Ocean Zero
Ocean Zero LLC is a New York-based venture capital firm that invests exclusively in early-stage companies developing zero-emission marine technologies, currently leading investments in eight portfolio companies spanning electric propulsion, hydrofoiling, wing sails, batteries, and ferries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ocean Zero does
Ocean Zero LLC is a New York-based venture capital and investment firm founded in 2020 that invests exclusively in companies developing zero-emission marine technologies. The firm operates with 11-50 employees from its headquarters at 201 Varick Street in New York City and serves as the lead investor in eight portfolio companies spanning the full maritime decarbonization stack: Candela (Swedish electric hydrofoil boats reducing friction by 80%), AYRO (French Oceanwings wing sails for cargo ships reducing fuel consumption by up to 50%), Flux Marine (US electric outboard motors using lithium-based battery chemistry), BATENE (German advanced lithium batteries emerging from the Max Planck Society), Hyke Smart City Ferries (Norwegian all-electric passenger ferries accommodating up to 50 passengers), ZEN Yachts (Spanish zero-emission solar-powered yachts), Glas Ocean Electric (hybrid drive systems reducing CO2 emissions by up to 70%), and Pascal Technologies (Norwegian air-lubrication hull systems reducing friction by 50%).\n\nThe firm generates revenue through venture capital economics — management fees on committed capital and carried interest from successful portfolio exits. Ocean Zero has acted as lead investor in multiple Series A rounds (Candela, Flux Marine, ZEN Yachts) and co-lead investor in seed rounds (BATENE), and has participated in follow-on rounds including Candela's €30M funding in March 2026 alongside IFC (World Bank Group), EQT Ventures, SEB Private Equity, KanDela AB, and strategic corporate Groupe Beneteau. The portfolio spans Sweden, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, and the United States, with operating geographies also referenced in India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the Maldives. The investment thesis targets the maritime industry — cargo ships, ferries, and recreational boats — which the firm identifies as contributing approximately 600 million metric tons of CO2 annually and over 800,000 polluting outboard engines sold each year.\n\nThe firm is led by a network of experienced talent including naval architect Marc van Peteghem (inventor of the 2010 America's Cup winning rigid wing sail for USA 17) and Dr. Joachim Spatz (Director of Max Planck Institute for Medical Research). As an LLC, Ocean Zero maintains a private ownership structure with no disclosed parent company. The specialized vertical focus on maritime decarbonization, combined with its network of scientific and naval architecture expertise and co-investor relationships with institutional and strategic players (IFC/World Bank, EQT Ventures, Groupe Beneteau), positions the firm as a domain-specialized investor in the clean maritime technology sector.
Ocean Zero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Zero
- Legal name
- Ocean Zero LLC
- Website
- https://oceanzerollc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ocean Zero LLC is a New York-based venture capital firm that invests exclusively in early-stage companies developing zero-emission marine technologies, currently leading investments in eight portfolio companies spanning electric propulsion, hydrofoiling, wing sails, batteries, and ferries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean Zero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Clean Technology Venture Capital
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Ocean Zero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ocean Zero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Ocean Zero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocean Zero LLC is a venture capital investment firm that deploys capital into early-stage companies developing technologies to reduce CO2 and pollutant emissions from sea shipping, ferries, and recreational boats. The firm is the lead or co-lead investor in eight portfolio companies spanning electric hydrofoils, wing sails, electric outboards, advanced batteries, electric ferries, solar yachts, hybrid electric drives, and air-lubrication hull systems. Ocean Zero itself does not sell products or services to end customers; it finances and supports portfolio companies building maritime clean-technology solutions.
Product overview
Ocean Zero LLC is a venture capital and investment firm that invests in companies developing zero-emission marine technologies. The company serves as the lead investor in eight portfolio companies: Candela (electric hydrofoil boats), AYRO (wing sails for cargo ships), Flux Marine (electric outboard motors), BATENE (advanced lithium batteries), Hyke Smart City Ferries (electric passenger ferries), ZEN Yachts (solar-powered yachts), Glas Ocean Electric (hybrid electric drive systems), and Pascal Technologies (air-lubrication hull systems). These investments focus on reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions from sea shipping, ferries, and recreational boats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Venture capital investment in maritime clean-technology companies Direct venture capital funding (Seed and Series A rounds) provided to early-stage companies developing zero-emission technologies for ocean shipping, ferries, and recreational boats. Provided to portfolio companies operating in the United States and Europe.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% reduction in friction with hydrofoil technology (Candela)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean Zero
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ocean Zero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ocean Zero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ocean Zero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Obvious Ventures: Mission-driven VC fund investing in sustainable systems, healthy living, and economic empowerment. Comparable impact-first VC with thematic focus on companies addressing systemic challenges including climate.
- Prelude Ventures: Early-stage impact VC fund investing in sustainability, mobility, and climate tech. Comparable as a thematic investor backing transformative technologies addressing environmental challenges.
- Pale Blue Dot: Swedish/Norwegian venture fund investing in climate tech and impact-driven founders addressing systemic environmental challenges. Direct peer given Nordic base and climate-focused early-stage mandate.
- Lowercarbon Capital: Chris Sacca-founded fund exclusively focused on climate tech investing across multiple decarbonization verticals. Highly comparable thesis-driven VC targeting emissions reduction with sector-agnostic approach.
- Energy Impact Partners: Global clean energy venture fund investing across energy transition, mobility, and decarbonization. Comparable as a thematic investor backing startups addressing climate challenges with LP base of utilities and energy corporates.
- Clean Energy Ventures: Early-stage climate tech venture fund investing in transformative decarbonization technologies. Comparable as a seed/Series A climate investor with focus on hard-tech and infrastructure solutions.
- Voyager Ventures: Climate-focused VC fund investing in early-stage companies across energy, mobility, and built environment decarbonization. Comparable as a thematic climate investor with seed/Series A focus.
- World Fund: European climate VC fund investing in companies that can decarbonize at gigaton scale. Comparable thematic climate investor with European focus, sharing geographic overlap with Ocean Zero's portfolio companies.
- Katapult Ocean: Norwegian ocean impact accelerator and fund that backs early-stage startups addressing ocean challenges. Direct peer given similarly exclusive focus on maritime/ocean technologies and shared Nordic investor base.
Broad incumbents
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Bill Gates-backed climate technology fund with multi-billion AUM investing across transport, energy, and industrial decarbonization. Comparable as a climate-focused VC investor but at vastly greater scale and broader sector mandate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Zero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Zero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ocean Zero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Zero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments9 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ocean Zero
What does Ocean Zero do?
Ocean Zero LLC is a venture capital investment firm that deploys capital into early-stage companies developing technologies to reduce CO2 and pollutant emissions from sea shipping, ferries, and recreational boats. The firm is the lead or co-lead investor in eight portfolio companies spanning electric hydrofoils, wing sails, electric outboards, advanced batteries, electric ferries, solar yachts, hybrid electric drives, and air-lubrication hull systems. Ocean Zero itself does not sell products or services to end customers; it finances and supports portfolio companies building maritime clean-technology solutions.
Is Ocean Zero a public or private company?
Ocean Zero is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Zero founded?
Ocean Zero was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ocean Zero based?
Ocean Zero is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Ocean Zero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Obvious Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Pale Blue Dot, Lowercarbon Capital, Energy Impact Partners, Clean Energy Ventures, Voyager Ventures, World Fund and Katapult Ocean. Breakthrough Energy Ventures is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ocean Zero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Zero.
What industry is Ocean Zero in?
Ocean Zero's product category is Maritime Clean Technology Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management.