eXXpedition
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What eXXpedition does
eXXpedition is a UK-registered Community Interest Company (CIC) - a non-profit social enterprise founded in 2014 - that runs all-female, multidisciplinary sailing expeditions to study ocean plastic pollution. The organization recruits multinational crew members through an open website application process requiring no prior sailing experience, and has fielded participants from 41+ nationalities across 10+ expeditions spanning the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arctic, and (planned) Antarctic waters. Co-founded by Emily Penn and Lucy Gilliam, it operates research vessels SV Sea Dragon and SV Wind Shift through its partnership with Sail Seven Seas.
Its core technology stack is centered on field-deployed scientific sampling rather than software. This includes manta trawl protocols for microplastic collection co-developed with the 5 Gyres Institute, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy via PerkinElmer for plastic polymer identification, and the Debris Tracker mobile application co-developed with the NOAA Marine Debris Program and University of Georgia for citizen science data capture. Scientific outputs feed what the organization describes as the first global study mapping ocean plastic pollution back to land-based sources.
The business model is non-commercial. Revenue streams consist of individual donations accepted via the website, corporate sponsorships and in-kind support (Kensington Tours, Finisterre, PerkinElmer), and bursary-supported expedition participation (no publicly disclosed pricing). The organization does not have disclosed equity funding, a parent company, or revenue figures, and operates as a mission-driven social enterprise rather than a venture-backed business. Supplementary products include the SHiFT action platform (shift.how), the X-Trillion documentary film, Virtual Voyages for remote participation, and an ambassador and bursary programme.
eXXpedition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- eXXpedition
- Legal name
- eXXpedition CIC
- Website
- https://exxpedition.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
eXXpedition industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Research Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)
Keywords
eXXpedition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Expedition Participation: Women apply to join expeditions as crew members. Some participants are supported through bursaries and sponsorships while others may pay fees. No explicit pricing disclosed.
- Donations and Charitable Support: eXXpedition accepts donations through its website. The organization is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and relies on charitable support.
- Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Partnerships with companies like Kensington Tours, Finisterre, PerkinElmer, and universities provide financial and in-kind support for expeditions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
eXXpedition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
eXXpedition runs all-female, multinational sailing expeditions aboard research vessels (SV Sea Dragon and SV Wind Shift) to conduct scientific research on ocean plastic pollution across global waters. The expeditions combine manta trawl microplastic sampling, beach transect surveys using the Debris Tracker app, FTIR polymer analysis, storytelling, and local community outreach. Supporting offerings include the SHiFT action platform, the X-Trillion documentary film, virtual voyages, ambassador programming, and bursaries for participants.
Product overview
eXXpedition operates as an ocean-focused research organization offering all-female sailing expeditions to tackle plastic pollution. The core product is the ocean research expedition programme aboard specialized research vessels (SV Sea Dragon and SV Wind Shift), supported by a scientific research programme that maps ocean plastic pollution. The organization complements its expeditions with supporting products including the SHiFT action platform for community engagement, the X-Trillion documentary film for storytelling, Virtual Voyages for remote participation, a Storytelling & Ambassador Programme for awareness raising, and Bursaries for accessibility. Together these form a unified mission combining science, stories, and action to address ocean plastic pollution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SHiFT: A methodology and action platform created by eXXpedition to help individuals and communities find their role in tackling plastic pollution.
- X-Trillion
Products and services
- eXXpedition Ocean Research Expeditions All-female sailing expeditions aboard research vessels (SV Sea Dragon, SV Wind Shift) to conduct scientific research on ocean plastic pollution across various oceanic regions worldwide. Multinational, multidisciplinary crew members apply via the website; no sailing experience required.
- Scientific Research Programme Structured scientific data collection and analysis focused on mapping ocean plastic pollution, microplastics, and toxics in marine environments using manta trawl and FTIR protocols co-developed with the 5 Gyres Institute and University of Georgia.
- SHiFT (Sustainable Actions for Transformation) Action platform providing resources and guidance for individuals and communities to take action on plastic pollution reduction.
- X-Trillion Film Documentary film produced by eXXpedition showcasing their ocean plastic pollution research missions and the all-female sailing expedition story.
- Virtual Voyages Remote participation program allowing individuals worldwide to engage with eXXpedition research through virtual dialogue sessions and community cleanup activities.
- Bursaries Financial support programme enabling diverse women to participate in eXXpedition expeditions regardless of financial means.
- Marine Debris Tracker App Mobile application co-developed with the NOAA Marine Debris Program for citizen science data collection; allows crew to log transect sampling data with preset survey sites and upload findings directly to science teams for analysis.
Quantifiable outcome
- 171 trillion plastic particles estimated in global ocean
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use eXXpedition
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
eXXpedition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
eXXpedition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kensington TourscoreTravel partner supporting South Pacific expeditions. Provides tour and travel logistics support for expedition operations.
- University of Georgia (UGA)coreAcademic partner providing science team support and debris tracker application development. Dr. Jenna Jambeck from UGA is a leading authority on marine debris research.
- PerkinElmercoreProvides analytical instrumentation and support for plastic sample analysis during expeditions.
- Sail Seven SeascoreProvides sailing vessel SV Wind Shift for expeditions. Operates as the primary vessel operator for recent South Pacific expeditions.
- Sustainable CoastlinesminorNew Zealand-based environmental organization supporting coastal research and cleanup efforts.
- University of AucklandminorAcademic partner for South Pacific research expeditions, providing scientific expertise and student involvement.
- FinisterreminorOutdoor clothing brand providing gear and kit sponsorship for expedition crew members.
- 5 Gyres InstitutecoreCo-developed sampling protocols for manta trawl and microplastic collection. Provides scientific methodology and research framework.
- NOAA Marine Debris ProgramcoreCo-developed the Marine Debris Tracker mobile application for citizen science data collection.
- Plymouth UniversityminorAcademic partner for Round Britain expeditions; Professor Richard Thompson is a specialist in marine litter research.
- City to SeaminorUK-based organization running Lent Plastic Challenge campaign; partner for community engagement and awareness campaigns.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights6 records
eXXpedition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 5 Gyres Institute: Co-developed eXXpedition's manta trawl and microplastics sampling protocols. Both organizations run ocean plastic research expeditions and produce citizen-science data, making them the closest functional peer.
- The Ocean Cleanup: Focused on removing and researching ocean plastic pollution. Shares eXXpedition's mission framing and public profile, but pursues technology-driven cleanup rather than sailing-based research.
- Sea Education Association: Runs sailing-based academic ocean research voyages for students and researchers. Highly comparable operating model: vessel-based, multi-leg ocean science expeditions with participant crews.
- Adventure Scientists: Organizes field-based citizen science expeditions across wilderness environments including marine systems. Comparable mission structure: volunteer/recruited participants collect scientific data in remote locations.
- Pangaea Exploration: Runs sailing-based scientific expeditions and adventure-science voyages. Overlaps with eXXpedition on vessel-supported ocean research mission delivery and crew recruitment model.
Broad incumbents
- Surfrider Foundation: Established ocean conservation nonprofit combining research, advocacy and grassroots chapters. Comparable mission framing around ocean health and plastic pollution, with a much larger institutional footprint.
- National Geographic Pristine Seas: Large-scale ocean exploration and conservation expeditions with scientific outputs. Comparable on expedition-scaled marine research with branded storytelling, though eXXpedition operates at smaller scale and grassroots sponsorship model.
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: Larger advocacy and education organization working on plastic pollution across advocacy, policy and media. Overlaps with eXXpedition's narrative mission and target donor/activist base.
Emerging players
- Sustainable Coastlines: New Zealand-based environmental nonprofit and existing eXXpedition partner that runs coastal cleanup and education programs. Comparable mission scope and outreach-style programming, geography-limited.
Regional players
- All Hands and Hearts: Volunteer-driven nonprofit running disaster response and community resilience programs globally. Comparable on volunteer expedition model, CIC-equivalent structure, and donor-plus-sponsorship revenue mix.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
eXXpedition social profiles
Digital presenceeXXpedition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
eXXpedition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
eXXpedition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
eXXpedition 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 eXXpedition
What does eXXpedition do?
eXXpedition runs all-female, multinational sailing expeditions aboard research vessels (SV Sea Dragon and SV Wind Shift) to conduct scientific research on ocean plastic pollution across global waters. The expeditions combine manta trawl microplastic sampling, beach transect surveys using the Debris Tracker app, FTIR polymer analysis, storytelling, and local community outreach. Supporting offerings include the SHiFT action platform, the X-Trillion documentary film, virtual voyages, ambassador programming, and bursaries for participants.
Is eXXpedition a public or private company?
eXXpedition is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was eXXpedition founded?
eXXpedition was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does eXXpedition make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Expedition Participation is the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Support and corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships.
Who are eXXpedition's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 5 Gyres Institute, The Ocean Cleanup, Sea Education Association, Adventure Scientists and Pangaea Exploration. Broad incumbents are Surfrider Foundation, National Geographic Pristine Seas and Plastic Pollution Coalition. Sustainable Coastlines is listed as an emerging player. All Hands and Hearts is listed as a regional player.
Does eXXpedition have an API?
No public API is recorded for eXXpedition.
What industry is eXXpedition in?
eXXpedition's product category is Marine Conservation Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAEAK, Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising), with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 8731.