7 Wild Business Ideas for this $3 Trillion Dollar Frontier

Key Concepts

Ocean economy, ocean startups, unmanned underwater vehicles (AUVs), seagrass restoration, marine geoengineering, technology windows, conspiracy theories, telepathy, Buddhist philosophy, desire management.

The Ocean as the New Space

Will O'Brien argues that the ocean presents a significant, yet often overlooked, opportunity for startups, similar to the space industry. While companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin garner attention, the ocean economy, already a $3 trillion market, remains largely stagnant in terms of technological innovation.

• Massive Existing Economy: The ocean economy is already substantial, with $3 trillion in annual spending.
• Global Reliance: 3 billion people rely on the ocean as their primary food source, and 1 billion depend on it for their income.
• Technological Stagnation: Technology in the ocean sector lags behind space exploration, with outdated ships and underwater drones.
• Underrated Opportunity: The ocean is an underrated area for startups compared to space or aerospace.

Key Sectors of the Ocean Economy

O'Brien breaks down the ocean economy into three main categories:

1. Biosphere: Fisheries, ecosystem restoration, environmental mapping, and ocean science.
2. Prosperity: Energy, infrastructure, oil and gas, data infrastructure, and logistics/shipping.
3. Security: Defense, border security, and critical infrastructure protection.

Saildrone: An Example of Ocean Innovation

Saildrone is highlighted as a successful example of an ocean startup.

• Autonomous Sailboats: They build large, autonomous sailboats capable of staying at sea for months.
• Data Gathering: These vessels are equipped with sensors to collect data, video footage, and relay information.
• Service Model: Saildrone sells data as a service to government agencies like NOAA and the US Navy.
• Obsessed Founders: The founder is described as someone deeply passionate about sailing.

Ulyses: General Purpose Autonomy Platform

Will O'Brien's company, Ulyses, is developing a general-purpose autonomy platform for maritime operations.

• Autonomous Robots: Building autonomous robots for the ocean to perform important tasks.
• Seagrass Restoration: Their initial focus is on restoring seagrass, a vital marine plant.
• Custom Robotic Payload: They've built custom attachments for their underwater vehicles to collect, plant, and measure seagrass growth.
• Revenue Generation: Ulyses generated $1 million in revenue in its first year with a five-person team.
• Compliance-Driven Restoration: Governments are paying Ulyses to plant seagrass due to compliance-driven restoration efforts.

The Importance of Seagrass

Seagrass is presented as a critical but often overlooked marine ecosystem.

• Carbon Capture: Seagrass captures carbon 35 times faster than rainforests.
• Habitat: It serves as a nursery for many marine species, including fish, crabs, and endangered turtles.
• Decline: Seagrass is dying off at an alarming rate, with a 7% annual loss.
• Threats: Pollution, construction, dredging, and changing ocean temperatures contribute to its decline.

Factors Enabling Ocean Robotics

Several factors are making ocean robotics more feasible and affordable:

• 3D Printing: Enables rapid iteration and prototyping.
• Component Cost Reduction: Electric vehicle batteries and drone motors have become significantly cheaper.
• Starlink: Provides reliable communication with autonomous vessels at sea.

Saronic: Ocean Defense and the Shift in Military Focus

Saronic is mentioned as a company building unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for ocean defense.

• Elite Talent: Combining elite talent in robotics, AI, and autonomy with an old industry.
• Changing Warfare: Warfare is shifting to the ocean, requiring a retooling of the military.
• Data Infrastructure: The build-out of data infrastructure for AI requires more subsea cables and data centers.

Subsea Cables and Data Centers

The discussion shifts to the importance of subsea cables and the potential for underwater data centers.

• Existing Infrastructure: Most internet traffic travels through subsea cables.
• Telecoms and Big Tech: Initial cable infrastructure was built by telecoms, now big tech companies are involved.
• Underwater Data Centers: Microsoft and YC startup Network Ocean are experimenting with underwater data centers for cooling efficiency.
• Cable Protection: Protecting subsea cables from sabotage is a growing concern.

Cable Cutting and Geopolitical Implications

The vulnerability of subsea cables is highlighted as a potential geopolitical weakness.

• Cable Cutters: China is publicly advertising deep-sea cable cutters.
• Military Targets: Cables connecting military bases are potential targets in conflicts.
• Limited Redundancy: There is limited redundancy in subsea cable infrastructure.
• Unmanned Defense: Defending cables with unmanned water drones is proposed as a solution.

Technology Windows and the Evolution of Tech

The conversation explores the concept of "technology windows" and how they influence startup opportunities.

• Mobile Window: The mobile window in the early 2010s led to the rise of companies like Instagram and Uber.
• AI Window: The current window is driven by AI, robotics, and 3D printing.
• Hardware Renaissance: There's a shift towards hardware-focused companies.

The New Tech Entrepreneur

A new breed of tech entrepreneur is emerging, characterized by a blend of technical skills, ambition, and a focus on physical and mental well-being.

• Mind, Body, and Spirit: A full integration of mind, body, and spirit is seen as a key characteristic.
• Confidence and Self-Awareness: A greater sense of confidence and self-awareness among tech entrepreneurs.
• Embracing the "Tech Bro" Persona: A willingness to embrace the "tech bro" label.

Wild Type: Cultivated Seafood

Wild Type is mentioned as a company producing sustainable, sushi-grade salmon through cellular agriculture.

• Cultivated Seafood: Growing salmon cells in an industrial process.
• Sustainability: Reducing pressure on fish stocks and eliminating contaminants.

Ocean Treasure Hunting

The discussion touches on the potential for ocean treasure hunting.

• Shipwrecks: Hundreds of shipwrecks potentially contain billions of dollars in treasure.
• Profit Sharing: Agreements can be made with governments to recover treasure and share the profits.

Marine Geoengineering

Marine geoengineering is explored as a potential solution for climate change.

• Iron Fertilization: Adding iron to the ocean can stimulate algae growth and draw down carbon.
• Governance and Science: Better science and governance are needed to ensure responsible implementation.
• Stewardship: A shift towards a stewardship-based approach to environmentalism.

Conspiracy Theories and Contrarian Thinking

The value of conspiracy theories and contrarian thinking is discussed.

• Founder Traits: Conspiracy theorists often possess traits valuable to founders, such as contrarianism and pattern recognition.
• Weird Ideas: The importance of taking weird ideas seriously.
• Telepathy Tapes Podcast: Recommended for exploring the topic of telepathy.

Buddhist Philosophy and Desire Management

Will O'Brien shares his experience living with Buddhist monks in Nepal.

• Renouncing Desire: The Buddhist belief that eliminating desire leads to enlightenment.
• Minimum Desires: The idea of minimizing desires and focusing on a few key values.
• Five Desires: O'Brien identifies five core desires: family, friends, health, wealth, and craft.

Conclusion

The podcast explores the vast potential of the ocean economy, highlighting innovative startups, emerging technologies, and the changing landscape of the tech industry. It emphasizes the importance of contrarian thinking, embracing new ideas, and finding opportunities in overlooked areas. The discussion also touches on philosophical and spiritual themes, encouraging listeners to consider their values and approach to life.