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Our guest today is Alison Cove, founder of USEFULL, a circular reuse solution that partners with college campuses to make student takeout meals a zero-waste and microplastic-free experience.

With a business focused on domestic health and circularity, Alison never thought she’d be so affected by global affairs. She has navigated her burgeoning business through disruptions caused by a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the constantly changing tariff schedules. Alison has shown resilience at every impact....

Alison Cove

Usefull

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 Today's guest is Paul Holthus. Paul is a blue economy visionary. He is the founding president and CEO Emirati of the World Ocean Council, affectionately called the WOC. Founded in 2008, long before anyone was talking about the blue economy, WOC's aim is to unite ocean industries in order to support cooperative corporate ocean responsibility.

Paul discusses his path to founding the WOC, the organization's role and priorities, where are the big ocean opportunities, and the new challenges presented by a challenging political landscape.

https://worldoceancouncil.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-holthus-81b10b8/

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

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Happy planet Wednesday!

We are kicking off a new season, and today I'm just delighted to welcome Jason Dodier, a recognized global authority on the circular economy, biochar and decarbonization. His company, Grain Ecosystem, is an AI and data-driven solution that revolutionizes waste to energy products. They position biochar, which we'll be hearing a lot about today, as the cornerstone of carbon sequestration, community development and project financing. As though that weren't enough, Jason also co-founded Fountainhead Rhode Island, a community fostering environmental startups and leadership in Rhode Island and beyond.

I am also giving a shout out to fellow Maine angel Bobbie Lamont for supporting the podcast. She's a tremendous force in the main startup ecosystem, and I'm honored that she's listening to and supporting the podcast. Bobbie will receive a beautiful Happy Planet baseball cap in return for her support.

If you'd like to support the podcast, please visit our website, happyplanetpodcast.com. There, you can purchase a hat and/or receive a shout out on the podcast as well.

Jason Dodier

GRAIN Ecosystem

Fountainhead RI

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I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

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Happy Planet Wednesday! Today we travel to Rhode Island, the ocean state, where, fittingly, the blue economy is thriving.

Ian Estaphan Owen, Co-Founder of JAIA Robotics didn't grow up in Rhode Island but rather coastal Wales where he became passionate about the ocean. On his road to entrepreneurship, he even did a stint with the British Royal Navy.

Now a denizen of Bristol, Ian is co-founder of Jaia Robotics, a company innovating in the field of ocean surveillance and monitoring. While the sector is getting populated, JAIA Robotics seems to have a competitive edge thanks to their small, low-cost, modular torpedo-shaped, aquatic drones that can travel solo, or in pods, and have multiple applications.

JAIA boasts real sales in the US and abroad. His recent Series A round was oversubscribed.

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

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I have been at this long enough by now - 61 episodes!- to see some great successes and some disappointing failures. This week's guest tells a story that's a bit of both, but he is not letting failure get in his way.

Today we are heading back to Norway to meet again with Tore Enger, Founder of TECO 2030, a company that was looking to build fuel cells for the maritime industry.

Tore came on the podcast two years ago as they were making fast tracks with a product and strategic partnerships. Despite their success, investor money soon dried up. One strategic error may have been going public too soon.

In this podcast Tore will tell us what worked and what didn’t. And we will hear how this seasoned entrepreneur refuses to back down and deftly navigates Norway’s very favorable restructuring laws to get back in the game with a new strategy and cap table within a few short months of throwing in the towel.

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

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Today we are traveling to Chile, the birthplace of Positive Polar, a travel startup aiming to combine luxury cruises with academic research and environmental action. Positive Polar’s sustainable expedition cruises will aim to restore the whale population, amplify oceanic food production and implement high-potential climate mitigation strategies.

I had the incredible privilege of speaking to both co-founders last week. Hugo Hinrichsen is a former Chilean Naval Commander, helicopter pilot and business entrepreneur whose personal observations of the changing ecosystem over his lifetime inspired this project. His business partner is Jenn Bonilla an American psychology PHD and biotech professional whose passion is enabling science to positively impact humanity. I love how two sucessful people from two different countries come together to transform the way people see the world.

www.positivepolar.com

Positive Polar is currently open for partnership and investment. Contact:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbonilla/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugo-hinrichsen/

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

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Proscovia is a Kenyan entrepreneur who wears many hats. She is founder of Samaky Hub, an organization that empowers women and youth in Africa's aquaculture sector by offering strategic planning, operational guidance, and marketing support to their ventures. Proscovia is also an African Food Fellow, the Kenyan Program Manager for the Irish aquaculture venture hub, Hatch BLUE, and a writer for the US industry rag, The Fish Site. Proscovia aims to grow the African aquaculture market to meet local demand all while boosting safety and opportunities for women and youth.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/proscoviaalando/

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

Promotional and program partners include ...

Send us a text

Happy new year to all and welcome back to our first episode of 2025!

Our guest this week is an entrepreneur who excels at building market strategies. Heather Myers of Spark Number 9 has created her own methodology for getting the market segment answers entrepreneurs so desperately need. An important distinction is that her method relies on observable behavior, not on surveys.

Heather's own business has flourished and was even the subject of a Harvard Business School case study. Heather joins us today to discuss how nature forward companies can leapfrog endless and costly pivots by applying her methodology to their own businesses.

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts! And if you love what we do, don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating and review!

Support the show

Listen on Apple , Spotify, our website, or pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts!

I'd like to thank our sponsors:

Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Bold Ocean Ventures have partnered to create a mission-driven venture capital fund, supporting the growth of innovative, sustainable ocean-related businesses.

Startup Marin Skincare has rocketed thanks to products made with Maine-lobster-derived glycoprotein that work on eczema and dry skin. Former guest on our show and co-Founder Patrick Breeding is offering listeners a 20% discount on their skincare products. Type HAPPYPLANET into the coupon code field!

Spark No. 9, ensures that companies - and startups - have successful product launches by testing their products online. Remove the guesswork before you launch!

Promotional and program partners include ...