> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Here are the top ocean tech leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, San Francisco
- URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/here-are-the-top-ocean-tech-leaders-at-techcrunch-disrupt-2026-san-francisco/
- Published: 2026-10-14T17:25:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-06T16:49:16.000Z
- Author: Tony Gilbert
- Tags: Work

TechCrunch [Disrupt](https://techcrunch.com/events/techcrunch-disrupt/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) 2026 is happening October 13-15 at San Francisco’s [Moscone Center](https://www.moscone.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). The conference includes all the big names in tech and finance that you’d expect to see, plus these leaders in ocean tech, conservation, and the blue economy. Here's a snapshot of the companies behind the speakers, including Kofi Asante (Bluecore Energy), Crystal Huang, Robby Stein, Stephan Bitton (Google/Alphabet), Ben Lamm (Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences), Bill Tai (ACTAI Global), Susan Schofer, Pae Wu, Parikshit Sharma (SOSV, HAX, SOSV SF), Richard Munassi (Tampa Bay Wave BlueTech|X Accelerator), Jonny Dyer (Muon Space), and... *Marky Mark*. 

## [**Kofi Asante**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kofiasante1/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**:** [**Bluecore Energy**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluecore-energy-hq/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

[Bluecore](https://www.bluecore.energy/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) plans to deliver zero-emission electricity for maritime infrastructure with their proposed [floating nuclear power plants](https://www.forbes.com/sites/edgarsten/2026/08/18/bluecore-floating-nuclear-power-plant-a-first-for-black-entrepreneur/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). These plants have also been proposed as a possible energy source for floating data centers (learn more about [floating data centers](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/floating-data-centers-were-proposed-back-when-blackberry-outsold-the-iphone-are-they-finally-making-a-splash/) from Sailicon Valley).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-14-124540.png)

"Floating nuclear power plants" concept art from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2016\. 

## **Google/Alphabet:** [**Crystal Huang**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalhuang89/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **(Google Ventures),** [**Robby Stein**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbystein/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **(Google),** [**Stephan Bitton**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenabritton/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **(Google Cloud).**

On the surface, Alphabet and Google aren’t “ocean tech” companies, but they’re actually the world’s *top* investor in the [deep sea cables](https://telcomagazine.com/top10/top-10-subsea-cable-power-brokers?ref=sailiconvalley.com) that keep the physical internet connected. Oh yeah, and they also may or may not have launched a [floating data center](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/floating-data-centers-were-proposed-back-when-blackberry-outsold-the-iphone-are-they-finally-making-a-splash/).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/interactive-map.jpg)

Subsea cable map. Image from Telco and Telegeography

## [Ben Lamm](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benlamm/?ref=sailiconvalley.com): [Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences](https://www.linkedin.com/company/colossal/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

They’re probably sick of hearing this movie reference, but you might say that the primary work of the [Colossal](https://colossal.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) team is to bring back extinct animals, you know, *like in* [*Jurassic Park*](https://youtu.be/dEOxq7aVKh4?si=YFYkCcKLxiNCVJVD&ref=sailiconvalley.com). The Colossal [species index](https://colossal.com/species/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) lists animals they hope to revive, like the Dodo, and while no aquatic animal has yet made the cut for de-extinction, Colossal is actively [biobanking](https://www.biobanking.com/colossal-and-u-s-fish-and-wildlife-launches-national-endangered-species-biobank/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) endangered sea creatures like sharks and turtles. Speaker and founder Ben Lamm’s [LinkedIn](linkedin.com/in/benlamm/) headline might be the single best conversation starter in the history of the platform: *“Just a guy working to bring back mammoths (and other stuff).”*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-14-124754.png)

Biobanking image from Colossal Biosciences

## [Bill Tai](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kitevc/?ref=sailiconvalley.com): [ACTAI Global](https://actai.global/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

 Tai is best known as a prolific venture capitalist (early investor in Zoom, Twitter, Canva), but the reason he’s on this list is because he is also the co-founder of ACTAI Global, a nonprofit making waves in ocean conservation. ACTAI backs ocean-focused startups and will host the [Ocean Gala](https://actai.global/event/ocean-gala-2026/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) for ocean advocacy December 4 during [Art Basel](https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in Miami.

## [**SOSV**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sosv/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**,** [**HAX**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hax/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**,** [**SOSV SF**](https://sosv.com/locations/sosv-sf/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**:** [**Susan Schofer**](linkedin.com/in/susan-schofer-16b8756/)**,** [**Pae Wu**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pae-wu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**,** [**Parikshit Sharma**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/parikshit-sharma-sosv/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

Dr. Susan Schofer is a partner at [SOSV](https://sosv.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and the Chief Science Officer at [SOSV HAX](https://hax.co/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), which together have a portfolio that includes investments in ocean science, [climate tech](https://hax.co/tx%5Fcategory/alt-protein/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), marine robotics, and ocean-tech hardware. Their HAX a[ccelerator](https://hax.co/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) has supported the likes of [Neptune](https://newhax.wpengine.com/company/neptune-robotics/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), which makes [underwater cleaning robots](https://hax.co/case%5Fstudies/an-underwater-cleaning-robot-for-the-marine-industry/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) for the marine industry. SOSV maintains a [San Francisco](https://sosv.com/locations/sosv-sf/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) office (learn more about the Port of San Francisco’s [Blue Economy Initiative](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/the-future-is-waterfront-startups-and-maybe-even-cheap-rent-a-look-at-the-sf-port-blue-economy-initiative/) from Sailicon Valley).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/DJI_0169--1---1-.jpg)

Photo from the SF Port Blue Economy Initiative

## [Richard Munassi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmunassi/?ref=sailiconvalley.com): [Tampa Bay Wave](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tampa-bay-wave/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) BlueTech|X Accelerator

[Tampa Blue Wave](https://www.tampabaywave.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) helped launch hundreds of startups, and their BlueTech [accelerator](https://www.tampabaywave.org/bluetechx-accelerator/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) focuses on supporting [ocean-based startups](https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2026/08/11/tampa-bay-wave-selects-bluetech-cohort.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) like [SwimSmart Technology](https://swimsmarttech.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [ONA Protocol](https://onaprotocol.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (Spain).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/232_TampaBayWave_BlueTechPitch_9-17-2026-1024x683.jpg)

Pitching the Blue Economy: 2026 Tampa Bay Wave BlueTech|X Accelerator Pitch Night.

## [Jonny Dyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-dyer-1870085/?ref=sailiconvalley.com): [Muon Space](https://www.linkedin.com/company/muon-space/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

This satellite and space company makes the list because Muon’s devices are also used for ocean monitoring. [Muon](https://www.muonspace.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) even [won contracts with NOAA](https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/noaa-awards-commercial-global-navigation-satellite-system-reflectometry-gnss-r-ocean-surface-winds-osw-data-pilot-contracts?ref=sailiconvalley.com), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to help track ocean surface winds and support weather forecast modeling.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/noaa.jpg)

Ocean surface monitoring courtesy of NOAA. 

## Mark Wahlberg?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/10/mm-1.png)

Mark Wahlberg is actually the *top* headliner at this event – yes, the same Marky Mark from the Funky Bunch and New Kids on the Block. Why is Mark Wahlberg headlining a tech conference? It’s reported that the TechCrunch organizers believe Mark has [got the right stuff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbIEwIwYz-c&ref=sailiconvalley.com) to make the audience [feel the vibration](https://youtu.be/%5Fkctwd4w7R0?si=xyx7F8%5F0SVU4IeMs&ref=sailiconvalley.com). But seriously, Wahlberg’s fortune is estimated to be nearly [half a billion dollars](https://www.investopedia.com/mark-wahlberg-net-worth-8422611?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and he holds a sizeable portfolio of investments (like [Wahlburgers](https://wahlburgers.com/our-story?ref=sailiconvalley.com)), so he certainly has a thing or two to share about the art of “disrupting.”

## Learn more about TechCrunch [parties and side events](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/09/beyond-techcrunch-disrupt-2026-the-side-events-parties-networking-you-cant-miss/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), here: 

[Beyond TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: The Side Events, Parties & Networking You Can't Miss | TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is just the beginning. From exclusive networking events and startup showcases to happy hours, dinners, and after-hours meetups, discover what’s happening across San Francisco during Disrupt Week, October 10–16\. Find your next connection, your next opportunity, or your next favorite event.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/icon/cropped-cropped-favicon-gradient-f2d2c38b-7106-4e52-8b32-84105e070804.webp)TechCrunchJean Bradley, TechCrunch Events![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/thumbnail/San-Francisco-Cityscape-8a6a2bb5-0044-43ce-a705-a449ce7ffeda.jpg)](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/09/beyond-techcrunch-disrupt-2026-the-side-events-parties-networking-you-cant-miss/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)

**Like stories like this? You know what to do.** [**Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/heres-whats-hot-at-the-2026-annapolis-sailboat-show/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.**

*\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].*

(C) All Rights Reserved.