What Reef2reef Foundation does

Reef2Reef Foundation (legal name: Reef2Reef Foundation Panama) is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Portobelo, Colón, Panama. The foundation operates coral reef restoration, marine research, and conservation education programs inside the marine zone of Portobelo National Marine Park, one of Panama's richest natural reserves. It serves individual conservationists, environmental NGOs, schools, and corporate volunteer groups, and is led by Director René Gómez and Co-Founder Jean Blanco with an in-house biology team including Principal Researcher Yessenia González.

The foundation's restoration technology stack combines four complementary methods deployed simultaneously: Minerals Accretion Technology (MAT) structures using low-voltage electrolysis to accelerate coral growth 3-5x faster, MOSES (ReefSystems Modular Sealife System) artificial reef modules cast from blast-furnace cement that emits 50% less CO2 than Portland concrete, floating Coral Tree structures each hosting up to 100 corals at Playa Huertas, and open-water nurseries monitored daily by biologists. Currently the foundation has deployed three MAT structures (donated by Boskalis), two Coral Trees, and ongoing MOSES installations in Colón coastal waters.

The foundation's revenue model blends donations, coral adoption programs (Super Héroe Recolector and Explorador), merchandise sales (t-shirts at B/.20, thermoses at B/.30), and volunteer training fees including a $190 VIP Coral Restoration Team certification delivered through a PADI-affiliated instructor network. Distribution is direct: reefpty.com website store, WhatsApp/email inquiry, and on-site experiences at the Portobelo base. Core partnerships include UMIP (Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá) and SCUBAPANAMA (scientific and diving operations), Boskalis and ReefSystems Innovation (technology transfer), PADI (diver certification), Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (government/education), and Panama SEALife (mangrove reforestation).

Name

Reef2reef Foundation

Legal name

Reef2Reef Foundation Panama

Website

https://reefpty.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reef2Reef Foundation is a Panama-based non-profit founded in 2018 that runs active coral reef restoration in Portobelo National Marine Park using MAT, MOSES, and Coral Tree technologies, training volunteer divers and delivering marine conservation education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Aquaculture (11251)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA), Stock Enhancement & Restocking / Conservation Aquaculture (AFAEAAAO)

Keywords

• Coral reef restoration
• Marine conservation
• Coral nursery management
• Ocean education programs
• Diving certification training

Headquarters

HQ city

Colón

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The foundation accepts monetary donations from supporters to fund coral restoration activities, environmental education programs, and operational costs. Donations are solicited through their website and social media platforms.
2. Coral Adoption Programs: Super Héroe programs where participants can adopt coral fragments. Includes certificate, quarterly progress reports, and a nameplate. Adoption contributes to nursery operations and coral care.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, thermos bottles (40 oz capacity, keeps drinks cold for 24h/hot for 12h), and other items. Prices include B/. 20.00 for t-shirts and B/. 30.00 for thermoses. Proceeds support coral restoration work.
4. Volunteer Course Fees: Diving courses and certifications offered in collaboration with PADI instructors. The $190 donation for VIP coral restoration team includes knowledge, field experience, certification, and membership in the VIP coral restoration team for Caribbean missions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Reef2Reef Foundation restores coral reefs in the marine zone of Portobelo National Marine Park using emerging restoration technologies (MAT, MOSES, Coral Trees) deployed in open-sea nurseries that are monitored daily by biologists and volunteers. It sells participatory programs including Super Héroe Recolector and Super Héroe Explorador coral adoption experiences, a PADI-affiliated VIP Coral Restoration Team diving certification course, branded merchandise, and environmental education services to schools and communities.

Product overview

Reef2Reef Foundation is a coral reef restoration and conservation foundation based in Portobelo, Colón, Panama. The organization operates open-sea coral nurseries (guarderías) that are monitored daily by biologists, administrators, and volunteers, where corals are cared for and catalogued before being reintroduced into protected marine areas. The foundation implements multiple restoration technologies including MAT (Mineral Accretion Technology) structures that use low-voltage electrolysis to accelerate coral growth 3-5 times faster, MOSES (ReefSystems Modular Sealife System) artificial reefs, and Coral Trees that can hold up to 100 corals each. The organization also offers participatory programs including Super Héroe Recolector and Super Héroe Explorador coral adoption experiences, environmental education services, and diver training through the VIP Coral Restoration Team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Coral growth 3-5x faster with MAT technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• UMIP (Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Public-university partnership for scientific collaboration in coral reef restoration research. Part of the research project in the marine zone of Portobelo National Marine Park.
• SCUBAPANAMAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for diving operations and field research support in coral restoration activities. SCUBAPANAMA provides infrastructure and operational support for the research project.
• BOSKALIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch maritime services company that donated 3 MAT (Minerals Accretion Technology) structures for coral restoration. Representatives visited from Netherlands to observe project progress. Structures are deployed in Colón coastal waters.
• Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanama Tourism Authority partnered for environmental education initiatives, including visits to local schools. Foundation submitted mooring systems installation project within Portobelo Marine Park for ATP approval.
• PADImajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPADI-certified instructors provide diving courses that train volunteers for coral restoration team. Pablo Riptide PADI instructor offers courses that provide necessary skills for diving and coral monitoring activities.
• ReefSystems InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for MOSES (Modular Sealife System) artificial reef technology. Collaboration to build and deploy three MOSES structures in Colón waters.
• Panama SEALifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative mangrove reforestation project using Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Project involved Puerto Lindo fishing and boating community in Colón province.
• Grupo AJEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for beach cleanup activities. Joint volunteer beach cleanup event at Costa del Este with company employees participating.
• Ocean SoldiersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided merchandise support including thermoses and towels for the foundation's stand at the Annual Maritime Conference to support fundraising efforts.
• Commercial Diving PanamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull support for merchandise initiative (thermos sales) to generate mutual support and funding for foundation activities.
• IPTCHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization that accompanied foundation at Annual Maritime Conference at Panama Convention Center Amador.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Panama SEALife: Active partner of Reef2Reef on mangrove reforestation in Puerto Lindo, Colón. Comparable regional marine ecosystem restoration approach and similar geographic focus in Panama's Caribbean coast.
• MarViva Foundation: Panama-based marine conservation NGO with comparable Caribbean-coast conservation focus and stakeholder engagement. Relevant regional peer operating in the same Panamanian waters and policy ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Caribbean Program): Large international environmental NGO with active coral reef programs globally. Comparable marine conservation mission and donor-supported structure, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Mars Sustainable Communities Foundation / Mars Coral Reef Restoration: Mars-funded coral restoration project in Indonesia using mineral accretion similar to Reef2Reef's MAT technology. Comparable technology stack and corporate-funded restoration model, though backed by a much larger corporate parent.
• The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL): Global NGO focused on coral reef conservation, with programs spanning community engagement, science, and policy. Comparable marine conservation mission and donor-supported funding model, but operates at much broader scale.
• Ocean Conservancy: Major international ocean conservation nonprofit with comparable donor and volunteer-driven model. Operates at broader ocean-health scale rather than active reef restoration, but competes for similar donor dollars and partnerships.

Emerging players

• PADI AWARE Foundation: Marine conservation arm of PADI, which Reef2Reef already partners with for dive training. Comparable in connecting dive community to conservation outcomes and potentially a strategic partner or funder at scale.

Direct peers

• SECORE International: Nonprofit focused on coral reef restoration through sexual reproduction and larval propagation techniques. Directly comparable mission and active restoration science approach.
• Coral Restoration Foundation: Largest coral reef restoration nonprofit in the world, operating in the Florida Keys. Directly comparable as a nonprofit using active restoration technologies (coral nurseries, outplanting) with volunteer dive teams and citizen science engagement.
• Reef Restoration Foundation: Australian nonprofit running coral restoration programs on the Great Barrier Reef with similar volunteer and citizen engagement models. Closely comparable nonprofit structure, restoration methodology, and community-led GTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/reef2reefrestoration
• Facebookfacebook.com/reef2reefrestoration
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reef2reef-restoration-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Reef2reef Foundation