FutureWork Playbook 30 Under 30 with Sam Teicher, Co-Founder and Chief Reef Officer at Coral Vita
Coral reefs generate $2.7 trillion a year by powering tourism economies, protecting coastlines from storms, and yielding medicines that fight infections and cancer. Yet 90% of the planet’s coral reefs could be gone by 2050 – a loss that Sam Teicher describes as an “ecological tragedy and a socioeconomic catastrophe.” That’s why he co-founded the reef restoration company Coral Vita. In this installment of the “FutureWork Playbook” series spotlighting clients on Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” Sam explains to host Natalie Pierce that Coral Vita uses land-based farming to grow climate-resilient corals up to 50 times faster than nature. With a resume that includes winning Prince William's Earthshot Prize and raising $8 million to close a Series A—the first for a coral restoration company—Sam shares insights about combining cutting-edge science with commercial viability. “To live in a world where we need to restore coral reefs is a pretty strong indictment,” he observes, “and also a testament about what people are willing to do and innovate on and push forward in order to ensure we can continue having a thriving planet.”
Episode Highlights
- Coral reefs generate $2.7 trillion annually and support 25% of marine life, yet we've lost half since the 1970s and are on track to lose over 90% by 2050.
- Coral Vita's land-based farms use microfragmentation technology to grow corals 50 times faster than natural rates while stress-hardening them through controlled temperature variations to create climate-resilient coral populations.
- The company operates on three revenue pillars: vertically integrated farms that serve as tourism attractions, technology licensing to other restoration practitioners, and coral relocation services for coastal development projects with survival rates up to 98%.
- Sam's work involves predicting coral reproduction with precision timing—within 45- to 90-minute windows during full moon cycles—using red-filtered lights underwater to avoid disrupting lunar cues that trigger mass spawning events.
- With farms in the Bahamas and Saudi Arabia, Sam describes the financial and technical considerations that inform broadening his work to develop farms around the globe.
💡 Meet Your Host 💡
Name: Natalie Pierce
Organization: Gunderson Dettmer
Connect: LinkedIn
💡 Featured Guest 💡
Name: Sam Teicher
Organization: Coral Vita
Connect: LinkedIn
Contact
☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | X | Gunderson Dettmer
☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.