Ocean Conservation · Future Impact

The first wave
crashes. We keep
it moving.

Second Current supports nonprofits and ocean startups on the frontlines of ocean conservation — bringing the business strategy, audience reach, and operational energy to push their mission further.

Work with us
Scroll
Our Origin

The ocean already
has champions.
We amplify them.

Ocean conservation organizations are doing extraordinary work — fighting for coral reefs, marine ecosystems, and the future of our seas. But passion alone doesn't scale a mission. That's where we come in.

Second Current brings the business acumen, sales strategy, and operational firepower that nonprofits rarely have in-house. We've spent years selling complex solutions to demanding stakeholders. Now we put that skill set in service of the ocean.

We're not here to take over. We're here to be the current underneath — the force that sustains and amplifies what's already been built.

"They've already done the first wave. I'm coming in as the second current — to continue pushing the mission forward."

— Second Current, Founding Vision
What We Do

The muscle behind
the mission.

Ocean organizations are doing extraordinary work. We bring the commercial firepower, strategic clarity, and operational depth they rarely have in-house.

01

Audience Growth & Awareness

Reaching new supporters, donors, and communities who care about ocean health. Building audiences that last beyond a single campaign.

02

Strategy & Business Development

Translating mission into a scalable plan. Partnerships, revenue models, stakeholder engagement — the full business picture.

03

Government & Enterprise Access

We know how to navigate large institutions. Connecting conservation organizations to the funding and partnerships that move the needle.

04

Fundraising & Campaign Support

From donor acquisition to campaign execution — building the operational infrastructure to raise more and spend it wisely.

05

Operations & Scaling

When you're ready to grow, the systems need to grow with you. We help build the internal infrastructure that sustainable impact requires.

06

Technology & Digital Tools

From CRM to communications to automation — helping ocean-focused organizations use technology to punch above their weight.

On the Horizon

Backing the founders
building tomorrow's
ocean.

The nonprofit world is where we begin — but the ocean needs builders too. Entrepreneurs developing ocean technology, marine restoration tools, and sustainable sea-based solutions.

Second Current will back visionary founders at the intersection of ocean science and business. Not just capital — but the strategic network, sales expertise, and ecosystem access to give them a real shot.

Currently building relationships in the space. If you're an ocean tech founder — let's talk early.

∿
Vann Kemp, Founder of Second Current

Vann Kemp

Founder, Second Current

The Person Behind It

Surfer. Explorer.
Ocean advocate.

Some of my earliest memories are on the water — fishing for rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay with my dad, grandfather, and brother. We didn't call it "bonding" back then, but that's exactly what it was. The boat, the current, the silence between bites — that's where I felt most connected to the world around me.

That connection never left. It grew. I started surfing — and the ocean stopped being something I visited and became something I carried with me everywhere. I've chased waves and explored coastlines across the world, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea. Every body of water I've paddled into has only deepened the feeling: this place is extraordinary. And it's under threat.

Surfing isn't just a hobby. It's a core part of who I am — and it's made the stakes of this work deeply personal. I'm not protecting an abstraction. I'm protecting the place I love.

That urgency pushed me to ask harder questions:

  • Why are we exploring galaxies before we understand our own oceans?
  • Why do we ignore the thing that covers 70% of our planet — and holds the key to our climate, energy, food, and future?

"Second Current was born from a life spent on the water — and a refusal to watch it disappear."

Get In Touch

Ready to push
the mission further?

Whether you're a nonprofit looking for a growth partner, an ocean tech founder with a vision, or someone who just wants to be part of what we're building — reach out. We're in the early days and every conversation matters.

Or reach us directly at hello@secondcurrent.com