Ocean First Institute
Ocean First Institute is a Boulder, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts ocean conservation research on sharks, Goliath grouper, and microplastics while delivering free marine science education to K-12 students in Colorado and Florida, funded through donations, foundation grants, and paid expeditions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ocean First Institute does
Ocean First Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ocean conservation organization (EIN 47-1716881) founded in 2014 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with a research lab in Key Largo, Florida and a partnership laboratory at Florida Atlantic University's Henderson School in Boca Raton. The organization's work centers on three pillars: research, education, and community engagement, with a thematic focus on shark conservation, ocean health, and microplastics. Research programs include multi-year assessment of Florida Keys shark abundance using BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems), environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, satellite tagging, and drones; White Shark population studies in South Africa and the Atlantic; Goliath Grouper conservation; scalloped hammerhead research in Costa Rica that contributed to the establishment of the world's first hammerhead shark sanctuary in Golfo Dulce in 2018; and a Microplastics Pollution Monitoring Project using FTIR Spectrometry across Colorado waterways since 2019. Education products span a paid immersive Shark Biology Field Course in the Florida Keys, free school programs across multiple Colorado counties and the Florida Keys aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, free online courses (Marine Science 101 and a catalog of short courses on marine species and ecosystems), and the Explorer Series digital content. Community engagement is delivered through citizen science with dive operators in the Bahamas and Florida, paid conservation expeditions to Belize and the Galapagos, beach and creek cleanups, and annual presence at the Boulder Environmental Nature Outdoors Film Festival.
The organization is led by CEO and Chief Scientist Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza (CU Boulder faculty, immediate past President of the American Elasmobranch Society, National Geographic Explorer) with COO Olivia Collins, Director of Research and Conservation Dr. Christopher Malinowski, and Director of Conservation Strategy Katie Propp. Revenue is generated through three streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring monthly at suggested levels of $25, $75, $100, $150, or custom), foundation grants from a diversified portfolio (SCFD, PNC Foundation, Ocean Reef Community Foundation, New York Community Trust, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation, Lauren Townsend Memorial Foundation, The Innovation Center), and participant-paid research expeditions. The organization operates with approximately 10 employees, maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and has reached over 500,000 people through its combined programming. Geographic operations span Colorado, Florida, Costa Rica, Belize, the Bahamas, and South Africa.
Ocean First Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean First Institute
- Legal name
- Ocean First Institute
- Website
- https://oceanfirstinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ocean First Institute is a Boulder, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts ocean conservation research on sharks, Goliath grouper, and microplastics while delivering free marine science education to K-12 students in Colorado and Florida, funded through donations, foundation grants, and paid expeditions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean First Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Education and Research
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- 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), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Ocean First Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ocean First Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a 501c3 nonprofit charity (EIN# 47-1716881) primarily funded through individual donations. Supporters can make one-time or recurring monthly donations at suggested levels of $25, $75, $100, or $150, or custom amounts. Donations fund critical research, conservation efforts, and educational programming.
- Foundation Grants: Ocean First Institute receives grant funding from various foundations including PNC Foundation, Ocean Reef Community Foundation, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Lauren Townsend Memorial Foundation, The Innovation Center, and New York Community Trust.
- Expedition Fees: The organization offers paid research expeditions including trips to the Galapagos Islands and Belize, with participants paying to join conservation-focused travel experiences led by wildlife and conservation experts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Suggested Donation Levels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ocean First Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocean First Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts marine research, delivers ocean and shark conservation education programs, and engages community members through citizen science. Its core offerings include free school marine science workshops in Colorado and Florida, immersive field courses (e.g., the Florida Keys Shark Biology Field Course), free online courses (Marine Science 101, Short Courses, Explorer Series), paid conservation expeditions to the Galapagos and Belize, and research programs using BRUVS, eDNA, satellite tagging, and FTIR spectroscopy to study sharks, microplastics, and aquatic ecosystems.
Product overview
Ocean First Institute offers a comprehensive suite of marine science research and education programs. The core offerings include the Florida Keys Shark Lab as the primary research facility, supported by multiple research programs covering shark species (White Shark Project, Florida Keys Shark Research, Costa Rica Shark Conservation), Goliath Grouper, Northern Redbelly Dace, and Keys Shark Contaminants. Education products span immersive field courses (Shark Biology Field Course), school programs, free online courses (Marine Science 101, Short Courses), the Explorer Series, and the Microplastics Pollution Monitoring citizen science program. The organization operates three physical locations in Colorado, Florida Keys, and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Florida Keys Shark Lab
- Shark Biology Field Course
- School Programs
- Marine Science 101 Online Course
- Short Online Courses
- Explorer Series
- Microplastics Pollution Monitoring Project
- Florida Keys Shark Research
- White Shark Project
- Goliath Grouper Research
- Costa Rica Shark Conservation
- Northern Redbelly Dace Recovery Project
- Keys Shark Contaminants Research
- Microplastics Research Program
- Sustainable Dive Leader
- Conservation Research Expeditions
- Citizen Science Diver Program
- Shark Conservation Initiative
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 500,000 people reached with conservation messaging and educational programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean First Institute
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ocean First Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ocean First Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Katie Adamson Conservation FundcoreOngoing partnership for shark research expeditions in Belize and collaboration on tagging nurse sharks. The partnership combines wildlife conservation expertise with expedition experiences for participants.
- MarineLab Environmental Education CentercoreMarineLab in Key Largo hosts OFI's shark field courses and serves as a base for research operations in the Florida Keys. Students gain hands-on experience alongside marine biologists.
- Florida Atlantic UniversitycorePartnership with FAU's department of Biological Sciences for graduate student research projects in the Florida Keys. Also includes laboratory space at Henderson School for plastic pollution program with students.
- Mision TiburoncoreCollaboration on scalloped hammerhead shark research and tagging project in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. This partnership contributed to the declaration of Golfo Dulce as the world's first hammerhead shark sanctuary in May 2018.
- Boulder County Parks and Open SpacecorePartnership for fish and amphibian restoration projects in Colorado, working to restore native species back to wild rivers throughout the state.
- Colorado Parks & WildlifecoreCollaboration on native fish and amphibian restoration projects in Colorado, contributing to conservation of endangered species.
- Denver Zoo Conservation AlliancesupportingFunding partner for Northern Redbelly Dace Recovery Project and other conservation initiatives.
- CU BouldercoreAcademic partnership for research collaboration and student involvement in conservation science projects.
- St. Vrain Innovation CentersupportingEducational partner for connecting students to applied conservation science in Colorado.
- The Watershed CentersupportingPartnership for waterway restoration and conservation efforts in Colorado.
- BrightmarksupportingPartnership to develop engaging educational materials focusing on the impact of plastic pollution on the planet.
- Boulder Environmental Nature Outdoors Film Festival (Boulder ENOFF)supportingOcean First Institute participates as sponsor and presenter at the annual film festival celebrating environmental storytelling and conservation.
- City of Boulder and Boulder Parks & RecreationsupportingCollaboration on community cleanup events including Goose Creek Cleanup, engaging volunteers in environmental stewardship.
- Dive Operators in Bahamas and FloridasupportingPartner dive operators enable citizen science data collection by providing access for divers to participate in shark and ray monitoring using underwater laser measuring devices.
- Ocean First DiverssupportingEnvironmentally conscious dive operation founded by Graham Casden, creating industry precedent for accountability and preservation in dive tourism.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ocean First Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ocean Conservancy: Large ocean conservation nonprofit working on policy, science, and public engagement around marine debris, sharks, and ocean health. Comparable to OFI in mission overlap, especially on microplastics and shark conservation, but with substantially larger scale and resources.
- Oceana: The largest international ocean conservation advocacy organization, operating globally on policy campaigns related to sharks, plastic pollution, and marine habitat. Comparable to OFI in mission focus on ocean health and shark policy, but vastly larger in scale, budget, and geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- Mision Tiburon: Costa Rica-based nonprofit dedicated to shark and ray research and conservation, partner of OFI on the Golfo Dulce hammerhead shark sanctuary work. Closely comparable in scope and scale, with similar reliance on tagging-based research and citizen engagement.
- Project AWARE Foundation: Dive-community-based nonprofit mobilizing scuba divers for ocean conservation through citizen science, policy advocacy, and debris removal. Directly comparable to OFI's dive operator partnerships, citizen science shark data collection, and conservation education model.
- Beneath the Waves: Marine conservation nonprofit using scientific research and technology (including BRUVS and satellite tagging) to protect sharks and other marine species. Highly comparable to OFI in its use of non-invasive research technology and shark-focused conservation mission.
- Sea Turtle Conservancy: Nonprofit focused on research and education related to sea turtles, with programs that combine field research, K-12 education, and volunteer engagement. Closely comparable to OFI in operating model — small nonprofit combining species-specific research with free educational programming.
- Sharks4Kids: Nonprofit delivering shark education and outreach to K-12 students worldwide. Directly comparable to OFI's school workshop and Shark Field Course programs, with similar focus on removing barriers to marine science education for young audiences.
- Save Our Seas Foundation: Foundation funding and operating marine conservation projects globally, with emphasis on sharks and rays, education, and scientific research. Comparable to OFI in shark-focused mission and grant-making-plus-direct-research hybrid model.
- Marine Conservation Institute: Nonprofit focused on ocean conservation through scientific research and policy advocacy, including marine protected area development. Comparable to OFI in producing science that informs policy designations such as the Golfo Dulce shark sanctuary precedent.
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF): Nonprofit operating citizen science programs for marine life monitoring using volunteer divers, with significant focus on education and outreach. Comparable to OFI in deploying divers and citizen scientists to generate conservation-relevant data.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ocean First Institute social profiles
Digital presenceOcean First Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean First Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Ocean First Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean First Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ocean First Institute
What does Ocean First Institute do?
Ocean First Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts marine research, delivers ocean and shark conservation education programs, and engages community members through citizen science. Its core offerings include free school marine science workshops in Colorado and Florida, immersive field courses (e.g., the Florida Keys Shark Biology Field Course), free online courses (Marine Science 101, Short Courses, Explorer Series), paid conservation expeditions to the Galapagos and Belize, and research programs using BRUVS, eDNA, satellite tagging, and FTIR spectroscopy to study sharks, microplastics, and aquatic ecosystems.
Is Ocean First Institute a public or private company?
Ocean First Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ocean First Institute founded?
Ocean First Institute was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ocean First Institute based?
Ocean First Institute is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocean First Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and expedition Fees.
Who are Ocean First Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ocean Conservancy and Oceana. Direct peers are Mision Tiburon, Project AWARE Foundation, Beneath the Waves, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sharks4Kids, Save Our Seas Foundation, Marine Conservation Institute and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).
Does Ocean First Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean First Institute.
What industry is Ocean First Institute in?
Ocean First Institute's product category is Marine Conservation Education and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.