What ThinkOcean does

ThinkOcean is a youth-driven 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2017 by Ben May, registered in Watertown, Massachusetts. It operates a decentralized chapter model targeting students aged 18-25 (90%+ of membership) for ocean education, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment. Active chapters span 4 continents and 10 countries, with named presence in India, Cameroon, Hong Kong (CUHK and HKU), Uganda, and Nigeria. Its Cameroon chapter grew from 8 to 50+ members in 2024, indicating rapid grassroots scaling in select markets.

The organization's product portfolio centers on educational content, field conservation, and advocacy. Core programs include the Mangroves Matter Toolkit, the See Green Podcast, the Ocean Culture Issue digital magazine (in partnership with The Remnant Archive), the High Seas Treaty Awareness Campaign, and the Twala Likolo Li Ndok Na Tiko mangrove restoration project in Cameroon's Tiko region (launched April 2024; 7,000+ mangroves planted, 99.8% survival rate). Underlying technology is digital-platform based—social media (YouTube, Instagram), email newsletters, webinar tools, and event coordination platforms—with no proprietary AI/ML or technical product.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue mechanics consist of individual donations processed via ActBlue and institutional grants (notably National Geographic, which also awarded the organization a National Explorer Award). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: recruitment flows through university partnerships, conference participation (LCOY India, World Water Forum), and chapter-led activities such as beach cleanups and webinars. The organization employs 11-50 staff and depends on volunteer labor across chapters, with no disclosed commercial revenue.

Name

ThinkOcean

Legal name

ThinkOcean Society

Website

https://thinkoceansociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ThinkOcean is a youth-driven 501c3 non-profit founded in 2017 that engages students aged 18-25 in ocean conservation through decentralized chapters across 10 countries, delivering education toolkits, mangrove restoration projects, and ocean policy advocacy campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: ThinkOcean operates as a registered 501c3 non-profit organization relying on donations from individuals and grants from organizations to sustain operations and fund conservation projects.
2. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers contribute time, skills, and services for research, outreach, event planning, and conservation activities without monetary compensation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ThinkOcean is a youth-driven grassroots non-profit organization that engages and mobilizes young people (primarily aged 18-25) to protect oceanic and land-based environments through ocean education, advocacy campaigns, and hands-on conservation projects. It operates a decentralized global chapter network that delivers educational content, runs mangrove restoration and beach cleanup projects, and advocates for ocean policy such as the High Seas Treaty.

Product overview

ThinkOcean is a youth-driven grassroots non-profit organization offering a portfolio of ocean conservation products and programs. The core offerings include the Mangroves Matter Toolkit—an educational resource for youth-led mangrove conservation—and regional Youth Network Chapters operating across India, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Hong Kong. Supporting products include the See Green Podcast (sustainability content), the Ocean Culture Issue digital magazine, the High Seas Treaty Awareness Campaign, mangrove restoration projects in Cameroon, beach cleanup events, and webinars/virtual events. These offerings work together to advance ocean education, conservation action, and youth empowerment globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mangroves Matter Toolkit An educational resource designed to empower youth worldwide in mangrove conservation efforts. Provides practical, relatable content that enables young people to take meaningful action in their communities for mangrove restoration and protection.
• See Green Podcast An in-house podcast produced by ThinkOcean India that raises awareness about sustainability and green issues in the Indian context. Features guests from various sectors of the sustainability industry.
• Ocean Culture Issue (Digital Magazine) A digital magazine published in collaboration with The Remnant Archive, featuring ocean art including poetry, photography, and creative nonfiction. Serves as a platform for artists and activists using their art to advance ocean conservation.
• Youth Network Chapters Regional chapters of ThinkOcean operating across India, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Hong Kong (CUHK and HKU). Implement local conservation projects, educational campaigns, and community engagement initiatives focused on ocean and environmental literacy.
• Twala Likolo Li Ndok Na Tiko (Mangrove Restoration Project, Cameroon) A multi-year grassroots conservation initiative focused on restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems in Tiko, Cameroon, empowering local communities, and promoting ocean literacy. Features environmental clubs in schools and community-based restoration efforts.
• High Seas Treaty Awareness Campaign An advocacy campaign to accelerate ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) by fostering policy awareness among diplomats, politicians, influential leaders, and civilians through education and online petitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.8% mangrove survival rate in Tiko, Cameroon planting project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Partnership for hosting a 1.5-hour session on the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) at LCOY India 2024. Ajay Sawant and Ishwarya Kandaswamy co-facilitated the session aimed at accelerating ratification of the High Seas Treaty in India.
• High Seas AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAjay Sawant serves as Ambassador of High Seas for Asia. ThinkOcean partners with the alliance for youth outreach and treaty ratification advocacy efforts.
• International Secretariat for Water (ISW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized Youth Delegation at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia (May 2024). ISW is a non-governmental organization based in Montreal, Canada focused on water sustainability and youth empowerment.
• HikeExitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated for beach cleanup event at East Dam Beach in Hong Kong, collecting 290.7 kg of trash.
• HKBU (Hong Kong Baptist University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ThinkOcean CUHK for beach cleanup event at East Dam Beach.
• HKU (University of Hong Kong)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint beach cleanup event at East Dam Beach. ThinkOcean HKU chapter collaborates regularly with other Hong Kong universities.
• TWC (The Wildlife Conservancy?)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated for beach cleanup event at East Dam Beach in Hong Kong.
• OIKOS Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeach cleanup collaboration with ThinkOcean CUHK, participated by more than 15 students from various universities and secondary schools.
• Hong Kong Marine Ecological AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint workshop on oyster reef restoration with ThinkOcean CUHK and HKU, focusing on deployment of oyster shells and monitoring process.
• WWF-Hong KongmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported ThinkOcean HKU's exhibition event on Eurasian otter species at HKU campus, providing informative posters and resources.
• PhenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThinkOcean CUHK hosted a talk with Anne-Claire from Phenix, a local food rescue app, to raise awareness about food waste issues in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong Shark FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrea Richey, Executive Director, conducted educational talk on shark finning and exploitation through ThinkOcean HKU and CUHK chapters.
• SpiceBox OrganicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMs. Punam Chopra, Founder, featured in ThinkOcean CUHK's talk show on 'Food Sustainability' at a USDA-certified organic food store and cafe.
• The Remnant ArchivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative publication of 'Ocean Culture Issue' - a digital magazine featuring ocean art, poetry, photography, and conservation stories.
• Global Indian NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia coverage partner for High Seas Treaty awareness campaign, generating 1 million media impressions alongside Times of India.
• Times of IndiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMainstream media outlet covering ThinkOcean's High Seas Treaty awareness campaign efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA): Youth-led ocean conservation organization running the Ocean Leaders Fellowship and incubating global chapters. Directly comparable to ThinkOcean in mission, audience (young ocean advocates), and chapter-based scaling model.
• Plastic Oceans International: Nonprofit focused on ending plastic pollution through education, advocacy, and content. Overlaps with ThinkOcean's ocean-literacy and plastic-pollution work, particularly the Nigeria chapter.
• Oceanic Global: Global nonprofit producing education, community engagement, and outreach around ocean conservation. Comparable to ThinkOcean in mission and youth/community activation approach.
• 5 Gyres Institute: Nonprofit tackling plastic pollution through science, education, and advocacy. Closely comparable to ThinkOcean's marine debris education and beach cleanup programming.
• Parley for the Oceans: Organization collaborating with creators and brands to address marine plastic pollution. Comparable to ThinkOcean on advocacy and awareness campaigns, with a more creative-industry lens.
• Project AWARE: Diver-led nonprofit focused on ocean conservation through policy, community action, and underwater cleanups. Similar grassroots mobilization of volunteers for marine protection.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Established nonprofit running large-scale programs like the International Coastal Cleanup. Comparable mission (ocean health, debris, advocacy) but significantly larger and more institutionalized than ThinkOcean.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Long-standing marine conservation organization with direct-action campaigns. Overlaps with ThinkOcean on marine advocacy but operates with very different tactics and scale.
• The Ocean Foundation: Community foundation supporting ocean projects globally. Comparable as a grantmaker and convening entity in ocean conservation, but with a broader portfolio than ThinkOcean's youth-led focus.

Emerging players

• Coral Watch: Volunteer-driven reef monitoring and education nonprofit. Comparable citizen-science and education model to ThinkOcean, with a narrower focus on coral reefs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thinkoceanglobe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ThinkOcean
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkocean
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkoceansociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThinkOceanSociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ThinkOcean