Our Approach

Since 2015, our team has sought out innovative ocean technologies from around the world, sourcing projects from academia, the nonprofit sector, and the start-up community.

Our mission is to help teams move promising marine technology ideas toward economic sustainability and global impact.

What is Technology Readiness Level?

We use the technology readiness level method (TRL) for estimating the maturity of the technologies we support to help assess and track its development.

Based on a scale from 1 to 9, we typically fund projects that fall between levels 2 and 7.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Idea
Impact
TRL
1
2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9

Technology Concept Formulated

Proof of Concept

Technology Validation

Scaling and Piloting a Prototype

Schmidt Marine supports the development of technologies that have the potential to solve ocean conservation challenges at scale. We support technologies as early as TRL 2, when our partners often have little more than their basic concept or application formulated.

We typically offer both financial and non-financial support while grantees establish proof of concept in a lab setting. For example, we might help them design their business model, develop their IP plan, and establish their data infrastructure.

Throughout these levels, we continue to offer as-needed support while grantees validate their technologies in relevant environments. Technologies deployed on the ocean must be rugged enough to withstand unique challenges such as pressure, salinity, and biofouling.

By this level, prototypes are significantly more sophisticated and functional. We guide grantees through additional pilots to help further validate and promote future adoption at scale.

Idea
Impact
Case Study

The NABIT is conceptualized by Conservation X Labs in 2016 to prevent wildlife trafficking and reduce mislabeled seafood, and we decide to provide seed funding to explore the idea of a "DNA laboratory in your pocket."

Case Study

The NABIT technology demonstrates that rapid, hand-held DNA testing is feasible in a lab setting when a bare-bones prototype comes online.

Case Study

After deploying several prototypes to the Port of Seattle, positive feedback validates the idea that rapid DNA testing can be used in real-world settings.

Case Study

The CXL team continues to drive down cost and increase efficiency of the NABIT. They also begin to develop NABIT's ability to rapidly detect COVID-19, expanding its use-cases. CXL creates a for-profit company, Thylacine Biosciences, to commercialize and scale the NABIT.

TRL
9
Idea
Impact

Creating Real-world Impact At Scale

Grantees graduate from our program when their technology is ready to start solving problems on a meaningful scale. Now, they can focus on expanding impact through investment, licensing, or open-sourcing.

Is Your Idea Next?

We’re building a global community of changemakers who are equipped to solve the ocean’s most pressing challenges. We’re always looking for new, future-focused ideas to help grow into impactful solutions.

Submit a proposal
Funds granted
$42m+
Projects supported to date
85+
Countries represented
15
Year founded
2015

Our Approach

Since 2015, our team has sought out innovative ocean technologies from around the world, sourcing projects from academia, the nonprofit sector, and the start-up community.

Our mission is to help teams move promising marine technology ideas toward economic sustainability and global impact.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Idea
Impact

What is Technology Readiness Level?

We use the technology readiness level method (TRL) for estimating the maturity of the technologies we support to help assess and track its development.

Based on a scale from 1 to 9, we typically fund projects that fall between levels 2 and 7.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Idea
Impact
TRL
2

Technology Concept Formulated

Schmidt Marine supports the development of technologies that have the potential to solve ocean conservation challenges at scale. We support technologies as early as TRL 2, when our partners often have little more than their basic concept or application formulated.

Case Study

The NABIT is conceptualized by Conservation X Labs in 2016 to prevent wildlife trafficking and reduce mislabeled seafood, and we decide to provide seed funding to explore the idea of a "DNA laboratory in your pocket."

TRL
3-4

Proof of Concept

We typically offer both financial and non-financial support while grantees establish proof of concept in a lab setting. For example, we might help them design their business model, develop their IP plan, and establish their data infrastructure.

Case Study

The NABIT technology demonstrates that rapid, hand-held DNA testing is feasible in a lab setting when a bare-bones prototype comes online.

TRL
5-6

Technology Validation

Throughout these levels, we continue to offer as-needed support while grantees validate their technologies in relevant environments. Technologies deployed on the ocean must be rugged enough to withstand unique challenges such as pressure, salinity, and biofouling.

Case Study

After deploying several prototypes to the Port of Seattle, positive feedback validates the idea that rapid DNA testing can be used in real-world settings.

TRL
7-8

Scaling and Piloting a Prototype

By this level, prototypes are significantly more sophisticated and functional. We guide grantees through additional pilots to help further validate and promote future adoption at scale.

Case Study

The CXL team continues to drive down cost and increase efficiency of the NABIT. They also begin to develop NABIT's ability to rapidly detect COVID-19, expanding its use-cases. CXL creates a for-profit company, Thylacine Biosciences, to commercialize and scale the NABIT.

TRL
9
Idea
Impact

Creating Real-world Impact At Scale

Grantees graduate from our program when their technology is ready to start solving problems on a meaningful scale. Now, they can focus on expanding impact through investment, licensing, or open-sourcing.

Is Your Idea Next?

We’re building a global community of changemakers who are equipped to solve the ocean’s most pressing challenges. We’re always looking for new, future-focused ideas to help grow into impactful solutions.

Submit a proposal
Funds granted
$42m+
Projects supported to date
85+
Countries represented
15
Year founded
2015