As an exclusive media partner, environment coastal & offshore (eco) magazine presents a new partnership spotlight series, where we look back at past Ocean Exchange finalists and share brief updates on where they are now.
BlueiQ
BlueiQ, a US-based company founded in 2023 by Kim Gavin and Rob McGurrin, is developing OpenEar™, a low- SWaP-C, AI-enabled acoustic sensing platform designed to enable large-scale distributed networks that continuously listen to the ocean— transforming ocean sound into real-time situational awareness at the edge. They were Finalists at Ocean Exchange in 2024.
Traditional ocean monitoring systems are often expensive and sparsely deployed. BLUEiQ takes a different approach, combining software-defined acoustics, edge AI, and ultra-low-power computing in order to enable scalable, persistent acoustic sensing. Through this approach, BLUEiQ is building a distributed sensing layer for the ocean– enabling persistent maritime awareness for security and ocean stewardship.
Phoenix Waste Solutions
Phoenix Waste Solutions, co-founded by Tamara Webb and Yuen-Li Chan, is a groundbreaking technology that can thermally reduce 4–8 tons of unsorted municipal solid waste— plastic, Styrofoam, food waste—into 1–3% ash every 24 hours. It operates without using fuel or producing toxic emissions. Ocean Exchange awarded them a $100,000 Neptune Award in 2024.
Since the funding from Ocean Exchange, Phoenix Waste Solutions has secured nearly $2 million in non-dilutive funding, including prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation and a contract with the US Air Force. These accomplishments, along with multiple green innovation accolades, highlight the company’s growing impact in the field.
C2C NewCap
C2C NewCap was founded in 2014 by Andre Mao de Ferro and Rui Pedro Silva. Based in Portugal, the team focuses on high-performance and impact technologies. C2C NewCap uses supercapacitors to enable more efficient energy storage. Their first product, GO-START, is tailor-made for EU trucks and directly replaces lead-acid batteries, reducing fuel cost by €2,000 per truck per year and resulting in an 11% CO2 emission reduction.
In 2022, Ocean Exchange awarded them $100,000 for their emissions reduction in ports. In that same year, they were also awarded €6 million from the EIC Accelerator Program. In 2025, they represented EU green tech as an EIC-supported innovator at GITEX Europe.
To learn more about Ocean Exchange, visit: www.oceanexchange.org
This spotlight appeared in environment coastal & offshore (eco) magazine’s 2026 issue III. Read in the magazine here.
