Business Meets Purpose

Despite similar looks, age, and interests, OIO co-founders Nick Chiarelli and Tim Silverwood have distinctly different personal and professional backgrounds that shape their roles and passion for establishing OIO.

Nick, a chartered accountant by trade with a wealth of experience in startups and scaling businesses, admits to being a disillusioned capitalist who struggles to understand why the intersection between doing good and making money isn’t more commonplace.

Tim, on the other hand, is a career environmentalist passionate about transforming the way humans treat the planet. Tim has long questioned if businesses focused solely on profit over people and the environment have a future on a healthy, just planet. 

The duo began collaborating in 2018, when a casual meeting became an impromptu co-founder ‘date’, cementing their shared passion for creating maximum impact. Energised, they began shaping OIO for its public launch in March 2020. From humble beginnings in WOTSO’s Manly coworking space (conveniently nestled alongside the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve), OIO now boasts a geographically diverse team of staff and advisors alongside a global network of startups and supporters.

Nick and Tim share a vision where impact-driven businesses, game-changing support programs, and targeted capital can radically improve ocean health and contribute to a better future. A future where sustainability is not a cost or a compromise. A future where sustainability is profitability. 

Our Purpose

To transform ocean health through inspiration, innovation, and good business.

Our Mission

To support and accelerate ocean impact businesses.

Our Vision

To unlock $100M of funding for ocean health solutions with a focus on Asia Pacific.

Approach

We are founder-first, solutions-focused, and impact-driven. Directing capital into the ocean health innovation sector across four key ocean solution areas.

  • Ocean Pollution

  • Habitat & Biodiversity

  • Climate

  • Food Security

Our Core Values

  1. We believe in ocean protection and conservation so that future generations may enjoy the ocean as a source of abundance, health, inspiration and culture.

  2. We believe that social justice and environmental justice are inextricably linked.

  3. We believe in the potential of the ocean to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  4. We believe in the power of business as a force for good.

  5. We believe in an inclusive and sustainable economy where profits and growth are seen as a means to greater outcomes for people and the planet.

OUR OBJECTIVES

  • Accelerate 100 Ocean Impact startups

  • Drive investment of $100M into Ocean Impact

  • Establish Australia as a world leader in Ocean Solutions