Innoceana

What Innoceana does

Innoceana is a global marine conservation nonprofit organization founded in 2017 (with operational activity beginning in 2018) that conducts scientific research, restoration, education, and advocacy to protect and restore ocean ecosystems. It operates through a dual legal structure: a Spanish nonprofit registered in Guadarrama, Madrid (Tax ID G88129796) and a US 501(c)(3) entity (Tax ID 84-4780735), enabling tax-deductible donations across both jurisdictions. Active programs span coral immunology research and reef restoration at Isla del Caño and Cocos Island (Costa Rica), innovative seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) transplantation in Tenerife (Spain), plastic pollution mitigation through beach cleanups and a Precious Plastic recycling system, and youth education via El Club del Mar and Innotales digital content. The organization is led by CEO and Founder Carlos Mallo (2025 Goldman Environmental Prize recipient) and a board chaired by Lisa Sholley, with 11–50 staff plus an extensive global network of ambassadors, volunteers, and academic collaborators.

The underlying technology base is purpose-built for marine monitoring rather than AI-native: 3D photogrammetry models created from approximately 400 photographs per 100m² reef site, drone-based Crystal Floor 2D aerial mapping for tracking reef and seagrass expansion or regression, and citizen-science platforms such as the Seagrass Tracker web app. Methodological differentiators include a coral immunology program that has profiled 112 bleaching-resilient colonies and a seagrass restoration technique credited with significantly improved plant survival rates. Physical infrastructure includes the 638m² Marine Conservation and Education Center (MCEC) in Ojochal, Costa Rica, inaugurated January 2022, and the planned HOPE Marine Interpretation Centre in Guía de Isora, Tenerife.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit construct combining unrestricted donations, recurring sponsorships (Protect a Coral at $35/month and Child Sponsorship at $50/month), fee-for-service programs (7-day marine conservation expeditions at $2,195 per person, paid internships in Spain at €750/month and Costa Rica at $306/week, workshops at $150–$300), membership (El Club del Mar at $50/month), and institutional grants from EU programs (TULIP, HOPE/Interreg MAC), Spanish foundations (Fundación Biodiversidad, CaixaBank/La Caixa), and regional government (Canary Islands nominative subsidy of €40,000). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining beach cleanups, scientific seminars, school workshops, and corporate partnerships with hotels (Ritz-Carlton, SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge) and channel partners for booking conservation tourism. The customer base is fragmented across individual donors, eco-tourists, students, public schools, and institutional funders, with no single dominant revenue concentration.

Name

Innoceana

Legal name

INNOCEANA

Website

https://innoceana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innoceana is a global marine conservation nonprofit that combines coral immunology research, seagrass restoration, youth education, and eco-tourism to protect ocean ecosystems, serving individual donors, eco-tourists, students, and EU/government grant funders across Spain, Costa Rica, and partner countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Educational Services (611), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAE

Marine & Freshwater Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYTHAAAIAB

Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching)

SECONDARYTHAAAEAD

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Ecotourism Operators & Nature-Based Tours

SECONDARYTHAAAIAK

Underwater Photography & Videography Tours/Workshops

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching)

SECONDARYTHAAAIAE

Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching)

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Coral restoration programs
• Seagrass meadow restoration
• Marine environmental education
• Citizen science platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Guadarrama, Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations collected through the website, including one-time and recurring donation options. Tax-deductible for US donors through their 501(c)(3) status.
2. Coral Adoption Program: Monthly subscription program ($35/month) where donors sponsor coral restoration in Costa Rica, receiving digital kits, 3D coral model naming, and research updates.
3. Child Sponsorship: $50/month sponsorship supporting local Costa Rican children's marine conservation education, with free access through sponsorships for local youth.
4. Marine Conservation Expeditions: 7-day all-inclusive expeditions in Costa Rica at $2,195 per person, including food, accommodation, dive equipment, certification, and conservation activities.
5. Internship Programs: Paid internship programs: Spain (750€ monthly) and Costa Rica ($306 weekly), including accommodation, meals, training, and diving activities.
6. Education Workshops: Community workshops at $150/hour or $300 for 2 hours, delivered at schools or their Ojochal center, with discounts available for public schools.
7. El Club del Mar Membership: $50 monthly membership for children's marine education program including 3 activities per month and field trips, with sponsorship available for local Costa Rican children.
8. Government and EU Grants: Funding from EU projects (TULIP, HOPE), government grants (€40,000 nominative subsidy from Canary Islands), and institutional funding from organizations like Fundacion Biodiversidad.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Innoceana is a marine conservation nonprofit that conducts coral immunology research, seagrass meadow restoration, marine environmental education, and plastic pollution reduction programs. It sells fee-for-service offerings including 7-day marine conservation expeditions in Costa Rica, paid internship programs in Spain and Costa Rica, single-day diving experiences, and community workshops. Its recurring-revenue offerings include the Protect a Coral sponsorship, Child Sponsorship, and El Club del Mar youth membership. The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and EU/government grants.

Product overview

Innoceana is a global marine conservation NGO operating as a multi-project organization rather than a single software product. Its portfolio encompasses research projects (coral immunology at Isla del Caño, seagrass restoration via Los Jardineros del Mar, TULIP antimicrobial resistance research), education programs (El Club del Mar youth education, Innotales interactive books, workshop services), community engagement platforms (Seagrass Tracker citizen science tool), physical facilities (MCEC in Costa Rica, HOPE Awareness Center in Tenerife), experiential tourism (7-day expeditions, single-day dives, internship programs), and sponsorship programs (Protect a Coral). The organization combines hands-on conservation with educational outreach, leveraging technologies like 3D photogrammetry modeling and drone aerial mapping for monitoring marine ecosystems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protect a Coral Program Coral sponsorship program allowing individuals to support coral restoration in Costa Rica through a $35/month recurring subscription. Participants name a 3D coral model, receive a digital kit, and get regular updates on coral immunology research studying immune responses to identify resilient colonies.
• Marine Conservation Expeditions 7-day all-inclusive marine conservation expeditions in Costa Rica at $2,195 per person, including food, accommodation, dive equipment, certification, transport, and learning materials. Combines conservation diving, underwater surveys, theory classes, and reforestation with indigenous communities.
• Internship Programs (Costa Rica) 3-month internship program in Ojochal, Costa Rica, for marine conservation research and social media/marketing at $306/week. Includes accommodation in shared dormitory, kitchen facilities, 2 guaranteed dive trips per month, all gear, and marine park fees. Does not include flights, transport, insurance, or food.
• Internship Programs (Spain) 5-month internship program in Tenerife, Spain, at €750/month, covering accommodation, basic vegetarian food, dive equipment, training, and certificate. Focused on seagrass restoration, citizen science, turtle identification, and educational workshops. Does not include flights or insurance. Full scholarships available for Macaronesia region candidates.
• El Club del Mar Weekly youth marine education program in Costa Rica for children ages 4-17 at $50/month membership. Includes 3 activities per month and field trips blending science, creativity, and conservation. Free access available through sponsorships for local Costa Rican children.
• Single Day Experiences Day experiences in Costa Rica including scuba diving, snorkeling, whale and dolphin watching, and discovery scuba diving. Participants contribute to research projects and marine conservation efforts.
• Community Workshops Community workshops at $150/hour or $300 for 2 hours, delivered at schools or Innoceana's Ojochal center in Costa Rica. Includes education on marine conservation topics with discounts and sponsorships available for public schools.
• Child Sponsorship Monthly sponsorship at $50/month supporting local Costa Rican children's marine conservation education. Sponsors provide free access to the El Club del Mar program for sponsored children from underserved communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 136 million m² of seagrass meadows explored and protected in marine protected areas
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Costa Rica's National Conservation Areas System for monitoring and research in marine protected areas including Cocos Island and Isla del Caño. SINAC rangers receive training in 3D modeling and photogrammetry techniques.
• Mission BluecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dr. Sylvia Earle's marine conservation organization to promote ocean protection and designated Hope Spots.
• TULIP Consortium (11 partners)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded research project (HORIZON-HLTH-2023-ENVHLTH-02) studying antimicrobial resistance driven by plastic pollution and climate change. Includes University of Heidelberg, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (Philippines), IGB, Lunds University, Leibniz IZW, Instituto Superiore Sanita, Deltares, and others across 7 countries.
• FEDER-Interreg MACflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-financed by FEDER-Interreg MAC 2021-2027 funds for Project HOPE, creating a thriving marine refuge through transnational cooperation across Macaronesia region (Açores, Madeira, Canarias, Cabo Verde, Senegal, Ghana, Santo Tomé y Príncipe).
• SCP Corcovado Wilderness LodgecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for remote beach cleanups involving local teenagers, whale watching operations, and booking channel for conservation experiences including scuba diving, snorkeling, and underwater activities.
• Soul Community PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration announced in 2022 to conserve the vital marine ecosystem of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, supporting sustainable tourism and conservation efforts.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on coral monitoring and marine research, with NOAA providing data and expertise on ocean conditions and bleaching events.
• Canary GreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental organization in the Canary Islands working on sustainability initiatives.
• Vegan PiratesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization focused on sustainable practices and plastic reduction awareness.
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration and student involvement in marine conservation projects.
• Universidad de La Laguna (ULL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with University of La Laguna in Tenerife for research and educational programs.
• Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with UCR researchers including participation in Cocos Island monitoring expeditions.
• Sea Alliance (SOA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sea Alliance for marine conservation initiatives and ocean protection efforts.
• Ocean MokumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for whale watching and marine tourism operations in Tenerife.
• Whale Watch TenerifeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration for sustainable whale watching practices and marine education activities.
• IntermaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Intermares foundation for marine conservation and awareness programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Blue Marine Foundation: Blue Marine Foundation is a UK-based ocean conservation nonprofit focused on marine protected areas and ocean policy. Comparable to Innoceana in international marine conservation operations, donor-supported funding, and partnership-driven project execution.
• Coral Reef Alliance: Coral Reef Alliance is a global marine conservation nonprofit focused on coral reef protection and restoration. Like Innoceana, it combines scientific research, community engagement, and policy advocacy; both are membership/donation-supported organizations working on coral reef resilience.
• Reef Restoration Foundation: Reef Restoration Foundation operates community-led coral and seagrass restoration projects in the Indo-Pacific. Comparable to Innoceana in combining hands-on restoration, citizen science, and marine education, with similar revenue models including donations and expedition experiences.
• Coral Restoration Foundation: Coral Restoration Foundation operates the world's largest coral reef restoration program, focused on building coral resilience and scaling restoration techniques. Directly comparable to Innoceana's coral immunology work at Isla del Caño in mission and methodology.
• Reef Check Foundation: Reef Check Foundation runs a global volunteer reef monitoring program and citizen science initiatives. Comparable to Innoceana in citizen science reef monitoring, volunteer engagement, and ecotourism-supported conservation programming.
• SeaLegacy: SeaLegacy is a marine conservation nonprofit combining expeditions, scientific storytelling, and ocean advocacy. Comparable to Innoceana in using underwater photography, expeditions, and donor-supported campaigns to drive ocean protection, with similar co-founder involvement in scientific storytelling.
• Oceanic Preservation Society: Oceanic Preservation Society is a marine conservation nonprofit producing films and campaigns to protect ocean ecosystems. Comparable to Innoceana in using media-driven storytelling, expeditions, and donor support to advance marine conservation.

Emerging players

• Beneath the Waves: Beneath the Waves is a marine conservation nonprofit using science, technology, and partnerships to protect ocean ecosystems. Comparable to Innoceana in size, scope, and scientific approach to marine conservation with emerging state-of-the-art methodologies.

Broad incumbents

• Parley for the Oceans: Parley for the Oceans is a global ocean conservation organization known for plastic pollution and corporate partnerships. Comparable to Innoceana in ocean education, plastic cleanup, and corporate engagement, though Parley is significantly larger and broader in scope.
• Mission Blue: Mission Blue, founded by Dr. Sylvia Earle, designates Hope Spots and drives global ocean conservation advocacy. Listed as an Innoceana partner; comparable in marine protected area advocacy and global brand presence, though Mission Blue is significantly more established and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@innoceana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innoceana
• Instagraminstagram.com/innoceana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Innoceana