Elena MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ

Elena MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ is a Spanish oceanographer, marine biotechnologist, and blue economy entrepreneur, committed to proving that business and profitability don’t have to come at the expense of people and the planet.

As the co-founder and CTO of SOS Biotech, the first BlueTech company in the Dominican Republic, Elena is dedicated to advancing the transformation of invasive seaweed into high-value bioproducts that replace fossil-based inputs and foster a circular economy.

Her work merges biotechnology with social impact, training local fishermen and coastal communities to become key players in a new regenerative marine industry. From seaweed-derived biostimulants to biomaterials, her innovations are designed to restore ecosystems, create economic opportunities, and decarbonize industries. She extends this vision, sharing her expertise as a guest lecturer in the blue sector— supporting the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and ocean stewards who will continue shaping a sustainable blue economy.

Elena’s leadership and vision have earned her recognition as an MIT Solver, a Rockefeller Foundation Big Bets Climate Fellow, IUCN ChangeMaker, a Women in Ocean Food Awardee, and a ChangemakerXchange. Her work is built on a simple but profound realization: waste does not exist in nature. By harnessing this principle, she is working to restore and redefine our relationship with it— where business becomes a tool not for depletion, but for renewal and shared prosperity.