What Fondation 1 Ocean does

Fondation 1 Ocean (legally 'Mission 1 OCEAN', SIREN 838 679 645) is a Marseille-based non-profit founded in 2021 by underwater photographer Alexis Rosenfeld to conduct ocean exploration, support scientific research on marine biodiversity, and produce educational media that drives public engagement with ocean conservation. Its operations are organized around three pillars — Explorer, Comprendre (Understand), Émerveiller (Astonish) — and underpinned by a founding institutional partnership with UNESCO aligned to the United Nations Decade of the Ocean (2021-2030). Core scientific programs include the 'Arche de Noé des profondeurs' (a two-year, four-country study of deep-sea gorgonie ecosystems with CNRS/LECOB), the 'Grande Migration du Vivant' (Sardine Run, South Africa), Tatakoto coral-reef research (French Polynesia), and the Cap Roux marine protected area. Operational capability rests on a specialized in-house team of underwater cinematographers and drone operators and a proprietary 'Lily' underwater drone deployed for deep-sea data capture and genetic sampling.

The foundation's content and product portfolio spans immersive photographic exhibitions, documentary films (produced with La Caz'A Productions), an in-school awareness program ('L'Océan dans votre école'), a corporate engagement program ('L'Océan dans votre entreprise' — conferences and immersive exhibitions for RSE/team-building), and a merchandise e-commerce storefront at 1ocean.sumupstore.com. Distribution is multi-channel: organic social (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), earned media via TF1, BFMTV, France Info, Paris Match, Brut, and Le Figaro, plus recurring appearances at institutions such as the Festival Montier-en-Der and the Université de la Terre at UNESCO.

Revenue is generated through three streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, and SMS micro-donations of €5–€500), corporate sponsorship / mécénat (with French tax incentives: 66% individual deduction, 60% corporate, 75% IFI), and merchandise sales. Cross-border fundraising is enabled via Transnational Giving Europe and a US-anchored 1 OCEAN Fund. Major corporate and institutional partners include Sony (imaging technology), Vilebrequin, Brothier, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, OFB, Agence de l'Eau, Fondation de la Mer, and CNRS/LECOB. The foundation is GDPR/RGPD-compliant and uses PCI-DSS-secured payment processing via Payline, SumUp, and GiveALittle; no revenue, donor-base, or financial figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Fondation 1 Ocean

Legal name

Mission 1 OCEAN

Website

https://fondation-1ocean.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fondation 1 Ocean is a Marseille-based non-profit founded in 2021 that conducts ocean exploration, partners with scientific institutions on marine biodiversity research, and produces photographic and documentary content to drive ocean conservation awareness and fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Nonprofit

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Ocean conservation nonprofit
• Marine scientific research
• Underwater photography exhibitions
• Ocean education programs
• Corporate ocean sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation receives one-time and recurring donations from individuals, with amounts ranging from 10€ to 500€ or custom amounts. Donations are tax-deductible (66% for individuals, 60% for businesses) and can be made via credit card, SMS, or monthly recurring payments.
2. Corporate Sponsorship (Mécénat): Corporate partners support the foundation through sponsorship deals, gaining RSE visibility, employee engagement opportunities, and international media exposure. Benefits include conferences, immersive exhibitions, and association with UNESCO-linked environmental initiatives.
3. Merchandise Sales: The foundation operates an online boutique (1ocean.sumupstore.com) selling merchandise related to the foundation and its mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fondation 1 Ocean is a nonprofit foundation that conducts ocean exploration expeditions, partners with scientific institutions on marine biodiversity research, and creates immersive photographic and documentary content to raise public awareness for ocean conservation. It funds its mission through individual donations (one-time, recurring, SMS, legacy), corporate mécénat sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Activities span multi-country exploration missions (France, Italy, Monaco, Spain, French Polynesia, South Africa), educational programs in schools and businesses, and the deployment of a proprietary underwater drone (Lily) for deep-sea data collection.

Product overview

Fondation 1 Ocean is a non-profit ocean exploration foundation operating under UNESCO's Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030). The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on ocean exploration, scientific research, and public awareness. Core offerings include scientific exploration missions studying marine biodiversity (Grande Migration du Vivant, Arche de Noé des profondeurs, Tatakoto coral research, Cap Roux protected area), educational outreach programs for schools and businesses, immersive photographic exhibitions and documentary productions, and an online donation platform for public support. The foundation also deploys specialized equipment including the Lily underwater drone for deep-sea data collection and maintains an e-commerce store for merchandise sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exploration Missions (Grande Migration du Vivant, Arche de Noé des profondeurs, Tatakoto, Cap Roux) Scientific ocean exploration expeditions studying marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change impacts. Includes the Grande Migration du Vivant (sardine run in South Africa), Arche de Noé des profondeurs (deep-sea gorgonie forests as climate refuges across four European countries), Tatakoto coral reef research in French Polynesia, and the Cap Roux protected area in France.
• L'Océan dans votre école (School educational program) Educational outreach program bringing ocean awareness to students through awareness workshops, exchange sessions with marine explorers, and pedagogical activities. Aimed at schools and educational institutions.
• L'Océan dans votre entreprise (Corporate program) Corporate program offering conferences, immersive exhibitions, and team-building around ocean awareness, designed to support business RSE engagement and employee awareness.
• Immersive Photographic Exhibitions and Documentary Films Immersive photography exhibitions and documentary films that showcase ocean beauty and scientific discoveries to inspire conservation awareness among the general public.
• Online Donation Platform Digital fundraising platform enabling one-time and recurring donations, IFI donations, legacies, and SMS donations to support ocean exploration and conservation missions. Tax-deductible in France (66% individual, 60% corporate, 75% IFI) with international routes via 1 OCEAN Fund (USA) and Transnational Giving Europe.
• Lily Underwater Drone Proprietary submarine drone developed by the foundation to collect deep-sea data and gather genetic samples supporting scientific research on marine biodiversity.
• 1Ocean Online Store (Boutique) E-commerce boutique (1ocean.sumupstore.com) selling mission-aligned merchandise to support the foundation's ocean conservation activities.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO is the founding institutional partner of 1 OCEAN. The foundation operates in parallel with the UN Decade for the Ocean (2021-2030). UNESCO co-launched the 'Arche de Noé des profondeurs' scientific exploration program alongside the foundation. The collaboration focuses on scientific research and widespread dissemination of ocean knowledge.
• CNRS / LECOBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and its LECOB (Laboratoire d'Ecogeochimie des Environnements Benthiques) research unit at the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer serves as the scientific partner for the 'Arche de Noé des profondeurs' program. Lorenzo Bramanti from CNRS serves as scientific director.
• SonymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSony is a technology partner supporting 1 OCEAN's photographic and exploration missions with imaging equipment.
• La Caz'A ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Caz'A Productions is the production company behind 1 OCEAN documentaries and films. They provide cinematography services including underwater filming capabilities.
• Ministry of Ecological Transition (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French Ministry of Ecological Transition supports 1 OCEAN's scientific exploration and conservation programs.
• VilebrequinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVilebrequin, a luxury swimwear brand, partners with 1 OCEAN for ocean conservation initiatives.
• Fondation de la MermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fondation de la Mer (Foundation for the Sea) collaborates with 1 OCEAN on marine conservation projects.
• OFB (Office Français de la Biodiversité)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French Office for Biodiversity partners with 1 OCEAN for conservation and protection of marine ecosystems.
• Agence de l'EaumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Agence de l'Eau (Water Agency) supports 1 OCEAN's water and marine environment protection initiatives.
• BROTHIERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBROTHIER is a partner of 1 OCEAN supporting the foundation's mission.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Large US-based ocean conservation non-profit running policy, science, and public engagement programs including the International Coastal Cleanup. Overlaps on science + public-awareness fundraising model, but at significantly greater scale and policy focus.
• Oceana: World's largest international ocean-focused advocacy organisation, running science-based campaigns on fisheries, plastic, and climate across dozens of countries. Competes for the same European corporate and philanthropic ocean-protection budgets.
• WWF Oceans: The marine programme of WWF, the largest global conservation non-profit, combining science, policy, and fundraising at international scale. Competes with 1 OCEAN for corporate mécénat and individual donors in France and across Europe.
• The Ocean Foundation: US-based ocean philanthropy that fiscal-sponsors smaller marine projects and aggregates donor capital across the ocean space. Provides a more established institutional alternative for project-level funding and global donor intermediation that overlaps with 1 OCEAN's CNRS shelter model.

Direct peers

• Mission Blue (Sylvia Earle Alliance): Non-profit founded by Sylvia Earle that builds a global network of marine protected areas ('Hope Spots') using science, storytelling, and partnerships. Comparable conservation narrative, science-mission DNA, and reliance on individual donors and institutional partners.
• REV Ocean: Norway-based non-profit operating a research/exploration superyacht for ocean science, technology development, and public engagement. Comparable in mission (science + awareness), use of advanced technology platforms, and dependence on philanthropy and corporate partnerships.
• SeaLegacy: Ocean conservation non-profit that produces photography, film, and storytelling campaigns to drive marine protection, supported by corporate partnerships. Closely mirrors 1 OCEAN's combination of photographic content, expedition storytelling, and donor/sponsor cultivation.
• Fondation Tara Océan: Paris-based non-profit foundation operating an oceanographic schooner to run scientific expeditions on marine biodiversity, combined with public education, media content, and policy advocacy. Closest structural analogue to Fondation 1 Ocean: French non-profit, explorer-led, science + awareness model, public-facing media output.
• National Geographic Pristine Seas: Explorer-led ocean conservation program combining scientific expeditions, documentary media, and policy engagement to protect marine areas. Comparable combination of deep-sea exploration, photographic content, and conservation outcomes, though housed within a much larger media institution.
• Blue Marine Foundation: Marine conservation non-profit focused on establishing marine protected areas and supporting scientific research, paired with media-driven awareness. Highly comparable mission mix (marine biodiversity protection + science) and non-profit funding model, though UK-based and more policy/legal in orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/alexisrosenfeld
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@1ocean-alexis-rosenfeld263
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondation1ocean
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1-ocean
• Instagraminstagram.com/mission.1ocean

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Fondation 1 Ocean