Kogia

What Kogia does

Kogia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation studio founded in 2023 by cousins Karim Iliya and Nessim Stevenson and operating primarily between Beirut, Lebanon and Reykjavik, Iceland. The organization runs three interconnected programs: the Oceanic Library (a curated, membership-gated digital repository of marine photography, video, and audio made freely available to qualifying conservationists, scientists, NGOs, educational institutions, and governmental agencies); Impact Projects (films, social media campaigns, and strategic communications consulting for conservation organizations); and the NatureStorytelling Fellowship Program (which equips emerging storytellers with professional camera equipment, training, and mentorship to produce local, conservation-driven narratives). The technology underlying the core offering is an online content library platform hosted at library.kogia.org, with self-serve membership access, curated taxonomy by wildlife, ecosystem, category, and perspective, and approximately 3,500+ media assets organized across ~72 pages.

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-funded: the library and fellowship are provided at no cost to end users, while revenue derives from tax-deductible contributions and institutional grants (Kogia is a registered 501(c)(3) in the USA, a member of 1% for the Planet, and an official World Oceans Day partner with UN endorsement). GTM motion is community-led, relying on partnerships with organizations such as Oceanic Global, NCC, Edges of Earth, Coralition, Guardians, Climate Cymru, and the Explorer's Club, alongside brand collaborations (e.g., ASH footwear) and organic social/email channels. Kogia serves conservation NGOs (primary), educational institutions (primary), scientists and marine biologists (secondary), governmental agencies (secondary), and emerging nature storytellers (secondary persona), with a globally distributed membership footprint and no disclosed revenue or commercial pricing.

Name

Kogia

Legal name

Kogia

Website

https://kogia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kogia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation studio operating between Lebanon and Iceland that provides a free marine imagery library, impact films and campaigns, and a nature storytelling fellowship to conservation organizations, scientists, NGOs, and educational institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Media Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature, Science & Wildlife Documentaries (MPADADAF), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Marine conservation media
• Underwater photography library
• Nature storytelling fellowships
• Conservation filmmaking
• Environmental impact campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the USA, Kogia relies on tax-deductible donations from contributors and grants to fund operations. Supporters enable the organization to provide free library access to conservationists and support emerging nature storytellers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kogia is a nonprofit conservation studio that operates the Oceanic Library, a curated online repository of marine photography, video, and audio made freely available to individuals and nonprofits working in conservation. It also produces Impact Projects, including films, social media campaigns, and science- and conservation-focused communication services, and runs the NatureStorytelling Fellowship Program, providing emerging storytellers with camera equipment, training, and mentorship.

Product overview

Kogia is a nonprofit conservation studio offering three interconnected core services: the Oceanic Library (a curated collection of marine photography and video freely available to conservationists), Impact Projects (films, impact campaigns, and conservation-focused communication services), and the NatureStorytelling Fellowship Program (providing emerging storytellers with equipment, training, and mentorship). These three offerings work together as an ecosystem where fellowship participants create content for the library, impact projects connect scientists and conservationists with storytellers, and all elements support the organization's mission of protecting nature through visual storytelling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Oceanic Library: A curated collection of marine photography and video, freely available to individuals and nonprofits working in conservation.
• NatureStorytelling Fellowships

Products and services

• Oceanic Library A curated online collection of marine photography, video, and audio made freely available to individuals, nonprofits, scientists, educational institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies working in conservation. Members apply for free membership to browse, access, and download imagery for conservation campaigns, education, and science communication.
• Impact Projects Films, impact-driven social media campaigns, and strategic communications services that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature. Includes science and conservation-focused communication services delivered to partner organizations.
• NatureStorytelling Fellowship Program A fellowship program that equips emerging nature storytellers with skills, tools, professional camera equipment, hands-on training, and expert mentorship to share local, conservation-driven narratives. Selected fellows create impactful work highlighting the natural world and often contribute content to the Oceanic Library.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72 pages of marine media content freely available to conservationists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Edges of EarthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental media organization. Kogia collaborates with Edges of Earth on projects and shared mission of nature conservation through storytelling.
• NCC (Nature Conservation Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature conservation organization. Partnership focuses on conservation communication and visual storytelling for environmental protection.
• GuardianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization. Kogia works with Guardians on projects supporting marine ecosystem protection.
• Oceanic GlobalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOceanic Global is a key partner for Kogia, sharing the mission of ocean conservation through visual storytelling and awareness campaigns.
• Explorer's ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious scientific and exploratory organization. Partnership provides credibility and connection to the exploration community.
• CoralitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral reef conservation organization. Kogia collaborates on coral-focused projects and imagery for reef protection efforts.
• Climate CymruminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh climate organization. Partnership supports climate communication initiatives with a focus on ocean-related climate impact.
• 1% for the PlanetflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental giving network. Kogia receives funding through 1% for the Planet membership, connecting the organization with corporate environmental giving programs.
• World Oceans DayflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial World Oceans Day partner. Kogia participates in annual World Oceans Day campaigns and initiatives.
• ASH (Footwear Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-Italian sustainable footwear brand. Kogia partnered with ASH for an Earth Day campaign featuring jellyfish and coral photography in Palau, with images added to the Oceanic Library.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• 1% for the Planet: 1% for the Planet is a network connecting businesses with vetted environmental nonprofits — comparable as an enabling/funding ecosystem partner that already supports Kogia via membership.

Direct peers

• Wildscreen: Wildscreen is a UK-based charity that connects nature storytelling, photography, and conservation through its library, festival, and exchange programs — directly comparable to Kogia's Library and Fellowship offerings.
• Oceanic Global: Oceanic Global is a nonprofit ocean-conservation organization that uses storytelling, partnerships, and programs to drive marine protection — directly comparable to Kogia and already a flagship Kogia partner.
• SeaLegacy: SeaLegacy is a nonprofit ocean-conservation storytelling collective producing film, photography, and campaigns to protect marine ecosystems — directly comparable to Kogia's Impact Projects and Oceanic Library approach.
• The Ocean Agency: The Ocean Agency is a nonprofit using creative communications, film, and campaigns to accelerate ocean conservation — directly comparable to Kogia's media-driven marine conservation model.
• Plastic Oceans Foundation: Plastic Oceans is a nonprofit using film, education, and awareness campaigns to address ocean plastic pollution — comparable to Kogia's conservation-focused communications and education work.

Broad incumbents

• Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance: Mission Blue is an established ocean-conservation nonprofit operating Hope Spots and large-scale advocacy campaigns — a broader incumbent in the same marine conservation space as Kogia.
• National Geographic Society: National Geographic is a large established nonprofit producing marine photography, video, and conservation storytelling at global scale — a much broader incumbent that publishes Kogia co-founder Karim Iliya.

Emerging players

• Nature Picture Library: Nature Picture Library is a commercial nature stock-photography agency with deep marine coverage — comparable to Kogia's Oceanic Library but monetized via paid licensing rather than free for conservationists.
• iNaturalist: iNaturalist is a citizen-science platform sharing nature observations including marine species — a partially overlapping community-driven visual resource for conservationists versus Kogia's curated library.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kogia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Kogia