TLDR:
Key Points:
- Ocean 14 Capital raises €201 million for its impact fund, focusing on sustainable solutions for the ocean.
- Fund invests in late-stage venture and early-stage growth companies addressing food security and marine ecosystems.
Ocean sustainability solutions-focused private equity growth firm Ocean 14 Capital (O14C) has announced the successful raise of €201 million for its impact fund, Ocean 14 Capital Fund I. Investors in the fund include Nestlé, HQ Capital, and The Green Earth Impact Fund managed by Schroders and BlueOrchard. The fund, launched in 2020, aims to address UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 by investing in solutions driving a sustainable and regenerative “blue economy,” defined by the World Bank as the sustainable use of ocean resources for improved livelihoods and jobs.
The fund focuses on five key themes within the blue economy, including sustainable aquaculture, alternatives to fish protein, sustainable fisheries, marine flora & seaweed, and circular plastics. Nestlé, one of the investors in O14C, sees this investment as aligning with its sustainability goals and aims to advance sustainability within its Nestlé Purina PetCare category.
Chris Gorell Barnes, co-founder of O14C, emphasizes the importance of oceans for life on earth and the need to overhaul the capital market to address the climate crisis. Nestlé Purina’s Head, Dan Smith, highlights the need to preserve and harness the ocean’s resources for a sustainable future. This investment in Ocean 14 Capital Fund I represents a step towards driving innovation and positive change in ocean sustainability.