Bringing clarity to ocean complexity
Bringing clarity to ocean complexity
We exist to ensure your ocean mission succeeds
We create technology that empowers leaders to drive ocean impact.
By blending ocean strategy consulting, advanced technologies, and immersive leadership expeditions, Vital Ocean equips leaders with the insight and tools to turn ocean data into decisive action.
We believe clarity is power—especially in the face of ocean complexity.
Because when you can see the whole system—its tensions, trade-offs, and possibilities—you can lead with clarity, act with confidence, and design solutions that serve both people and the planet.
Our mission is simple yet ambitious.
We support missions to rebuild ocean biodiversity, restore ecosystem health and resilience, and support a thriving blue economy where nature and humanity can flourish together.
Our capabilities
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Advanced Applied Technology
We build AI-powered tools that transform marine management and accelerate a restorative blue economy. Our technologies turn ocean data into clear, actionable insights, empowering leaders to make better decisions.
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Ocean Strategy Consulting
We combine world-class strategy consulting, advanced technology, and a deep passion for the ocean to support our partners in their most important projects. When the stakes are high, you can trust us to deliver.
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Ocean Leadership Expeditions
We lead transformative marine leadership expeditions with ocean conservationist Vincent Kneefel, offering breathtaking first-hand encounters that inspire a deeper commitment to stewardship and rewilding.
Project examples
Immersive Underwater Worlds
Experience the ocean—up close and alive.
Dive through digitally recreated lush eelgrass meadows, kelp forests, and deep-sea ecosystems. Designed for scientific learning, exploring, and storytelling, we turn passive facts into living wonder.
Why: Science is more powerful when it’s seen. These visuals bring ocean literacy to life.
Ocean Science and Policy-Focused GPT
Get trusted answers.
Our ocean-trained large language model (LLM) delivers fast, accurate answers backed by sources from over 800,000 ocean science publications, environmental laws, and Indigenous, NGO, and private sector knowledge.
Why: No one can read 30,000 marine studies a year. LLMs synthesize, so leaders can decide.
Real-time Interactive Maps and Dashboards
See your entire marine system - in motion.
We layer satellite, sensor, and seafloor data into a systemic dashboard view of your marine environment. From species heatmaps to animated currents, we turn complexity into clarity.
Why: See and understand your full marine system. You can’t protect what you can’t see.
Simulations & Digital Twins
Build marine assets with foresight.
Test ports, wind farms, and tidal turbines in dynamic, physics-based models paired with interactive, high-fidelity visuals. Our digital twins show how marine infrastructure performs before it’s built—so you can optimize placement, minimize risks, and protect ecosystems from day one.
Why: Mistakes at sea are expensive. Simulations make science part of your blueprint.
White Paper
Vital Ocean’s strategic blueprint explores how data-driven innovation, from digital twins and large language models (LLMs) can transform ocean conservation and help build a resilient, sustainable blue economy.
Meet Our Team
Joi Danielson
MANAGING PARTNER
Joi Danielson
Joi Danielson is Managing Partner at Vital Ocean. A former McKinsey consultant and Systemiq Partner, she brings over 15 years of experience leading complex, high-impact initiatives around the world. Joi specializes in large-scale system transformation, environmental strategy, and technology-driven solutions to urgent sustainability challenges. She is known for simplifying complexity, transforming ambitious ideas into practical, lasting outcomes, and building the leaders and partnerships needed to make change stick.
Madhu Reddiboina
CHIEF OF AI
Madhu Reddiboina
Madhu Reddiboina is Chief of AI at Vital Ocean, bringing over 20 years of experience as a technology strategist and systems implementer for companies like Deloitte, Ally, and Ford. A published AI author and National Science Foundation Principal Investigator, Madhu leads enterprise-scale innovation at the intersection of machine learning, policy, and sustainability. He holds multiple patents in process and is known for turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact.
Vincent Kneefel
CHIEF OF IMPACT
Vincent Kneefel
Vincent Kneefel is Chief of Impact at Vital Ocean, with a career spanning global sustainability, ocean conservation, and strategic advisory. He spent eight years as a sustainability consultant at Accenture and has held key roles at WWF and the United Nations. As a former Private Island Conservation Director, Vincent brings hands-on experience in protecting fragile marine ecosystems. An award-winning underwater photographer, he combines science, storytelling, and strategy to drive bold action for the planet.
Luke Dallafior
CHIEF OF INNOVATION
Luke Dallafior
Luke Dallafior is Chief of Innovation at Vital Ocean, with over 25 years of leadership in technology innovation and market transformation. He has led industry firsts across networking, mobile, and retail energy—deploying breakthrough technologies in more than 40 countries. Luke brings deep experience in scaling frontier solutions and designing scalable systems that turn complexity into global impact.
Vlad Shifrin
CFO
Vlad Shifrin
Vlad Shifrin is CFO at Vital Ocean, with 12 years of experience in energy infrastructure, finance, and operations. He specializes in structuring complex transactions, overseeing M&A, and building the financial foundations for scalable, mission-driven ventures. Vlad brings a strategic lens to capital deployment and growth in the blue economy and beyond.
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