Archelon

Name

Archelon

Legal name

ΑΡΧΕΛΩΝ - Σύλλογος για την Προστασία της Θαλάσσιας Χελώνας

Website

https://archelon.gr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Sea turtle conservation
• Marine wildlife protection
• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Environmental education programs
• Volunteer conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations supporting conservation programs, rescue center operations, and field activities
2. Symbolic Adoptions: Adoption programs where supporters symbolically adopt hatchlings (40 EUR), mother turtles (70 EUR), nests (100 EUR), or injured turtles in rehabilitation (150 EUR), covering protection and care costs
3. E-commerce Sales: Sale of environmentally-friendly merchandise including items designed exclusively for Archelon, available through online shop and at the rescue center
4. Volunteer Program Fees: Participation contributions from international volunteers covering accommodation and program costs (700-950 EUR for 4 weeks, 350 EUR for Greek speakers for 3 weeks, 40 EUR minimum for part-time rescue center volunteers)
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Support from companies including AB, Aegean Airlines, ANEK Lines, CARETTA Research, Greenvolt, Healthy Seas Foundation, and others through direct funding, in-kind donations, and logistics support
6. Sustainable Tourism Program: Three-tiered program (Friends, Supporters, Allies) where hotels and tourism businesses support turtle protection through donations and adoption of conservation practices

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, is a non-profit association that studies and protects sea turtles and their habitats in Greece. Its core offerings include systematic nesting beach monitoring and protection across 97 km of coastline, rescue and rehabilitation of injured sea turtles at the Glyfada Rescue Center, environmental education programs, scientific research and satellite tracking, and supporter engagement through volunteer programs, symbolic adoptions, and a sustainable tourism partner network.

Product overview

ARCHELON is a non-profit association (founded 1983) dedicated to the study and protection of sea turtles and their habitats in Greece. Its product portfolio centers on five interconnected offerings: (1) the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada — a rehabilitation facility treating ~70 injured turtles annually and serving as an education hub; (2) Nesting Beach Monitoring & Protection Programs across nine geographic areas (Zakynthos, Peloponnese, Crete, Amvrakikos Gulf) that record and protect over 10,000 Caretta nests each summer; (3) a Sea Turtle Adoption Program offering symbolic adoptions of hatchlings, mother turtles, nests, and injured turtles as a fundraising mechanism; (4) Environmental Education Programs including in-person and virtual school tours at the Rescue Center and beach-based learning sessions; and (5) a Volunteer Program placing hundreds of international and Greek volunteers in field research and rescue operations. Supporting services include an E-shop, Public Awareness Stations, Satellite Monitoring, a National Rescue Network, and Scientific Publications. The organization operates primarily through membership, donations, volunteer fees, and institutional grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sea Turtle Rescue Center (Κέντρο Διάσωσης Θαλασσίων Χελωνών) A rescue and rehabilitation facility operating in Glyfada, Attica, that treats injured and sick sea turtles and releases them back to the wild. Houses 42 specialized rehabilitation tanks and hosts educational tours and public awareness activities. Treated 76 turtles in 2025 with 30 successfully returned to the sea.
• Nesting Beach Monitoring & Protection Programs Systematic monitoring and protection of sea turtle nesting beaches across Greece in Zakynthos (Laghanas Bay), Peloponnese (Kyparissiakos Gulf, Lakonikos Gulf, Koroni), and Crete (Rethymno, Chania, Messara). Activities include nest recording, marking of adult females, cage protection, public awareness, and nest shading/relocation. Protected over 10,700 nests in 2025 across 97 km of coastline.
• Sea Turtle Adoption Program (Υιοθεσία Θαλάσσιας Χελώνας) Symbolic adoption program allowing supporters to adopt a hatchling (€40), a mother turtle (€70), a Caretta nest (€100), or an injured turtle at the Rescue Center (€150), with adoption certificates provided. Adoption fees support protection, monitoring, and care costs.
• Educational Programs (Περιβαλλοντική Αγωγή) Environmental education programs for schools including in-person tours at the Rescue Center, online virtual tours, and presentations at nesting beaches. Reaches approximately 14,000-14,316 students annually from 470 schools, with Ministry of Education approval since 1985.
• Volunteer Programs (Προγράμματα Εθελοντισμού) Full-time and part-time volunteer opportunities at field programs (Zakynthos, Peloponnese, Crete, Amvrakikos Gulf) and the Rescue Center, including field leaders, rehabilitation assistants, and internship positions for students. Participation fees cover accommodation and program costs (€40-€950). Engages 519 full-time and 74 part-time volunteers annually from 50+ countries.
• National Rescue Network (Εθνικό Δίκτυο Διάσωσης)

Quantifiable outcome

• 42+ years of continuous conservation work
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LIFE ADAPTS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Five-year European Union funded project (2023-2028) focused on climate change adaptation strategies for sea turtles and Mediterranean monk seals. Implemented in Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. ARCHELON contributes research on green turtle, Caretta caretta, and monk seal conservation. Coordinated by University of Pisa with 8 partners including WWF, MOm, and ARCHELON. Funded by EU LIFE program and Green Fund.
• LIFE MareNatura ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Largest marine biodiversity conservation project in Greece, addressing threats to 9 priority species including Mediterranean monk seal, Caretta caretta, green turtle, cetaceans, and seabirds. Coordinated by Hellenic Center for Marine Research (ELKETH). ARCHELON participates in satellite tracking and habitat protection activities. Funded by EU LIFE program.
• TUI Care Foundation - TUI Turtle Aid GreececoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year project (2023-2025) including pilot implementation of Turtle-Friendly Hotel Certificate in Rethymno and Chania. ARCHELON provides guidance to 8 pilot hotels on turtle protection practices. Includes beach protection activities, public awareness campaigns, and Rhodes Co-Lab Sustainable initiative. Also includes satellite tracking of rehabilitated turtle 'Triton' released in November 2024.
• WWF GreeceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Alliance for Wildlife' initiative conducting rapid assessments of sea turtle nesting beach conservation status in Greece. Two-year study (2023-2025) to evaluate conservation status, develop management strategies, and engage local communities in protection efforts.
• Amvrakikos AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with iSea, Tethys Research Institute, Hellenic Ornithological Society, University of Patras, and Blue Marine Foundation to improve management of Amvrakikos National Wetlands Park. ARCHELON contributes research on sea turtle populations in the gulf. Led by OFYPEKA protected area management unit.
• Hellenic Center for Marine Research (ELKETH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research institution providing scientific oversight and collaboration on marine biology research, including Institute of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Oceanography Institute, Rhodes Hydrobiological Station, and Crete Aquarium
• OFYPEKA (Nature Conservation and Climate Change Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body responsible for protected areas in Greece. ARCHELON collaborates with multiple Management Units: Zakynthos National Parks, Strofilia and Western Peloponnese, Southern Peloponnese, Samaria and Western Crete, Eastern Crete, Amvrakikos and Acheloos Valley, and Mesolongi National Parks
• Hellenic Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Port Authorities across Greece for rescue network operations, turtle stranding reports, and enforcement of conservation measures. Port authorities in Zakynthos, Rethymno, Chania, Souda, Heraklion, Ag. Nikolaos, Red Tower, and Sitia
• LIFE EuroTurtles ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompleted project (2016-2022) improving conservation connections across 6 EU countries (Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Malta). ARCHELON contributed stranding network enhancement, rescue center infrastructure, nesting beach protection, innovative fishing gear release techniques, and pilot use of unmanned vessels for habitat surveys.
• IUCN and International Sea Turtle SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organizations providing scientific guidance, networking, and best practice standards for sea turtle conservation globally
• MOm (Society for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek environmental organization collaborating on LIFE ADAPTS project for protection of Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles
• Aegean AirlinesminorOthersAir transport of injured sea turtles to Athens for treatment at rescue center
• GOLDAIR CargominorOthersAir cargo services for transport of injured sea turtles to Athens
• ANEK LinesminorOthersFerry transport support for logistics to Crete programs

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Florida-based sea turtle hospital, research, and education facility with a Juno Beach nesting beach monitoring program serving ~300,000 visitors annually. Highly comparable operating model: rehabilitation center + nesting monitoring + school education + volunteer programs.
• MOm – Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal: Greek marine wildlife NGO founded in 1988 with overlapping mission (Mediterranean marine species conservation), joint EU LIFE ADAPTS consortium membership with Archelon, and very similar operational model (volunteers, rescue network, public awareness). The closest direct peer in geography and species-protection scope.
• Olive Ridley Project: International NGO focused on sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and bycatch/fisheries mitigation across the Indian Ocean. Overlapping mission on bycatch mitigation (an Archelon focus) and a comparable volunteer-supported rehabilitation center operating model.
• Sea Turtle, Inc. US-based sea turtle conservation organization operating a rehabilitation hospital, nesting beach monitoring on South Padre Island, public education programs, and a strong volunteer and adoption/donation model—closely parallel to Archelon's product offering in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Caribbean Conservation Corporation / Sea Turtle Survival League: One of the oldest sea turtle conservation organizations globally (est. 1959), operating Tortuguero nesting beach programs, satellite tracking, and volunteer eco-tourism trips—a near-perfect structural analog to Archelon's Zakynthos and Peloponnese models.

Emerging players

• WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network): IUCN-affiliated regional network coordinating sea turtle monitoring, stranding response, and conservation policy across 40+ Caribbean nations. Comparable to Archelon's role as a national-level coordinator but at broader regional scale.
• SEE Turtles: Conservation tourism and fundraising organization supporting sea turtle conservation globally through volunteer trips, adoptions, and partnerships. Highly comparable funding model (adoptions, donations, tourism-linked experiences) to Archelon.

Broad incumbents

• WWF Greece: The Greek arm of the world's largest conservation organization, operating across marine, terrestrial, and freshwater habitats. Broader in scope but a direct collaborator through the Alliance for Wildlife nesting-beach assessment and co-participant in EU LIFE programs alongside Archelon.

Regional players

• Turtle Conservation Centre (India): Sea turtle nesting beach protection and community-based conservation program on India's coast. Compares to Archelon in NGO structure and volunteer-driven beach patrols but operates in a different geography and species-mix context.

Others

• Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR / ELKETH): Greek government marine research institution coordinating the LIFE MareNatura project with Archelon as a partner. Not a direct competitor but a strategic scientific counterpart whose infrastructure and policy influence constrain and complement Archelon's role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Archelon_stps
• Facebookfacebook.com/archelon.gr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Archelon