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UNOC 2025 - STRENGTHENING OCEAN GOVERNANCE | 33

MAKING SEAWEED ATTRACTIVE The typical five-to-seven-year venture capital structure
TO INVESTORS does not always work for seaweed companies. It is
too short a timeline. Having catalytic capital, which
“We do not only need equity from private investors, can (a) help fund and underpin some of the early-
we also need de-risking mechanisms, public money, stage risks and (b) be patient going up to 10 years, is
grants and technical assistance”, commented Adrien what will make a big difference.”
Vincent, Senior Advisor to the Global Seaweed
Coalition and founder of Albatros Advisory. He was The high-level working group identified six priority
joined by Cyril Gomez from the Oceanographic areas (investments, demand, policy and regulations,
Institute of Monaco, who stressed the need to identify innovation, outreach and science) as well as the
projects with strong key performance indicators key stakeholders and milestones to focus efforts
capable of inspiring lasting confidence in investors. on in order to successfully prepare for UNOC 2025,
As investors are not sufficiently familiar with the which will mark a major step towards achieving the
characteristics of seaweed companies, it is difficult international end-of-decade targets.
to attract private investments. Non-profit initiatives
like the Global Seaweed Coalition help to bridge this
gap between business owners and investors. Supply
contracts and co-investment models can help de-risk “The UN Ocean Conference
investments and shore up seaweed companies.
“There is a role for patient capital”, said Anuradha in 2025 is a perfect
Bajaj, Director of Innovation Marketplace and opportunity to put
Investment at The Earthshot Prize. “These are new the seaweed agenda
technologies and new markets. under the spotlight and
mobilise action.”

Adrien Vincent, Senior
Advisor to the Global
Seaweed Coalition