What RespectOcean does

RespectOcean is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) headquartered in Pénestin, Bretagne, founded in 2018 (SIREN 843 426 586). It operates a membership-based network of more than 70 economic actors — companies, startups, financial institutions, and public organizations — committed to sustainable blue-economy development and ocean protection. The association's programs include the Blue Brick transformation track for maritime SMEs (first cohort 2024), the international Ocean Pitch Challenge competition co-organized with Sustainable Ocean Alliance (218 applications from 49 countries in 2024), a webinar series on coral restoration and blue carbon, the 'Parlons peu, parlons bleu!' podcast, and the 'Biodiversité marine et économie' program run under its PEN status with the Office français de la biodiversité.

The underlying technology is minimal in a software sense: a WordPress-based website, social channels (Twitter/X), email newsletter, and event/webinar infrastructure form the digital backbone. RespectOcean's value is principally institutional and relational rather than technological. It holds a quasi-exclusive French focal-point role for the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB), is a member of IUCN since May 2024, and is recognized as a 'Partenaire Engagé pour la Nature' by the OFB (October 2021). Major members and sponsors include Groupe Rocher, TUI France, Laboratoires de Biarritz, Swen Capital Partners, Eclo Beauty, Agriloops, FinX, and Neoline.

The business model is a non-profit, multi-stream funding structure: (1) annual membership dues (cotisations) scaled to company size, undisclosed publicly; (2) donations via HelloAsso, Lilo search-engine revenue share, and the 1% for the Planet program; and (3) mécène (corporate sponsorship) revenue from a smaller group of patrons (Laboratoires de Biarritz, Swen Capital Partners, Eclo Beauty). Go-to-market is community-led via the website, events (Pollutec, Biomim'Expo, ITECHMER, Salon du Littoral), webinars, the Ocean Pitch Challenge, and partnerships with Capgemini Invent and Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat. The association operates with 12 employees.

Name

RespectOcean

Legal name

RespectOcean

Website

https://respectocean.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RespectOcean is a French non-profit association that runs a membership network of 70+ economic actors committed to sustainable blue-economy development, offering programs such as the Blue Brick SME track, the Ocean Pitch Challenge competition, and advocacy tied to IUCN and OFB recognition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Sustainability Network Association

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Blue economy network
• Ocean sustainability association
• Marine biodiversity programs
• Sustainable maritime economy
• Ocean conservation network

Headquarters

HQ city

Pénestin

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues (Cotisations annuelles): Members pay annual dues variable according to the size of the company or organization, plus potential voluntary contributions. This is the primary recurring revenue stream.
2. Donations and grants: The association accepts donations via HelloAsso platform and through the 1% for the Planet program. It also receives support from sponsors and mecènes (patrons).
3. Mécène (Corporate sponsorship): Corporate sponsors engage at a deeper level through partnerships and project collaboration, providing financial support in exchange for visibility and association with the network's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RespectOcean is a French non-profit association that operates a membership-based network connecting economic actors committed to sustainable ocean development. Its sellable offerings include an annual membership network of 70+ organizations, the Blue Brick transformation program for maritime SMEs, the international Ocean Pitch Challenge® competition, recurring webinars on marine biodiversity, and the 'Parlons peu, parlons bleu!' podcast. The association is funded through variable annual membership dues, donations, and corporate mécène sponsorships.

Product overview

RespectOcean is a non-profit association (réseau) that serves as a network of actors committed to sustainable economic development in favor of ocean protection. The organization operates as a platform connecting businesses, associations, researchers, and public institutions engaged in the blue economy. Its core offerings include a membership network, the Blue Brick transformation program for maritime SMEs, the international Ocean Pitch Challenge competition co-organized with Sustainable Ocean Alliance, a webinar series covering coral restoration and blue carbon topics, the 'Parlons peu, parlons bleu!' podcast, and the 'Biodiversité marine et économie' program recognized by the French Office for Biodiversity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ocean Pitch Challenge®: An international pitch competition co-organized with Sustainable Ocean Alliance, aimed at solution providers with a positive impact for the Ocean. The 2024 edition gathered 218 applications from 49 countries.
• Blue Brick
• Parlons peu, parlons bleu !
• Biodiversité marine et économie

Products and services

• RespectOcean Membership Network Annual membership network connecting companies, associations, and organizations committed to sustainable ocean development; members apply online and are approved by the Board of Directors, gaining visibility, networking, events access, and collective advocacy. Over 70 organizational members are listed on the site.
• Blue Brick Program Dedicated transformation program for SMEs in the maritime sector seeking deep engagement toward a more sustainable business model. First cohort launched in 2024.
• Ocean Pitch Challenge® International pitch competition co-organized with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance targeting solution providers with a positive impact for the Ocean; 2024 edition attracted 218 applications from 49 countries.
• RespectOcean Webinar Series (Cycle de webinaires) Recurring online webinar series on marine biodiversity topics such as coral reef restoration, blue carbon, sustainable maritime transport, and marine environmental initiatives; partners include IFRECOR, Office français de la biodiversité, and ChangeNOW.
• Podcast "Parlons peu, parlons bleu!" Podcast series produced by RespectOcean dedicated to ocean topics and sustainable maritime economy discussions with various stakeholders.
• Programme Biodiversité marine et économie Program focused on the intersection of marine biodiversity and the economy, deployed within the framework of RespectOcean's recognition as 'Partenaire Engagé pour la Nature' (PEN) by the Office français de la biodiversité (OFB).

Quantifiable outcome

• 218 applications from 49 countries in Ocean Pitch Challenge 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Ocean Pitch Challenge® international competition, now in its 4th edition. SOA and RespectOcean jointly run this competition to identify and support ocean-positive startup solutions from around the world. The 2024 edition attracted 218 applications from 49 countries.
• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Engagés pour la Nature' initiative. RespectOcean is recognized as 'Partenaire Engagé pour la Nature' (PEN) by OFB. Jointly organized webinars to present the initiative to members and the broader public.
• Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectOcean is the official French focal point of GPBB, an initiative that brings together businesses committed to integrating biodiversity considerations into their strategies. Through this role, RespectOcean launched the 'Déclaration des acteurs de l'Océan' with 125+ signatories.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectOcean officially joined IUCN as a member in May 2024, following years of collaboration. This membership strengthens the association's institutional position and connects it to global conservation efforts.
• IFRECOR (Initiative Française pour les Récifs Coralliens)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coral reef restoration webinar series. RespectOcean organized multiple webinars with IFRECOR covering coral reef restoration, water quality impacts, and community integration.
• Capgemini InventmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative to conduct a national survey 'Monde économique et Océan' to identify barriers and accelerate the transition to sustainable ocean practices. Launched in 2025 as part of the Year of the Sea.
• Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat (CEC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectOcean is launching the CECOcéan pathway, a program to make ocean preservation central to companies' transition toward regenerative models. Linked to UNOC3 in Nice, June 2025.
• 1000 Ocean Startups CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectOcean is a member of this coalition, which developed the Ocean Impact Navigator tool to measure and report impact for ocean innovation organizations.
• Let's Be Nice to the OceanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectOcean joined this movement to shape ocean action toward UNOC2025 (Third UN Ocean Conference, Nice, June 2025).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF France: Major French environmental NGO with significant marine and blue-economy programmes. Comparable as a convening platform for businesses engaging on biodiversity and ocean sustainability, but operating at much larger scale and budget.
• Oceana: International ocean conservation advocacy organisation running science-based campaigns and corporate engagement. Comparable in marine conservation mission and policy-influence orientation, though at substantially larger scale.
• Blue Marine Foundation: UK-based marine conservation non-profit funding marine protected areas and policy advocacy. Comparable as a well-established marine conservation NGO pursuing ocean protection through corporate partnerships and policy engagement.
• Sea Shepherd France: French branch of the global marine conservation non-profit. Comparable in mission (ocean protection), advocacy posture, and reliance on a French member/donor base, though focused on direct action rather than business convening.
• Surfrider Foundation Europe: Large European non-profit dedicated to ocean protection with a strong French presence and active member network. Comparable as a marine advocacy organisation combining grassroots mobilisation, corporate engagement, and policy work.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance: Global non-profit hub for ocean-focused entrepreneurs that co-organizes RespectOcean's Ocean Pitch Challenge. Both organisations serve as conveners and accelerators for blue-economy actors, sharing mission, target audience, and programs.
• Fondation de la Mer: French foundation engaging businesses and citizens to protect the ocean. Directly comparable as a French non-profit network/association convening corporate actors around marine biodiversity and the blue economy.
• 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition: International coalition supporting ocean-positive startups, of which RespectOcean is itself a member. Directly comparable as a blue-economy startup network running shared impact-measurement tools such as the Ocean Impact Navigator.

Emerging players

• Plastic Odyssey: French non-profit tackling ocean plastic pollution through low-tech recycling and expeditions. Comparable as a French blue-economy NGO using partnerships, events, and innovation programmes to drive ocean-positive impact.

Regional players

• Nausicaá (Centre National de la Mer): Boulogne-sur-Mer-based public aquarium and marine education centre focused on ocean awareness. Comparable in promoting ocean literacy and convening stakeholders around ocean sustainability, primarily in northern France.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Respect_Ocean
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respectocean

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 RespectOcean