Unlocking Finance for the Ocean
Athena Blue is building the pipeline of investable blue carbon projects — powered by AI, grounded in science, and designed for impact.
Athena Blue transforms ocean initiatives into investment-ready opportunities that deliver climate resilience and ocean health.
- →The Ocean is our largest carbon sink and represents more than 95% of our biosphere but it is being pushed to its limits
- →Finance is needed to scale restoration efforts and deliver high-impact outcomes but SDG 14 remains the least funded of all the sustainable development goals
- →Finance is available to grow the Blue Economy but funders don't have sight of a robust and credible pipeline of investable projects
- →The gap between demand for ocean projects and the amount of funding flowing to them is causing significant delays to action and impact
Why It Matters - The Ocean Finance Crisis
Despite covering 71% of our planet's surface and absorbing 25% of CO2 emissions, the ocean receives less funding than any other environmental sector.
<10%of needs met
Current funding vs $175B+ annual requirement
3-5x fasterat carbon absorption
Blue carbon ecosystems vs tropical forests
2-7%annually
Blue carbon ecosystem degradation rate
80%reduction
Storm surge protection by coastal ecosystems
The Scale of the Challenge
Understanding the barriers that prevent critical ocean restoration projects from accessing the funding they desperately need.
Underinvestment Crisis
If the ocean were a country, its economy would be the fifth largest in the world.
The Ocean needs $175+ billion annually to achieve SDG14 by 2030.
The sustainable blue economy receives less than 1 per cent of all philanthropic climate funding and just 0.01 per cent of global capital market investments.
SDG14 is the least funded of all the SDGs.
Project-Funder Disconnect
Many ocean initiatives are too nascent or early stage for traditional funders and remain overlooked.
Conventional due diligence process is lengthy, clunky, and time-consuming.
There are no standardised frameworks for assessing the readiness of early-stage projects.
Fragmented opportunities and limited data result in a lack of an investable pipeline.
Time-Critical Window
Ocean degradation is accelerating due to climate change and other negative impacts.
Ocean ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Early intervention is exponentially more cost effective.
Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Seagrass meadows, mangroves, and salt marshes are disappearing at unprecedented rates, taking their carbon storage potential with them.
The Opportunity
Athena Blue bridges the gap between the vast potential of blue carbon ecosystems and the critical need for investable projects.
The Blue Carbon Opportunity
Blue carbon ecosystems—mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes—represent one of nature's most powerful climate solutions.
3-5x more carbon storage per hectare than tropical forests
80% reduction in storm surge through coastal protection
Biodiversity hotspots supporting marine life cycles
Community benefits through sustainable livelihoods
The Solution: Systematic Pipeline Development
Athena Blue addresses these challenges by creating the infrastructure for an investable blue carbon pipeline.
We don't replace existing expertise—we enhance it
Financial readiness components unlock funding
Systematic approach to scale impact
Ready to Drive Ocean Impact?
Whether you are an investor looking for high-impact opportunities or a project developer seeking to become finance-ready, Athena Blue provides the tools and connections you need.
For Investors: Access to Vetted Opportunities
Curated Project Pipeline
Standardised due diligence and early access to emerging opportunities before public markets.
Market Intelligence Platform
Blue carbon market trends and comprehensive project database with performance tracking.
Sector Analysis
Project Database
Searchable portfolio of assessed initiatives with detailed project profiles.
Performance Tracking
Monitoring and impact reporting across your investment portfolio.
Portfolio carbon sequestration up 15% YoY
Direct Engagement
Quarterly pipeline reviews and access to expert networks and technical advisors.
Next Pipeline Review
For Projects: Your Path to Investment Readiness
Transform your blue carbon vision into a fundable opportunity with our comprehensive finance readiness platform designed specifically for ocean restoration projects.
Finance Readiness Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation covering financial structure, impact measurement, market positioning, and corporate requirements.
Financial Structure Analysis
Revenue models, cost projections, risk assessment
Impact Measurement Framework
Carbon quantification, biodiversity metrics, community benefits
Market Positioning
Advice and guidance on navigating the market
Corporate Requirements
Meeting criteria for high-integrity impact
AI-Powered Due Diligence
Dynamic AI conversations, document analysis, and progress tracking for comprehensive project evaluation.
Market Access & Connections
Direct pathways to funding with pre-qualified investors and corporate partnership facilitation.
Finance funding pathway identification
Direct introductions to pre-qualified funders
Corporate partnership facilitation
Ocean Ecosystem Synergy
Connecting projects with the vital marine ecosystem for sustainable impact.
Who We Are
Athena Blue is building the pipeline of investable Blue Economy projects powered by AI, grounded in science, and designed for impact.
Catch up with Us At..
UNOC in Nice, France in June 2025
Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco, June 2025
European Seagrass Restoration Alliance conference in Arcachon, May 2025
Our Story
Athena Blue launched in response to the need to urgently unlock finance to ocean projects. Our Founder, Kirsty Schneeberger MBE, had previously led deals in the Voluntary Carbon Market securing finance for early-stage ocean projects. Recognising the need to systematise and scale this approach, she set up Athena Blue to address the challenges to financing ocean projects head-on.
Get Started
Select your role to get started. Whether you're a project developer, investor, or potential partner, we want to hear from you.