The Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a dorm room initiative in 2014. Today, it boasts a thousands-strong global network of experts, investors, and "ecopreneurs" who believe that innovation is the key to saving the world's ailing oceans. Founder Daniela Fernandez has been at the helm of the organization throughout its journey, and SOA is now poised to make another significant impact.

Fernandez's vision for SOA was to approach ocean conservation through the lens of entrepreneurship and innovation. "Before us, no one in this space was even counting entrepreneurship or innovation as part of the solution," she told TechCrunch in an interview. This approach has led to the deployment of almost half a billion dollars into the ocean conservation space, making it an investable industry.

SOA's accelerator program has been instrumental in helping dozens of companies grow from pre-seed to commercialization. The program has undergone significant changes over the years, shifting its focus from startup basics to making meaningful connections and presenting data-driven insights. According to Fernandez, the program is now more focused on providing lifetime support to companies, opening doors to new opportunities and capital.

The organization has identified five key categories that represent the best chance of breaking through to the mainstream: Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Pollution Reduction, Ecosystems and Species, Blue Foods, and Ocean Data, Literacy, & Research. SOA has also developed the industry's first ocean impact assessment framework, which informs the creation of its Ocean Solution Label. This label is not just a rubber stamp, but rather a rigorous assessment of a company's methods and impact, ensuring that only companies with measurable and significant positive impacts on the ecosystem receive the label.

The primary target of the Ocean Solution Label is investors, who are increasingly looking for ocean-related deals that can demonstrate tangible impact. Fernandez believes that this label will help signal to investors which companies are truly making a difference and deserve their support. SOA has partnered with the Solar Impulse Foundation to develop the label, which is expected to have a significant impact on the industry.

In addition to its accelerator program and Ocean Solution Label, SOA has also supported a new batch of startups, including Oneka Technologies, Genevos, Vlinder, Phycolabs, INVERSA, Koraï Africa, SeaVoir, and PierSight Space. These startups are tackling a range of ocean-related challenges, from desalination and hydrogen power to mangrove restoration and seaweed-based biofibers.

Fernandez hinted that another significant structural change is on the horizon for SOA, but what impresses her most is the sheer scale of the operation. From its humble beginnings in her dorm room in Washington, D.C., SOA has grown to have a presence in 186 countries, with projects, founders, and youth hubs on the ground in all those locations. Applications for its programs are increasing, and the variety of companies it's seeing is expanding, demonstrating the growing interest in ocean entrepreneurship.

According to Fernandez, being an ocean entrepreneur requires a systematic, macro-level approach, which SOA has taken. As the organization continues to drive innovation in ocean conservation, it's clear that its impact will be felt for years to come.