A Dropbox for ocean data: Stealthy big data startup OneOcean lands $6 million

A Dropbox for ocean data: Stealthy big data startup OneOcean lands $6 million

Scientists have been collecting data on the world’s oceans for decades now. But the files containing this information are massive and come in dozens of formats, creating an unwieldy mess for those researchers who want to easily share raw data or key findings with clients or colleagues.

OneOcean, a stealthy Seattle startup whose board includes MySpace founder Aber Whitcomb, sees that as an opportunity. And the 15-person company just reeled in $6 million from private investors to bring its cloud-based “Ocean Data Exchange” to market next month, GeekWire has learned.

Leading the investment is GLE Capital, the same firm that bankrolled the company’s previous $2 million round. The money is expected to carry OneOcean to cash-flow positive, and help get the upstart launched.
OneOcean Chief Executive Don Pickering, a Seattle startup veteran who previously founded Altrec.com, Cosmix and Memetic Systems, said that scientists have historically used the postal system to ship ocean data to one another. That’s an expensive and a time-wasting exercise that can delay research, construction or other projects