Running Tide Technologies is a research, technology, and advocacy firm with a mission to “restore ocean health” and reduce the use of fossil fuels in global supply chains. To achieve this, the firm develops ocean diagnostic systems, grows biomass to consume carbon in the atmosphere, and restores aquatic and coastal habitats. Running Tide also campaigns against the use of carbon-producing fuel sources. ¹

Founded in 2017 by former commercial fisherman-turned-environmentalist activist Marty Odlin, the firm raised more than $15 million in venture capital by early 2022. It also secured investments from e-commerce corporations such as Shopify and Stripe, as well as from Silicon Valley institutions such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the technology company Microsoft. ^{2 3}

In June 2022, reports surfaced that a number of Running Tide employees had left the firm due to concerns about some of its methods, including its plan to grow vast amounts of ostensibly carbon-absorbing algae on ocean surfaces and its proposal to artificially introduce large volumes of nutrients into ocean waters in order to stimulate the growth of these algae farms. Critics of the firm have argued that interventions such as these, which are supposed to combat the perceived threat of climate change, may have their own negative impact on the environment. In response, Running Tide has played down the possibility of harmful side effects and claimed that it has fully assessed the potential risks of all its carbon mitigation methods. ⁴

Initiatives

Running Tide Technologies runs a variety of projects which it claims will reduce pollution in the atmosphere and support aquatic ecosystems. These include introducing carbon-absorbing algae into oceans and altering the chemical composition of sea water to facilitate this growth, as well as cultivating shellfish reefs for their perceived benefits to the environment and to coastal community industries. Running Tide claims that there are “no credible scenarios” which would prevent alleged environmental catastrophe other than making its primary service—carbon removal—“the biggest and most important industry of the 21st century.” ⁵

Leadership

Marty Odlin is the founder and chief executive officer of Running Tide Technologies. He is an engineer by profession, but comes from a commercial fishing community. Odlin cites the purported impact of climate change on his family industry as his motivation for launching Running Tide. ⁶

Adam Baske is a vice president at Running Tide Technologies. He has worked for a variety of environmentalist advocacy groups focused on oceans, as well as for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under President Barack Obama. ⁷

Katy McIntyre is a research manager at Running Tide Technologies. She previously worked for the Department of Agriculture under the Biden administration, as well as for the National Science Foundation. ⁸

Controversies

Some environmental scientists, including those otherwise supportive of large-scale interventions to address perceived man-made climate change, have expressed skepticism of Running Tide Technologies’ strategy. Marine sciences professor Philip Boyd at the University of Tasmania in Australia has advised the firm that its plan to cultivate masses of carbon-absorbing algae “looks like it’s more complex than you’re probably currently envisaging.” Boyd also argued that introducing large amounts of seaweed to ocean surfaces could deprive other marine life of nutrients and introduce harmful foreign microbes into aquatic ecosystems. ⁹

In June 2022, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that at least five senior employees had left Running Tide amid concerns over the potential ecological risks of the firm’s large-scale ocean habitat intervention plans. ¹⁰

Financials

Between its founding in 2017 and early 2022, Running Tide Technologies generated more than $15 million worth of venture capital funding. ¹¹ The payment processing software developer Stripe has allocated some $500,000 to the firm. ¹² Other Silicon Valley institutions backing Running Tide have included the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, run by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Microsoft, founded by software executive and biotech activist Bill Gates. ^{13 14}

In August 2023, the environmentalist venture fund Lowercarbon Capital announced that it would be investing more than $50 million into Running Tide. ¹⁵

1. ^[1]“FAQs.” Running Tide. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.runningtide.com/faqs
2. James Temple. “Running Tide is facing scientist departures and growing concerns over seaweed sinking for carbon removal.” MIT Technology Review. June 16, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/16/1053758/running-tide-seaweed-kelp-scientist-departures-ecological-concerns-climate-carbon-removal/
3. “Running Tide Becomes Microsoft’s First Open Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Supplier.” Maine Technology Institute. March 14, 2023. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.mainetechnology.org/news/running-tide-becomes-microsofts-first-open-ocean-based-carbon-removal-supplier/
4. James Temple. “Running Tide is facing scientist departures and growing concerns over seaweed sinking for carbon removal.” MIT Technology Review. June 16, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/16/1053758/running-tide-seaweed-kelp-scientist-departures-ecological-concerns-climate-carbon-removal/
5. “FAQs.” Running Tide. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.runningtide.com/faqs
6. “Marty Odlin.” Slush. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://slush23.com/speakers/marty-odlin-founder-ceo-of-running-tide/
7. Adam Baske. LinkedIn. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-baske-40338a53
8. Katy McIntyre. LinkedIn. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-mcintyre
9. Fred Bever. “Portland company with big plans for using seaweed to soak up carbon draws scrutiny.” Maine Public. July 18, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2022-07-18/portland-company-with-big-plans-for-using-seaweed-to-soak-up-carbon-draws-scrutiny
10. James Temple. “Running Tide is facing scientist departures and growing concerns over seaweed sinking for carbon removal.” MIT Technology Review. June 16, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/16/1053758/running-tide-seaweed-kelp-scientist-departures-ecological-concerns-climate-carbon-removal/
11. James Temple. “Running Tide is facing scientist departures and growing concerns over seaweed sinking for carbon removal.” MIT Technology Review. June 16, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/16/1053758/running-tide-seaweed-kelp-scientist-departures-ecological-concerns-climate-carbon-removal/
12. Fred Bever. “Portland company with big plans for using seaweed to soak up carbon draws scrutiny.” Maine Public. July 18, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2022-07-18/portland-company-with-big-plans-for-using-seaweed-to-soak-up-carbon-draws-scrutiny
13. James Temple. “Running Tide is facing scientist departures and growing concerns over seaweed sinking for carbon removal.” MIT Technology Review. June 16, 2022. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/16/1053758/running-tide-seaweed-kelp-scientist-departures-ecological-concerns-climate-carbon-removal/
14. “Running Tide Becomes Microsoft’s First Open Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Supplier.” Maine Technology Institute. March 14, 2023. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.mainetechnology.org/news/running-tide-becomes-microsofts-first-open-ocean-based-carbon-removal-supplier/
15. Running Tide. LinkedIn. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/runningtide