Women in Ocean Science

What Women in Ocean Science does

Women in Ocean Science (WOS), legally Women in Ocean Science Ltd., is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1205732) founded in 2020 and headquartered in London at 71-75 Shelton Street. The organisation runs a global community, programmes, and content platforms aimed at women and non-binary/trans individuals in ocean-related careers, addressing gendered barriers in marine science including the documented 'leaky pipeline' from early-career to senior levels. WOS also explicitly partners with employers and institutions seeking to recruit, develop, and visibly support female talent in the ocean sector.

The product surface spans six core programmes: the WOS Mentorship Scheme (with a Pilot 2026 launch and a 2027 follow-on planned), the WOS x ICB Journal Partnership with the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (a special issue with submissions open October 2025 to April 2026), the University Ambassador Programme (116 ambassadors in 28 countries, coordinated by regional leads), the Empower Ocean field-training programme in the Maldives and Indonesia (which trained 20 local women as coral-reef guardians and was selected as a UNESCO Ocean Decade Action in 2025), the WOS Membership (7,500+ members/subscribers unlocking jobs board, webinars, and resources), and the WOS Jobs Board (a 2025-launched paid B2B recruitment channel restricted to paid roles). Supporting offerings include the Meet A Scientist blog (50+ profiles), a past podcast series, and an e-commerce merchandise store.

Technically, WOS operates a digital community platform on Squarespace with e-commerce, email marketing, and a self-serve member area; no proprietary AI, API, or SDK layer is referenced. Monetisation is multi-stream and diversified across four named revenue flows: merchandise sales (£15-£55 unit pricing, made-to-order to minimise waste), individual/corporate donations and fundraising (including the 1% for the Planet network and EasyFundraising), recurring membership fees, and B2B job-board advertising sold via direct contact at non-public pricing. The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven, with social media (Instagram, TikTok) and the ambassador network as the primary distribution channels.

Name

Women in Ocean Science

Legal name

Women in Ocean Science Ltd.

Website

https://womeninoceanscience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women in Ocean Science is a UK-registered charity that operates a global community and programmes — mentorship, an academic journal partnership, university ambassadors, a paid jobs board, and field training — supporting early-career women in ocean science across 28 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Nonprofit / Professional Community

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Marine science mentorship
• Ocean conservation charity
• Women in STEM
• Marine professional development
• Ocean literacy training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including apparel (rashguards, t-shirts, sweatshirts), accessories (tumblers, laptop sleeves, tote bags, neck gaiters), and specialty items (flags, leggings). Products are made to order to minimize waste. 100% of profits fund WOS operations.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership providing access to jobs board, mentorship, professional development webinars, ICB journal partnership, and community resources. Open to women, non-binary, and trans individuals in ocean science.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations supporting all areas of WOS work. One-time, weekly, and monthly donation options available. Company donations through 1% for the Planet network. Fundraising challenges and events also supported.
4. Job Board Advertising: Organizations pay to post job listings on the WOS Jobs Board, reaching a targeted community of women actively pursuing ocean science careers globally. Revenue supports WOS programs including Safe Ocean, Elevate Ocean, and Empower Ocean.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Women in Ocean Science is a UK-registered charity that operates a global community and set of programmes for women in ocean science. Its core offerings include a mentorship scheme, university ambassador programme, professional development webinars and workshops, Empower Ocean training in small-island coral reef communities, a journal partnership with the International Coral Biology (ICB) Journal, a jobs board, a podcast, and a merchandise store whose profits fund programmes. The organisation is sustained through membership fees, donations, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Women in Ocean Science is a UK-registered charity operating a global network and community for women in marine science. The organization offers a portfolio of programmes including a Mentorship Scheme connecting early-career women with established professionals, an ICB Journal Partnership for publishing research, a University Ambassador Programme across 28 countries, the Empower Ocean training initiative in small-island communities, WOS Membership providing access to jobs and webinars, and a Jobs Board for the marine science sector. The organization also operates a merchandise store selling branded ocean-themed apparel and accessories, with all profits supporting WOS charitable programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empower Ocean: Ocean literacy, marine conservation and dive training programme for local women within small-island, coral reef communities. Developed in collaboration with local NGOs Women In Fuvahmulah (Maldives) and Molobin Raja Ampat (MORA) in Indonesia.
• Mentorship Scheme

Products and services

• WOS Mentorship Scheme Structured mentorship programme that pairs women in ocean science for career guidance, professional development, and peer support. Targets members and early-career women in marine science.
• WOS University Ambassador Programme University-based ambassador programme that places WOS ambassadors at academic institutions to drive outreach, engagement, and community among women marine science students.
• Empower Ocean Training programme that delivers ocean literacy and coral reef conservation training to women and girls in small-island coral reef communities.
• WOS x ICB Journal Partnership Partnership with the International Coral Biology (ICB) Journal that provides WOS members access to a specialist academic journal and a publishing channel for women in coral biology research.
• WOS Jobs Board Online jobs board where ocean-sector employers (research institutes, NGOs, aquariums, ocean industry, government) list roles for women in ocean science.
• WOS Podcast Podcast covering women in ocean science, featuring interviews and stories from women working in marine science.
• WOS Merchandise Store E-commerce store selling WOS-branded merchandise (clothing, mugs, accessories), with proceeds funding WOS programmes.
• WOS Membership Membership programme providing women in ocean science with access to the WOS community, member portal, mentorship, and other programme benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77,000 social media followers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Integrative and Comparative Biology (ICB) / Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Special issue partnership celebrating and elevating contributions of women working across marine disciplines. WOS partners with ICB journal to provide a prestigious publishing platform for women's research in marine biology, ecology, oceanography, and conservation. Includes workshops and mentorship for early-career contributors throughout the writing process. Accepted articles will be published in 2026, with submission window October 2025 to April 2026. Partnership extends into 2027.
• 1% for the PlanetsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024WOS is a member of the 1% for the Planet network, which connects individuals, businesses and environmental nonprofits working to protect the planet. Allows WOS to receive corporate donations from companies committed to giving 1% of sales to environmental causes. Listed in the 1% for the Planet directory.
• EasyFundraisingsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024UK-based fundraising partner enabling supporters to raise money for WOS through their regular online shopping. Over 8,000 retailers donate a percentage of purchases to registered charities through the platform.
• Women In Fuvahmulah (Maldives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Local NGO collaboration for Empower Ocean programme in the Maldives. Jointly developed programme trains local women with dive and conservation skills to monitor local coral reef ecosystem. WOS provides programme design, training resources, and international support while local partner provides on-ground coordination and community access.
• Molobin Raja Ampat (MORA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Local NGO partner for Empower Ocean programme in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Partnership develops and delivers dive and conservation skills training to local women, enabling them to monitor local coral reef ecosystems and participate in marine conservation decision-making.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Large established ocean conservation non-profit with global advocacy, policy, and science programs. Overlapping donor base and ocean mission; much broader scale than WOS.
• Association for Women in Science (AWIS): Larger US-based advocacy organization for women across STEM disciplines. Broader mandate than WOS but overlapping value proposition on mentorship, careers, and advocacy for women in science.
• Sustainable Ocean Alliance: Global ocean conservation and entrepreneurship network engaging young leaders in ocean solutions. Comparable global network structure and ocean-conservation mission, but broader than women-specific scope.

Direct peers

• 500 Women Scientists: Global grassroots organization building a network of women in STEM, including marine science, focused on equity, mentorship, and access. Comparable community-led, network-driven model.
• Black Girls Dive Foundation: US non-profit focused on increasing representation of Black women in marine science, diving, and ocean conservation through training and mentorship. Highly comparable mission and target demographic.
• Sea Women Great Barrier Reef: Australia-based program training Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in reef monitoring and marine science careers. Closest direct peer to WOS's Empower Ocean model and women-in-ocean-science mission.

Emerging players

• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise operating in coastal communities to stop ocean plastic while improving livelihoods. Compares to WOS's Empower Ocean field program model combining ocean impact with women's economic empowerment in coastal geographies.
• Women in Aquaculture: Network elevating women's voices in the global aquaculture sector. Partial overlap — shares the women-in-marine-industries focus but is more sector-specific (aquaculture vs. ocean science broadly).
• SeaLegacy: Mission-driven ocean conservation organization using storytelling, expeditions, and campaigns. Comparable mix of advocacy, community engagement, and ocean storytelling — though not women-specific.

Others

• The Oceanography Society: Professional society supporting oceanographers globally through publications, conferences, and community. Not a direct competitor, but adjacent — comparable role in professionalizing and connecting the marine science community that WOS serves.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WomeninOceanSci
• Facebookfacebook.com/womeninoceanscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/womeninoceanscience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womeninoceanscience

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women in Ocean Science