Let’s set sail

Robin Ramm-Ericson — entrepreneur, unicorn-founder, and passionate tech investor — joined the SOS Summit and Ocean Voyage, bringing his experience in scaling companies and investing in tech. In the blog below, he reflects on the journey from San Francisco to San Diego and why collaboration, trust, and bold entrepreneurship are key to driving meaningful ocean solutions.

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Let’s set sail

United by a passion for our ocean and a commitment to making a difference, we set sail on a voyage of exploration, trust, and collaboration across disciplines. On board the magnificent tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a unique crew mustered: ocean scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, storytellers, and fellow changemakers. Leaving San Francisco and, in the mist, passing under the Golden Gate to the sound of foghorns, our journey began toward the distant, clear skies of San Diego.

Part of something extraordinary

With the last bar of internet connectivity gone, a transformation happened. Sailing day and night, adapting to the waves and waters, and spending your days together under an open sky does something good to people. When whales come to greet you and dolphins lead your bow, you know you are part of something extraordinary. After sharing lookout watches and the profound conversations they invite, or after climbing the rigging together in moonlight to furl the sails, standing on the yard footrope 20 meters above the water, a special trust forms. And with it, an urge to do more together.

As an entrepreneur and ocean-tech investor, my firm belief is this: instead of merely hoping for politicians to fix our most significant challenge - the health of our oceans - it is up to us to act. By mastering the rails of economic progress, we can drive real change in the direction we need the world to move. Technology and the X-factor in entrepreneurship can lead the way. And with science and investment capital backing it up, an ocean of opportunities arises!

Profit and purpose moves together

We need to support strong entrepreneurs in making bold decisions. Real change requires real, profitable ocean-centric companies to form and flourish. Scale and sustainable resources come from building sound ventures. On this ship, there are people with a real opportunity to be a positive force in making this happen. Collaboration has never been more needed.

This voyage was like no other. For most people, when you go to sea, the boat is there to support you to feel good. While on a tall ship, it is you who are there supporting the boat to be at its best and fulfill its potential. Aboard a tall ship, you work toward something beyond yourself, and sometimes that is precisely what the world needs more of. 

Bold idea in the making

In all this rests a feeling of deep gratitude, combined with the joy of seeing a bold idea in the making. Crafted by the visionary drive and extraordinary generosity of Johan Odfjell and family, who made all this come alive. The concept of taking 100 super busy people, many with limited sailing experience, fully offline and on a ship at open sea that first needed to be sailed across the Atlantic and into the Pacific while arriving on time is more than a bold plan. There were a hundred things that could have gone wrong. Yet in the end, good things happen to good people.

On board, standing watches, keeping all things shipshape, and relying on each other on deck creates a special bond and a feeling of unity. As we sailed into San Diego, the image had grown clear and so had the sky above.

Our ocean’s health is the greatest challenge of our time.
We take it on.

//  Robin Ramm-Ericson, Entrepreneur, unicorn-founder, and a passionate tech investor

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