OceanWell set out to solve the question:
How can fresh water be produced from the ocean at scale, without hurting it.
We believe in working with nature, not against it. Every design decision was made with an “environment first” philosophy, driven by our dedicated engineering team in California. By adopting this approach, we have completely redesigned desalination from the ground up. The result is a simple, elegantly designed solution that effectively addresses every challenge posed by traditional desalination methods. Our innovative system not only provides high-quality fresh water but also serves as a net positive to Earth’s water cycle.
Our Mission
Add 1 Million AF (1.2 billion m³) of affordable, environmentally sustainable fresh water to the global supply within a decade. Our ambitious goal is to significantly increase the availability of fresh water worldwide, ensuring that this vital resource is both accessible and affordable for all.
Engineers, Water Experts, and Business Builders
Our core team merges a passion for ending water scarcity and pollution with over 85 years of seasoned experience in water, engineering, and innovation. Our engineers bring advanced technical skills, our water experts provide deep insights into water management, and our business builders drive strategic growth. Together, we are committed to creating sustainable solutions and ensuring clean, abundant water is accessible to all.
25-year veteran in the water industry, who founded Seven Seas Water, (“NYSE:Waas”) a $500m, 500-person, desalination company now owned by Morgan Stanley. Retired early. The water crisis and the fresh concept of deep-sea RO as the solution reactivated him to found OceanWell.
An Ex-Goldman Sachs Partner and financial engineer. He has held leadership positions in two fintech startups, including one unicorn. He now divides his time between Altis Partners, a commodities trading firm, and OceanWell. His financial expertise fuels his environmental passion.
A multidisciplinary scientist and engineering professor. Left academia to lead the development of OceanWell, successfully transitioning it from theory to validated technology, driven by a strong commitment to environmental health and sustainable adaptation.
Seasoned founder and startup leader who has led large technical teams in gaming, motorsport, and autonomous vehicles. He sold his last business in 2020 and joined OceanWell to scale the business and lead BD, operations and capital raising.
Formerly Executive Director at the Association of California Water Agencies and Deputy General Manager at Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles. Tim is an economist and a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University who’s spent over 40 years of his career in water in California, bringing invaluable expertise to OceanWell.
Formerly a Subsea Projects Manager at Chevron specializing in subsea well intervention systems, he also worked as a design engineer at NOV and Baker Hughes. A Mechanical Engineer, he brings extensive offshore energy expertise to OceanWell.
Mechanical engineer with 15 years’ experience in engineering, construction, and project management. Served six years as an engineering in the US Army and later as a project manager in the US Army Corps of Engineers, specializing in coastal planning.
A London-based former investment banking professional with 8 years in corporate finance followed by 2 years at a hedge fund. He recognized the potential scale of OceanWell’s solution and joined full-time in 2022 to help drive its growth and impact.
A longtime member of the environmental community and fierce advocate for environmental & social justice issues. She has been the long-time Chair of Sierra Club's Water Committee here in CA.
Advisory Board
Dr. Hoek is a UCLA professor specializing in nano-materials, membrane technology, and electro-chemistry for environmental applications. He is the Faculty Director of UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and has founded several companies, including NanoH2O and Water Planet. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale, an M.S. from UCLA, and a B.S. from Penn State.
Jay is a Global Futures Professor at Arizona State University and a hydrologist with extensive experience in water and climate change research. He is the former Executive Director of the Global Institute for Water Security and co-founded Waterplan. Jay has also worked with NASA and the California State Water Boards.
Shaun is the President of Chargelab, a leading EV charger software company. He was previously CEO of New Lab and held senior roles at Waymo, Airbnb, and Expedia. Shaun has been instrumental in advancing technology and business development in the EV and autonomous vehicle sectors.
Torsten is an expert in ocean governance and sustainable blue finance, with over 20 years in finance and ocean research. He founded Global Ocean Trust and advises several international organizations. Torsten holds degrees from Cambridge, Bonn, and Harvard and is affiliated with research institutes in Germany and the UK.
Collaboration and Transparency
Transparency and collaboration are central to our company's mission and growth strategy. We believe that by working together with all stakeholders—whether communities, partners, or investors—we can achieve meaningful progress. Our commitment to transparency ensures that we communicate openly at every step of our journey. As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to engaging with the communities we serve, fostering trust, and building long-lasting relationships. We are also passionate about educating people on our technology, empowering them with the knowledge to understand its benefits and contribute to a sustainable future. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
