The ocean is dying – this Swiss firm might hold the answer

Swiss firm rrreefs has proven itself as one of the most promising solutions for coral restoration with its innovative 3D-printed system. It now opens its doors to investors to become co-owner with small share packages starting June 5th, 2026.

Half of the world's coral reefs have already disappeared. By 2050, scientists project that over 95% of reef area could be gone entirely, taking with it the livelihoods of more than a billion people, entire tourism economies, and roughly a third of all marine life. The economic value at risk runs into the tens of trillions of dollars annually.

Most responses to this crisis have been slow, labour-intensive, and difficult to scale. rrreefs, an ETH Zurich spin-off founded by four women, is trying something different – and today, they are inviting the sustainability community to be part of it.

A technology born in a lab, tested in the ocean

Reefs are built by organisms called polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to form the hard structures we recognise as coral. These polyps survive through a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which live inside their tissue. The algae photosynthesise sunlight and supply the coral with up to 90% of the energy it needs to grow and reproduce. In return, the coral gives the algae a sheltered home and the carbon dioxide they need to function. 

When ocean temperatures rise even slightly above their seasonal norm, the finely balanced system falls apart: the coral ejects the algae as a stress response, turning ghostly white in a process known as bleaching. Without its primary energy source, the coral starves. Climate change has made bleaching events more frequent and more severe, and in many parts of the tropics, the underlying structures have degraded to the point where natural recovery has effectively stalled. The Great Barrier Reef experienced its most widespread bleaching on record in 2024. 

If temperatures drop quickly enough, recovery is possible, but it depends on the physical conditions being suitable for marine life to recolonise. The idea behind rrreefs is simple: instead of planting corals one by one, give the ocean the physical conditions it needs to regenerate itself. The company's interlocking, 3D-printed clay modules create complex underwater habitats that naturally attract corals, fish, and invertebrates without ongoing human intervention. The solution is free of plastic, can be installed without heavy machinery, and is resilient enough to survive extreme weather.

The results speak for themselves. Within the first year of deployment, between 4,000 and 15,000 new corals settle naturally per 100 square metres. Fish biomass at project sites increases by two to ten times compared to untreated reference sites within five months. 

From passion project to profitable business

What makes rrreefs particularly notable is not just the technology, but the business model behind it. Since launching commercially in 2023, rrreefs has closed more than 20 paying clients across four continents, generating over CHF 1.3 million in revenue and doubling its gross margin in 2025. 

Clients include Accor Group, Lufthansa subsidiary Edelweiss, and Zurich Insurance. The current pipeline stands at approximately CHF 2.4 million, and the company is targeting CHF 11 million in revenue by 2030 with a projected profit margin of 35%.

"How often have you come across a business that could change the fate of the ocean?" ask Co-CEOs Dr. Ulrike Pfreundt and Josephine Graf. "In just five years, we have grown rrreefs from a single crowdfunded pilot project into a revenue-generating business operating across four continents."

The key to this growth has been framing reef regeneration as a full-service business proposition rather than a feel-good initiative. Corporate clients receive biodiversity data for ESG reporting, storytelling material, employee engagement content, and, in the case of coastal hospitality operators, direct protection of their physical assets. The service generates recurring revenue and lasting client relationships, which keeps cash flow risk low and retention high.

Government-level interest has already been expressed in the Philippines and Panama, opening the door to public sector contracts alongside the existing corporate client base.

The founding team

rrreefs was built by four women with complementary backgrounds that span marine science, international business, fine arts, and field operations. Dr. Ulrike Pfreundt leads scientific strategy and financial oversight; Josephine Graf drives business development and client relationships; Marie Griesmar heads product innovation and marketing; and Hanna Kuhfuss manages field operations and cross-sector partnerships. They are supported by an advisory board of eight senior specialists in finance, insurance, science, and global reef restoration.

The team has been recognised by the Earthshot Prize (top 14% in 2025), named Ocean Changemaker by The Economist Impact in 2024, and won the Blue Economy Challenge at the World Economic Forum the same year. 

The crowdinvesting campaign

rrreefs is now opening a CHF 800,000 seed round on OOMNIUM, the Swiss investment platform, to accelerate international expansion and further develop its reef regeneration technology. 

The company is targeting break-even in 2027 and has deliberately chosen not to pursue the traditional VC path. "We learnt that the classic VC path was not right for us," says Marie Griesmar. "The expected timelines, return perspectives, and pressure towards a short-term exit don't align with how we want to build rrreefs."

The campaign begins just as the world refocusses its attention on the planet's marine ecosystems for World Reef Day and World Ocean Day on June 1st and 8th respectively. 

The public crowd investing campaign opens on June 5th. Investors committing CHF 5,000 or more are entered into an annual draw to join the rrreefs team at an active field site.

The views expressed are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.