Castus Technologies

🎉 We're still celebrating a week later.... Seaworthy Collective's 4th Cohort Startup Showcase last Thursday was a smash hit - with many saying it was our best yet! Thank you to our community for showing up and showing out!! We had an incredible evening with all 7 startups from our latest cohort presenting their innovative ocean and climate impact solutions (#BlueTech), demonstrating their progress through 12 weeks of Seaworthy team support and programming (at no cost to them), which was all possible thanks to the support of Salesforce and the U.S. Small Business Administration's Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. We were thrilled to kick off the evening with a keynote from fellow ecosystem builder Linda Olson, Founder & CEO of Tampa Bay Wave! Linda touched on the some of the critical foundations of growing as an impact entrepreneur, from remembering our why's, to ensuring we don't forget to take care of ourselves as well as the planet! Seaworthy Collective shared some BIG announcements, including: 🌊 Celebrating our NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators Phase 1 win! 🏖 The announcement our new platform, The Shoreline, now accepting applications for our first beta testers this summer before a formal launch in the fall! 🎓 Our first-ever fellowship program launching with Miami Dade College next week! 🚀 Applications for Seaworthy's fall cohort, Cohort 5 of our startup studio and incubator, are NOW OPEN! We are accepting applications until June 23rd - learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gddAU2R Read more in the press release sharing highlights from our big event: https://lnkd.in/gdhU2ZSQ 1 final shout out - show some love to the members of our latest cohort who CRUSHED IT on stage - you all are officially Sea Change MAKERS: 🛰 Castus Technologies: Mohamed Ismail & Mohamed Gad 🏖 Coastal Protection Solutions: Alex Berkowitz 🌸 Phytoflora by Green Thumb Strategies: Dr. Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez PhD & Ivan Rodriguez 💰 Igugu Global: Anele Bloch (née Makhwaza) 🪵 Sargassum Eco Lumber: Raquel De Antonio Crespo and Andres de Antonio Simancas 🥤 StrawFish®: Kyle Lansing, Aaron Kleinert, & Tomer Bitton 🌊 the Upwelling Institute: Shanee Stopnitzky Photos, video, and full recap of the event coming soon - if you're not on our mailing list, make sure you subscribe on our freshly updated website here: https://lnkd.in/gpSYjuh7 33 startups and 67 founders later, Tamara Kahn and I couldn't be prouder for how our startup programs have grown. This also marked 2 cohorts in a row with a majority of startups from South Florida, a huge jump from our first 2 cohorts that had only 20-30% local representation. The South Florida #BlueTech ecosystem has grown so much in just 3 years, and we can't wait to continue spurring this wave of innovation 🌊

This week is THE WEEK! Join Seaworthy Collective for our biggest event of the year - our Starutp Showcase this Thursday at Ampersand Studios! Come meet 7 amazing ocean and climate impact startups, including 4 local #BlueTech entrepreneurs! Don't miss hearing pitches and meeting the founders behind: 🛰 Castus Technologies (San Francisco, CA) - Co-founders Mohamed Ismail and Mohamed Gad use AI and ocean meteorological data to find and track floating objects like plastic debris and oil spills in oceans, seas, and rivers. It combines this with satellite imagery to confirm accuracy, providing reliable results. 🏖 Coastal Protection Solutions (Boston, MA) - Led by Alex Berkowitz, Coastal Protection Solutions, Inc. provides innovative coastal protection systems, specializing in patent-pending technologies designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change-induced coastal flooding. 🌸 Phytoflora by Green Thumb Strategies (Miami, FL) - A dual initiative by Dr. Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez PhD and Ivan Rodriguez, employing floating farms for water remediation and sustainable agriculture. 💰 Igugu Global (Miami, FL) - Founded by Anele Bloch (née Makhwaza), this climate fintech startup aims to bridge Africa's $1.5 trillion sustainable infrastructure funding gap. 🪵Sargassum Eco Lumber(Homestead, FL) - Raquel De Antonio Crespo and Andres de Antonio Simancas' venture turns Sargassum seaweed and recycled plastics into eco-friendly lumber. 🥤 StrawFish® (Boca Raton, FL) - Aaron Kleinert, Kyle Lansing, and Tomer Bitton's answer to single-use plastic, offering biodegradable alternatives. 🌊 the Upwelling Institute (Oakland, CA) - Shanee Stopnitzky's initiative leverages artificial upwellings to cool and regenerate vulnerable ecosystems. And don't miss an amazing kickoff keynote by Linda Olson, Founder & CEO of Tampa Bay Wave! If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, what are you waiting for? For you last minute ticket buyers, today only use code "MiamiTime" to get your ticket still at the early bird price! https://lnkd.in/eKyBsfYF

1 in 1000 chance. Shelly, as I am calling my newest neighbor, the Green Sea Turtle, is a marine miracle—did you know that out of thousands of tiny hatchlings, maybe just one or two make it to their teenage years like her? It’s a wild, dangerous world out there, with everything from sharks to plastic bags threatening their journey. That’s why the superhero efforts of groups like Seaworthy Collective are crucial—they give our ocean friends a fighting chance! I am thrilled to share this video with you—it’s a unique opportunity to witness the incredible wildlife, like Shelly, part of an ancient lineage that faces a challenging future due to dwindling numbers and a tough oceanic environment. That’s why it’s so exciting to see Seaworthy racing to the rescue with BlueTech innovations. Their Spring Startup Showcase isn’t just an event; it’s a beacon of hope, shining a light on brilliant minds who refuse to let our oceans and their inhabitants just drift away. Join me and Florida For Good Miami in diving deep into this wave of change on May 23 at Ampersand Studios. Picture this: a room buzzing with the energy of tech whizzes like the founders of Castus Technologies with Mohamed Ismail, who use AI to chase down rogue plastics. Or Shanee Stopnitzky at the the Upwelling Institute, where her upwellings aren’t just a cool concept but a dynamic solution reviving our suffering coral reefs that Shelly needs to feed. Every ticket and every cheer brings us closer to a healthier ocean. Don’t miss out; it’s where the magic happens for our marine friends and their future. Let’s make waves together! You can still get the early bird pricing with code: 𝗠𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 and find the event info in the comment section.

Join Seaworthy Collective on April 25th for the next edition of The Sea Change Makers Series featuring #BlueTech founders Seaworthy Collective has supported in its startup programs! Our second panel of 2024 will focus on Upstream & Downstream Pollution Solutions, a conversation on innovations addressing nutrient and plastic pollution; from alternatives to monitoring and floating wetlands. Featuring: 🥤 Kyle Lansing, Co-founder and CEO of StrawFish® 🛰️ Gic Mohamed Gad and Mohamed Ismail, Co-founders of Castus Technologies 🌸 Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez PhD, Co-founder and CEO of Phytoflora by Green Thumb Strategies We're thrilled to host this panel as part of Miami's first ever Climate Week! Huge shout out to our board chair Scarlett Lanzas, MPA for ensuring those "doing the work" are able to be part of this historic week! RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eFpA9WKG

Pitching at FIESTA was a success! 🚀 🙌🏻 On the 18th of March I had the opportunity to pitch my startup Castus Technologies at Captial Factory in Austin, Texas during FIESTA community monthly event that includes networking opportunities with founders and investors. I am so glad with the network I made there, the opportunities that I discovered and most importantly with the follow ups I made with interesting people in my industry after the event. Thank you Cherie Werner for giving me the opportunity to pitch and for organizing this amazing event it is really a great opportunity for networking with meaningful people. Special thanks to Tamara Kahn the program director at Seaworthy Collective for coming to the event to support me!

🌊 Thrilled to Share Some Exciting News with the CASTUS Community! 🚀 We're proud to announce that CASTUS has been selected as part of the Seaworthy Collective's fourth cohort. This marks a significant milestone in our journey towards creating impactful ocean and climate solutions. This year's cohort stands out for its emphasis on local talent from South Florida, reflecting Seaworthy Collective's dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse BlueTech ecosystem. As one of the seven startups chosen from over 100 applicants, CASTUS is honored to join this mission-driven community. Our inclusion in Seaworthy Collective's Startup Studio and Incubator program opens up incredible opportunities. Over the next three months, we'll connect with their expansive network of over 2,250 members and 250 mentors, alongside a global coalition of investors dedicated to environmental innovation. This collaboration, supported by partnerships with organizations like Salesforce and the U.S. Small Business Administration, empowers us without equity dilution. Stay tuned for updates as we progress through the program, leading up to the public startup Showcase on May 23rd at Ampersand Studios. Your support means the world to us as we continue to strive for a cleaner, healthier ocean. Let's make waves together! 🌍💙 For more information see the official press release in this link --> https://lnkd.in/eFVhhtpk #CASTUSTechnologies #SeaworthyCollective #BlueTech #OceanInnovation #ClimateImpact #SustainableFuture

Exciting News! 🎉 CASTUS is set to take the stage at the American University in Cairo Demo Day! As proud graduates of the AUC Venture Lab Accelerator Program, we're thrilled to showcase our journey, growth, and the innovative solutions we're bringing to the industry. Join us as we embark on this new chapter, pitch our vision, and connect with fellow innovators and industry leaders. #AUCVentureLab #DemoDay

🌊 Exciting News from CASTUS! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce that CASTUS Technologies has been nominated for The Earthshot Prize, one of the most prestigious environmental honors in the world. A heartfelt thank you to Antler for believing in our mission and nominating us. And Special thanks to Rio Hodges and Rosalind Bazany for your incredible help in the nomination process. Thank you to The Earthshot Prize for this incredible honor. We are excited about the journey ahead and the potential for even greater impact. Let's keep pushing the boundaries for a healthier planet! 🌍💙 #EarthshotPrize #EnvironmentalInnovation #OceanConservation #Sustainability #CASTUSTechnologies #Antler