rrreefs – Regenerating Coral Reefs at Scale

Coral reefs, the rainforests of the ocean, are degrading faster than ever. By 2050, over 95% of reef area may be lost. This is not just an environmental crisis, it is an economic one, with about USD 10 trillion yearly value at risk. Coral reefs are home to 30% of all marine life forms and are fundamental to a healthy ocean. Their loss has direct consequences: species extinction accelerates, fisheries decline, coastlines and beaches erode, a billion livelihoods and entire island economies are at risk.

At rrreefs, dying coral reefs are regenerated by rebuilding the reef’s infrastructure. rrreefs was founded out of pure passion for the ocean. Today, that passion has grown into a scalable business, driven by the urgency of coral reefs loss and the necessity to develop solid business cases that can rapidly scale their regeneration. Backed by 4 years of proven data, validated by business and impact stakeholders worldwide, and protected by a global trademark, rrreefs is positioned to capture significant market share in this emerging sector. As an early mover, the company is at the forefront of shaping the rapidly developing markets for reef regeneration.

With the passion and persistence it takes to turn healthy reefs into a scalable business, rrreefs has grown from CHF 80k to around 350k in two years while doubling gross margin. For the next step, rrreefs is looking for investors to join the journey in scaling a business that delivers measurable ocean impact alongside financial returns.

The Solution – Rapid Habitat Regeneration

Since 2020, rrreefs has developed a reef regeneration system using principles of ecology and physics that catalyzes the ocean’s natural ability to regenerate. Designed at ETH Zurich, the interlocking, 3D-printed clay modules rebuild degraded reef structures, creating habitat for marine life that stabilize natural recovery – even in times of warming oceans. The field results prove that it works: within the first year, 4'000 - 15'000 new corals settle naturally on the rrreefs reefs per 100 m² and fish biomass increases by 2-10x. This brings back reef life in years, not decades, allowing nature to build resilience to climate change.

Every project is anchored in local leadership and execution, which drives long-term stewardship by the people who depend on the reef directly. By placing local communities at the core and working alongside them to ensure area protection through the government, rrreefs ensures that its reef regeneration scales sustainably and endures over time.

Business Model

rrreefs generates revenue by offering reef regeneration as an end-to-end service – for corporate biodiversity projects, tourism operators, and coastal developers that gain value from a healthy reef. The company provides a complete, integrated service, encompassing every step: from the preliminary reef analysis and the deployment of the rrreefs systems, to regular monitoring, to robust reporting on the ecological value created.

Clients pay upfront for the initial reef health assessment and the regeneration of reef habitat, followed by yearly payments for monitoring and biodiversity reporting. This allows rrreefs to operate at low cash flow risk and creates recurring revenue streams and long-term, high-value customer relationships.

Market Potential

rrreefs' initial target markets – the emerging biodiversity impact market and reef-dependent tourism – represent multi-million opportunities that rrreefs is actively capturing. In both segments, healthy reefs directly create economic value by protecting supply chains and beaches, and increasing the value of the adjacent land and the willingness of tourists to pay premium prices.

Footnote: Methodologies for market sizing are provided in the investment proposal.

This Differentiates rrreefs from Other Solutions

• Catalyzing natural regeneration: The rrreefs reef system recruits coral, fish, and invertebrates naturally by creating the enabling physical conditions. This results in: less work than coral gardening, better resilience to climate change, and higher fish populations.
• Integrated solution, de-risked execution: Ecosystem regeneration is complex. rrreefs handles everything for clients using a proven model.
• Decentralized scaling: The production and installation process is standardized, reducing costs and enabling global scaling through local replication by franchising partners.
• Modular deployment: The lightweight, modular reef system allows for rapid installation without heavy infrastructure, even in fragile and protected areas.
• Storm-safe and material-efficient: The reef system is one of the most material-efficient systems on the market, resulting in a low footprint while maintaining hurricane-force storm stability through clever engineering and anchoring.

The People Behind rrreefs

rrreefs is led by an interdisciplinary female founding team bringing together marine science, art, and business to tackle one of the ocean’s most urgent challenges. Their diverse backgrounds enable the team to creatively rethink how ecosystem regeneration can be effectively implemented and financed at scale.

Supported by a growing international team, rrreefs creates tangible impact on the ground while generating value for local communities and stakeholders in its implementation regions.

Dr. Ulrike Pfreundt, Co-CEO – The Strategist 
With her background as a biological oceanographer, Ulrike leads the general scientific strategy, drives business model innovation, and builds high-level stakeholder networks. Oh - and she rocks the finances, too.

Josephine Graf, Co-CEO – The Anchor 
Josy uses her education in International Relations and Business to build customer relationships, drive business development and invent new sales strategies. Of course, she can also swing an underwater hammer if necessary.

Marie Griesmar, COO – The Innovator
With years of experience in fine arts, underwater clay installations, and scuba training from age 8, Marie brings many worlds together. She organizes the team and HR, innovates product design, and runs marketing. Also, it’s just really hard to not like her.

Hanna Kuhfuss, Chief Field Operation & International Relations (CFIR) - The Diplomat 
As a marine conservation biologist and scientific diving instructor, Hanna ensures rrreefs' field teams operate to high standards and dive safely. By building cross-sector partnerships, she aligns reef-building efforts with national conservation priorities and local community needs, driving long-term stewardship.

rrreefs is supported by a strong advisory board of eight dedicated individuals, who complement the team with expertise in finance, insurance, business, science, and global reef restoration.

rrreefs' Roadmap Toward a Global Reef Regeneration Business

The rrreefs approach has always been to move fast, iterate and learn continuously, and generate early cash flows to de-risk the company as it grows. The company scales by keeping the Swiss team lean and focused on R&D, quality control, sales, and marketing, while expanding partner teams in its countries of operation for production and project implementation. This reduces reef regeneration costs while generating value locally and driving social impact. Decentralized scaling through multiple local production and reef regeneration hubs under the rrreefs brand ensures fast expansion with low CAPEX.

Reasons to Invest

How often do you encounter a business that could change the fate of the ocean while paying financial returns? Here are some hard facts to convince the investor in you:

• Strong and early traction: 20+ paying clients (e.g., Accor Group, Melitta, Edelweiss/Lufthansa, Geistlich, Cosa Travel, Zurich Insurance Germany) and over CHF 1M in revenue since 2023 demonstrate clear market demand across multiple countries. Nationwide government backing in the Philippines and Panama indicates future B2G opportunities. International recognition through multiple awards.
• Clear path to profitability: 50% cost reduction achieved in 2025, with another 25% expected by 2027. Break-even is targeted for 2027.
• Committed founding team: The interdisciplinary rrreefs team has been building the company fully committed since 2021, driven by a shared purpose to grow a business that helps the ocean while combining scientific expertise with operational experience.
• Proven measurable impact: The rrreefs reefs deliver fast, measurable ecological results, with 4'000-15'000 new corals per 100 m2 and 2-10x increases in fish populations compared to non-regenerated reference sites - in the first year alone. Investors support healthy oceans - for the future.
• Scalable business model with recurring revenues: The regeneration solution is designed for decentralized scaling through local partner organizations. rrreefs generates revenue through reef installation and long-term monitoring, reporting, and storytelling, creating lasting customer relationships and recurring income.
• Regular investor updates: rrreefs keeps investors informed with quarterly updates on company progress, impact results, and how their investment is making a difference.

This Is How rrreefs Shows Appreciation

rrreefs wants to share the beauty of regenerated reefs, but cannot invite everyone. Once a year, one investor with an investment of CHF 5'000 or more will therefore be randomly selected to join the team at a field site and experience firsthand what their investment is creating underwater.

Investors are part of the rrreefs family, and the team wants to hear their thoughts and opinions. At least once a year, rrreefs will hold an online gathering to exchange ideas, gather feedback, and connect the investor community. In addition, investors will receive an invitation to a personal investor gathering in Zürich once a year.

Co-Founder and Co-CEO Ulrike Pfreundt on a Podcast

Want to dive a bit deeper? Here is a 30 min Podcast with Co-CEO Ulrike on the ETH Alumni network: