation of Biodiversity and over 15 years of experience working as a Researcher, Consultant and Project manager in international projects. Since 2018, after attending the Blue Growth Summer School of the University of Ghent, she has been focused and dedicated to coordinating and managing projects in the area of the Blue Economy.
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Pedro Cerdeira
Business Plug
Pedro is a mentor, advisor and business angel passionate about the startup ecosystem, bridging the gap between investors and startups and helping companies to scale and develop their business internationally. He has mora than 25 years of experience in the Enterprise IT market, held several senior international business development, sales management and alliances and channel management positions in Oracle, Brocade, EMC2, Compaq/HP, Alcatel and Accenture. He holds a MSc in Computer Engineering, and 2 post-grads, Advanced Management Program for Executives, and Advanced
Program in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management.
Jim Cooper
Braid Theory
Jim Cooper has over 20 years of experience from start ups, market research, market intelligence and competitive analysis experience. Jim is co-founder and CTO for Braid Theory, an early stage start up advisory and consulting group in California, US with extensive traction in BlueTech.
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Ingrid Maurstad
Katapult Ocean
Ingrid is Commercial Manager in Katapult Ocean and is passionate about ocean impact startups. Before she joined Katpult she worked in Ferd, investing in, and supporting social entrepreneurs. She has also extensive experience from financing and leading social inclusion projects in The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF). Ingrid believes that companies with a positive impact on the world are the future, and that financially sustainable startups can scale great solutions for a thriving ocean.
César Couto Ferreira
Fábrica do Futuro
César is a Viacom and Vice Media Alumni and Co-Founder of Fábrica do Futuro in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This innovation hub mixes culture, arts and technology and has been granted a merit award from the city of Porto Alegre for its work with Innovation and Technology Development of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. César also Co-Founded ONG Instituto Fábrica focused on mental health and education. He is an Advisory Board Member of Enrich in Brazil and Co-Founder of TippingUP media activism organisation focused on SDGs2030. Mentor and advisor of several startups and scale-ups globally. César is a passionate scuba diver who embraces the ocean below the surface.
Victoria Ramm
Material Innovation Initiative
Victoria works as Director of Development at Material Innovation Initiative. Prior to this she worked with development for The Good Food Institute also passionate about replacing animal products with sustainable no-harm innovative products. Victoria brings a unique blend of both nonprofit and startup experience; Her career ranges from years at The Humane Society of the United States, where she managed emerging media communications, advocacy, and fundraising, to technology, where she held various roles in business development. Victoria takes pride in connecting innovative thinkers with innovative projects globally.
Malin Friberg
Arthur D. Little
Malin is a Senior Management Consultant starting at CapGemini and now a trusted Manager within Arthur D. Little's Strategy & Organization Team in Stockholm. Her experience spans across Commercial- and Technical domains delivering Vendor Due Diligence, IPO Prospectus, pre-merger strategy formulation and realization as well as growth strategy design, business plan creation and implementation. She has experience from both buy-side and sell-side with financial modelling and scenario construction. Malin has developed a passion for leading market change through use of state-of-the-art technology. Malin holds a dual M.Sc. Degree in International Business and CEMS International Management at the Stockholm School of Economics and University of Sydney Business School.
Association Board
Our competent and experienced advisors supports us on our venture journey.
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Mafalda de Taborda Lourenço
Nunes & Taborda Lourenço
Mafalda is the first chairwoman of the OCC Assembly Board, and an innovative and successful attorney. Mafalda is passionate about justice, court procedures and environmental responsibility.
Mafalda has lived all her life by the ocean and is an active member of the Lourinhã coastal community and west coastal region in Portugal, contributing to ecological initiatives and promoting a zero-waste-lifestyle.
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Sérgio Leandro
SmartOCEAN Peniche and IPL Leira ESTM
Sergio is the Director of the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology of Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (ESTM-IPLeiria) and Scientific coordinator of SmartOcean - Science and Maritime Technology Park, Peniche, Portugal. He is also a member of the MAB UNESCO Portuguese national committee and Co-Manager of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Berlengas. Sérgio is also a member of the MARE research unit, and a principal researcher of FCT Portugal and FEAMP projects within Marine Ecology, Marine Biotechnology, Fisheries and Aquaculture and Ocean Literacy.
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Niklas Knutsson
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Niklas works as Programme Officer for Trade & Digitalisation at SIDA. Niklas grew up on a peninsula in rural Northeast Sweden and is conscious of the need to find new business models that revive both the biodiversity of the ocean and rural coastal societies. He believes that the development of ecologically, economically and socially sustainable blue business is key to healthy ocean communities, and promotes those business models that are scalable. Before current position, Niklas was based in Lisbon as Secretary General of the Swedish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce.
Robin Teigland
Chalmers University of Technology and Peniche Ocean Watch
Robin is Professor of Strategy and Management of Digitalization at Chalmers University of Technology. Apart from moving research forward, she has a long track record leading international projects, working with startups, digital transformation and implementation of digital technologies. Teigland is the Director of Ocean Data Factory in Sweden and as co-founder of the Ocean Tech Hub and @penicheoceanwatch, she is actively working to develop the blue circular economy in Peniche. 2017 and 2018 she was listed as one of the most influential women in tech in Sweden. In her free time, Robin enjoys surfing longboards waves and co-running her Ocean Tech Hub coworking/coliving space and Go4Surf school in Peniche, Portugal.
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Carlos Lobo
Lobo, Vasques & Associados
Carlos Lobo is a member of the OCC Executive Board with roots in the Silver Coast of Portugal and a strong advocate for SMART urbanization and digitalization of the Public Sector. Carlos has been a Partner and Manager at the Tax Department of EY Portugal and has held positions as Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, Deputy to the Office of the Minister of Finance and served as an Advisor to the Office of the Minister of Finance. Carlos has a PhD in Law and is a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, where he has also held positions as the Vice-rector and Pro-rector. Carlos is the Founding Partner of Lobo, Vasques and Associados in Lisbon.