Map the Gaps
Map the Gaps is a Seattle-based 501c(3) non-profit organization that collects and distributes open-access seafloor bathymetric data through citizen science, corporate sponsorships, and a global network of Nippon Foundation-GEBCO alumni.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Map the Gaps does
Map the Gaps is a Seattle-based 501c(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 84-2896027) founded in 2019, focused exclusively on ocean floor exploration and the collection and open distribution of seafloor bathymetric data. The organization was born from the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO Training Program alumni network at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM/JHC) at the University of New Hampshire, and operates as a volunteer-driven entity with 1-10 employees and a global community of citizen scientists, professional explorers, and researchers from more than 22 countries. Its stated mission is to close critical gaps in seafloor knowledge that currently leave conservation organizations, researchers, communities, and explorers unable to access the data needed to support their work.
The organization's technical portfolio is centered on seafloor bathymetric data collection and mapping using sonar-based systems, distributed via open-access infrastructure. Core products include Shared Soundings, an open-access database platform where depth and position data uploaded by participating vessels is aggregated; the Ocean Citizen Explorer Program, which equips privately-owned boats with installable data loggers that passively collect depth and position data during voyages; and Hexplorer, a digital experience currently in development that is designed to allow anyone to "adopt a hex" of the ocean floor and contribute to mapping. The organization has demonstrated operational capability through expeditions such as the UTAS Project (uncrewed over-the-horizon survey with SEA-KIT International's USV Maxlimer using Kongsberg Maritime's EM710 sonar, July-August 2020), the GO-MARIE expedition in Greenland with Ocean Research Project using R/V Marie Tharp, and a Curaçao marine protected area survey with Fabien Cousteau Learning Center and PROTEUS Ocean Group using R2 Sonic technology. Teledyne CARIS was subcontracted as a survey oversight partner, and CARIS's Mira AI model was used to achieve a 76% reduction in data cleaning time during UTAS processing. All collected data is contributed to the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project.
Map the Gaps generates revenue through two primary streams: tax-deductible individual donations supporting mapping expeditions and research initiatives, and corporate sponsorships that take the form of fleet outfitting with data loggers, collaborative research projects, and full mission sponsorships positioned around ESG investment and carbon footprint offset benefits. The organization does not disclose pricing tiers or specific donation levels. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining earned media (coverage in BBC, National Geographic, Fast Company, and Canadian Boating Magazine), social media community building, partner referrals through the GEBCO alumni network, and direct corporate outreach. Strategic technology and exploration partnerships include QPS, R2 Sonic, Kongsberg Maritime, Teledyne CARIS, TCARTA, SEA-KIT International, Caladan Oceanic, Ocean Research Project, Five Deeps Expedition, Fabien Cousteau Learning Center, PROTEUS Ocean Group, CCOM/JHC UNH, and Pisces RPM (which provides science communications and research administration support).
Map the Gaps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Map the Gaps
- Legal name
- Map the Gaps
- Website
- https://mapthegaps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Map the Gaps is a Seattle-based 501c(3) non-profit organization that collects and distributes open-access seafloor bathymetric data through citizen science, corporate sponsorships, and a global network of Nippon Foundation-GEBCO alumni.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Map the Gaps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ocean Mapping and Marine Data Services
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD)
Keywords
Where Map the Gaps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Map the Gaps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations: Financial support from individuals to fund seafloor mapping expeditions and research initiatives. As a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 84-2896027), donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners can sponsor the organization, outfit their fleets with ocean floor pinging data loggers, collaborate on research projects, or sponsor entire mapping missions. Provides brand association with scientific contributions and ocean conservation, with ESG investment and carbon footprint offset benefits.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Map the Gaps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Map the Gaps is a global non-profit that collects and distributes seafloor bathymetric data through a volunteer-driven, citizen-science model. It enables individual boat owners to install ocean data loggers on their vessels, outfits corporate fleets with data collection equipment, and runs collaborative mapping expeditions. All collected depth and position data is aggregated into the Shared Soundings open-access database for use by conservation organizations, researchers, and communities.
Product overview
Map the Gaps is a global non-profit organization focused exclusively on ocean floor exploration that provides open-access data via international collaboration. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected offerings: Shared Soundings serves as the core open-access database where community-contributed depth and position data is aggregated; the Ocean Citizen Explorer Program enables individual boat owners to participate by installing data loggers; the Corporate Sponsorship program allows companies to outfit their fleets with data collection equipment; and Hexplorer (currently in development) is a planned digital experience for adopting ocean floor hexes. The organization is volunteer-driven and committed to growing awareness, increasing diversity, and promoting equity in ocean mapping.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hexplorer: A digital experience that allows anyone, anywhere, anytime to adopt a hex of the ocean floor for democratizing ocean floor exploration.
- Shared Soundings
- Ocean Citizen Explorer
Products and services
- Shared Soundings Open-access database platform where boaters and citizen explorers upload depth data and position information collected during ocean voyages to contribute to global seafloor mapping. Available to conservation organizations, researchers, and communities worldwide for free.
- Ocean Citizen Explorer Program Program that enables individual boat owners to obtain and install data loggers on their own vessels, turning routine ocean journeys into seafloor mapping expeditions that capture and upload depth and position data to the Shared Soundings open-access database.
- Corporate Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program that equips corporate fleets with seafloor-pinging data loggers, turns commercial voyages into seafloor expeditions, and supports direct research collaboration and full mission sponsorship. Provides corporate partners with ESG investment opportunities, carbon footprint offsetting, and brand association with scientific contributions and ocean conservation.
Quantifiable outcome
- The UTAS Project demonstrated 76% reduction in data cleaning time using CARIS Mira AI model prior to manual QC.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Map the Gaps
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Map the Gaps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Map the Gaps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 ProjectcoreMap the Gaps was born from the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO Training Program alumni network. The organization contributes all collected data to Seabed 2030, which aims to map the entire world's seafloor by 2030. This partnership was formalized through an MOU signed with the Five Deeps Expedition in Monaco on March 11, 2019. Seabed 2030 Ocean Frontier Mapping funds supported the UTAS Project.
- QPScoreQPS (QPS B.V.) is a partner providing technology for seafloor mapping operations. Their logo appears in the partners section of Map the Gaps' website alongside other industry partners.
- R2 SoniccoreR2 Sonic provided advanced sonar technology for the Curaçao marine protected area mapping project. Mike Brissette from R2 Sonic participated in the survey expedition alongside Map the Gaps team members and Fabien Cousteau.
- Fabien Cousteau Learning CentercorePartnership with Fabien Cousteau's learning center for ocean exploration and education. Map the Gaps partnered with them and PROTEUS Ocean Group to map Curaçao's marine protected area in preparation for the world's largest underwater human habitat.
- PROTEUS Ocean GroupcorePROTEUS Ocean Group (described as the ISS of the Sea) partnered with Map the Gaps for the Curaçao mapping project. PROTEUS, led by Fabien Cousteau and designed by Yves Behar, represents the world's largest underwater human habitat initiative.
- SEA-KIT InternationalcoreSEA-KIT International conducted the groundbreaking uncrewed over-the-horizon survey using USV Maxlimer from July 28 to August 14, 2020. This first unmanned survey demonstrated proof of concept for uncrewed survey operations, with Map the Gaps providing survey operations oversight.
- Kongsberg MaritimecoreKongsberg Maritime provided the hull-mounted EM710 (1° x 1°) sonar system used on the USV Maxlimer for bathymetric data collection during the UTAS Project. Technology readiness tests for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE also occurred at Kongsberg Facilities in Norway.
- Teledyne CARIScoreTeledyne CARIS was subcontracted alongside Map the Gaps to oversee bathymetric survey operations. Their CARIS Mira AI model demonstrated a 76% reduction in data cleaning time during the UTAS Project processing phase.
- Caladan OceanicminorThrough the Seabed 2030 project, Ocean Frontier Mapping supported alumni involvement in Caladan Oceanic's Ring of Fire Part II mission, assisting with dive position locations in the Mariana and Philippine Trenches.
- Ocean Research ProjectcoreOcean Research Project partnered with Map the Gaps for the GO-MARIE expedition, mapping climate change in Greenland. The R/V Marie Tharp served as the expedition vessel with support from Map the Gaps alumni.
- Five Deeps ExpeditioncoreThe Five Deeps Expedition was a groundbreaking mission to reach the deepest points of all five oceans. Map the Gaps alumni served as Ocean Mappers on transit and dive legs, collecting bathymetric data through an MOU with Seabed 2030 signed March 11, 2019 in Monaco.
- Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM/JHC), UNHcoreCCOM/JHC at the University of New Hampshire provides the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO Training Program that trained the alumni who form the core team of Map the Gaps. Financial support for Five Deeps alumni participation was provided by CCOM/JHC and gift funds from John Hall.
- Pisces RPMminorPisces RPM provides science communications, research administration, data management, and EDI&A (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility) support for Map the Gaps operations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Map the Gaps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Allen Institute for Oceanography: Philanthropically funded ocean research arm of the Allen Institute focused on ocean health and open data, including seafloor mapping. Comparable mission profile (private foundation funding, open-access science, ocean focus) and adjacent technical scope.
- OceanX: Non-profit ocean exploration organization operating E/V Alucia/Alta with a strong focus on media-driven public engagement and science. Similar non-profit structure, vessel-based exploration model, and emphasis on storytelling to drive public participation.
- REV Ocean: Norwegian non-profit operating one of the world's largest research vessels (R/V REV Ocean) for ocean science, mapping, and innovation. Comparable in non-profit ocean-mapping mission and global expedition scale, though better capitalized.
- MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute): Privately funded non-profit ocean research institute operating advanced autonomous seafloor-mapping platforms. Comparable in non-profit research structure and seafloor-mapping focus, though significantly larger and more technology-heavy.
- Caladan Oceanic: Private deep-ocean exploration company founded by Victor Vescovo that conducted the Five Deeps Expedition — a direct Map the Gaps partner. Comparable in deep-ocean exploration and seafloor-mapping activity; differs in private, for-profit structure.
- Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropic non-profit operating R/V Falkor (toit) for open-access ocean research globally. Directly comparable to Map the Gaps' commitment to open-access data and expedition-based mapping, but at a larger scale funded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
- Ocean Exploration Trust: U.S. non-profit operating E/V Nautilus for ocean exploration, mapping, and live-streamed education. Most comparable to Map the Gaps in mission, non-profit structure, and use of vessels and broadcast channels to engage the public in seafloor discovery.
- The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project: Global initiative aiming to map the entire world ocean floor by 2030. Map the Gaps feeds data into Seabed 2030 via MOU; the project is the closest comparand in terms of pure seafloor-mapping mission, though Seabed 2030 is a coordinating body rather than field operator.
Emerging players
- Saildrone: Autonomous uncrewed surface vessel company building wind- and solar-powered ocean data platforms. Functionally adjacent to Map the Gaps' use of SEA-KIT USVs for uncrewed survey; overlaps in seafloor/bathymetric data collection via novel vehicle platforms.
- Sofar Ocean: Company deploying low-cost citizen-contributed ocean sensors (Smart Moorings, Spotter buoys) for real-time ocean data. Comparable community-driven ocean data model to Map the Gaps' Ocean Citizen Explorer / Shared Soundings program, though commercial vs. non-profit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Map the Gaps social profiles
Digital presenceMap the Gaps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Map the Gaps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Map the Gaps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Map the Gaps 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 Map the Gaps
What does Map the Gaps do?
Map the Gaps is a global non-profit that collects and distributes seafloor bathymetric data through a volunteer-driven, citizen-science model. It enables individual boat owners to install ocean data loggers on their vessels, outfits corporate fleets with data collection equipment, and runs collaborative mapping expeditions. All collected depth and position data is aggregated into the Shared Soundings open-access database for use by conservation organizations, researchers, and communities.
Is Map the Gaps a public or private company?
Map the Gaps is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Map the Gaps founded?
Map the Gaps was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Map the Gaps based?
Map the Gaps is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Map the Gaps make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Map the Gaps's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allen Institute for Oceanography, OceanX, REV Ocean, MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), Caladan Oceanic, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Ocean Exploration Trust and The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. Emerging players are Saildrone and Sofar Ocean.
Does Map the Gaps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Map the Gaps.
What industry is Map the Gaps in?
Map the Gaps's product category is Ocean Mapping and Marine Data Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAFAE, Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services, with a secondary code of EUAHAKAD, Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing). Its NAICS code is 54136 and its SIC code is 1382.